When you are in a drug rehab program, you aren’t living your normal daily life. That means that while you are working hard to get clean, you are nowhere near any of your usual triggers. The biggest challenge that any addict faces is leaving rehab and facing those triggers and cravings head on. This is not easy, and some people need some extra help, such as a sober living home. Here are some things you can do to cope better as you face these situations.

Acknowledge triggers. Don’t ignore them.

If you simply ignore your triggers and rely on willpower alone to keep you sober, you are not going to be sober for very long. All it will take is one really bad day for that trigger to lead to relapse. Instead, you need to acknowledge and embrace your triggers so that you can address them and eliminate them forever.

Let yourself have a crutch, but still work on the triggers.

Some addicts find it helpful to have something to fidget with. Other addicts discover that if they eat obscene amounts of sugar, they can control their cravings that way. These are not necessarily bad things, but you have to face the triggers and eliminate them eventually if you are going to stay sober.

Change your response or reaction.

Different addicts are triggered by different situations. You need to recognize your own response to these situations and work to change it. If seeing a specific person is a trigger and there is no way to avoid that person entirely, you’ll need to change how you react.

See a therapist.

The best person to address your triggers is a licensed therapist or addiction counselor. As triggers come up throughout your daily life, talking to a therapist can help you learn how to change your response and react in healthier ways, even if the situation is extremely negative.

If you are needing a little extra help to stay sober, contact us today to learn how we can assist you.