Triggers thoughts cravings
Triggers thoughts cravings
By: Luis R.
Triggers are people, places, object, feelings, and times that cause cravings. For example, if every Friday night someone cashes a paycheck, goes out with friends, and uses stimulants, the triggers might be, Friday nights, friends who use, after work, a bar or club, money. Your brain associates the triggers with substance abuse. As a result of constant triggering and using, one trigger can cause you to move toward substance use. The trigger-thought-craving-use cycle feels overwhelming. Stopping the craving process is an important part of treatment.
Remember, triggers affect your brain and cause cravings even though you have decided to stop substance Use.
Your intentions to stop must translate into behavior changes, which keep you away from possible triggers. If you decide to stop drinking or using but at some point end up moving toward using substances, your brain has given you permission by using a process called relapse justification. Thoughts about using start an argument inside your head- your rational self versus your substance-dependent self. You feel as though you are in a fight, and you must come up with many reasons to stay abstinent.
Your mind is looking for any excuse to use again. You are looking for a relapse justification. The argument inside you is part of a series of events leading to substance use.
Cravings does not always occur in a straightforward, easily recognized form. Often the thought of using passes through your head with little or no effect. But it is important to identify these thoughts and try to eliminate them. It takes effort to identify and stop a thought. However, allowing yourself to continue thinking about substance use is choosing to relapse. The further the thoughts are allowed to go, the more likely you are to relapse.
During addiction, triggers, thoughts, cravings, and use seem to run together. However the usual sequence goes like this: trigger=>thought=>craving=>use.
The only way to ensure that a thought won’t lead to a relapse is to stop the thought before it leads to craving. Stopping the thought when it first begins prevents it from building into an overpowering craving. It is important to do it as you realize you are thinking about using. It is necessary to interrupt the trigger-thought-craving-use sequence. This process is not automatic. You make a choice either to continue thinking about using (and start the path to relapse) or to stop those thoughts.
A few of many thought process techniques can assist you in preventing you from craving the use of a substance. Visualize a scene in which you deny the power of thoughts of use. Feelings of hollowness, heaviness, and cramping in the stomach are cravings.
These often can be relieved by breathing in deeply ( filling lungs with air) and breathing out slowly. Talking to another person provides an outlet for your feelings and allows you to hear your thinking process. Have phone numbers of supportive, available people with you always, so you can use them when you need them. Allowing the thoughts to develop into cravings is making a choice to remain dependent on substances.
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Originally published at www.sober-living-network.com on March 9, 2016.
