Trigger Basics
What is a trigger?
Anything that causes emotional distress, cravings, trauma reactions, or urges to use.
True or False: Every trigger will cause a relapse
FALSE
What healthy coping skill uses physical movement?
Exercise or walking.
True or False: Triggers become easier to manage with practice
TRUE
You're stressed after work and think about drinking. What should you do first?
Use a coping skill and reach out for support.
What is an internal trigger?
feeling, thought, memory, or physical sensation.
True or False: Every trigger will cause a relapse
A trigger is an urge or reminder; relapse is acting on it.
What can journaling help identify?
What can journaling help identify?
What does resilience mean?
Recovering from challenges.
You feel bored and begin romanticizing past use. What warning sign is this?
Relapse risk.
What is an external trigger?
A person, place, object, or event.
Passing a former using location is what type of trigger?
External trigger.
What does urge surfing teach?
Cravings rise and fall without needing to act on them.
Recovery teaches us that urges are what
Temporary.
You notice anxiety increasing. What should you do?
Use coping skills early.
A person, place, object, or event.
HALT.
Why do anniversaries sometimes become triggers?
They can bring up emotions, memories, and stress.
What Seeking Safety skill helps detach from emotional pain
GROUNDING
What is one sign of growth in recovery?
Answers may vary
Responding differently to triggers.
Why should triggers be discussed openly in recovery?
Support helps reduce risk.
Name one common recovery trigger.
Stress, loneliness, boredom, anger, anxiety, celebrations, people, or places.
They can bring up emotions, memories, and stress.
Recognizing it.
Why is calling a support person helpful?
It decreases isolation and increases accountability.
Why is honesty important around triggers?
It allows help before problems worsen.
A family argument creates cravings. What is this?
A trigger.