Several online resources have information on causes of triggers and stressors that lead to relapse during addiction recovery. The Recover also mentioned ways of coping with relapse triggers during recovery in this coronavirus periods.
However, sometimes emotional issues are one of the primary causes of addiction relapse, which involves how addicts view themselves. These issues include low self-esteem, approval-seeking behaviors from people, and the validation needs.
Knowing how these conditions trigger an addiction relapse is a significant factor in avoiding it during recovery. Below are explanations of these three emotional triggers.
Low Self-Esteem Causes Addiction Relapse
During particular research to understand the role of self-esteem in the tendency towards drugs, theft, and prostitution, 283 individuals in prison were compared to a standard group of people without such habits.
The research discovered that low self-esteem was a crucial factor involved in both drug addictions, prostitution, and theft. Participants who had low levels of self-esteem had higher risks of addictive behaviors. Concurrently, other reasons such as employment loss, family dissociation, and inadequate addiction support also caused low self-esteem.
In reality, most historical addicts have either encountered inadequate support from friends and families, unemployment, separation, mistreatment, among other factors that led them into addiction. Additionally, they may have participated in other harmful or illegal behaviors during their addiction.
All these factors will eventually lower their self-esteem and trigger alcohol or drug relapse as a coping mechanism. Therefore, failure to deal with low self-esteem is a crucial factor that triggers addiction relapse.
Approval-Seeking Behaviors from People
Although receiving pleasure from people may help an addict enter into a recovery session, it can probably trigger a relapse. Addicts undergoing recovery, concentrating on pleasing people don’t communicate about their emotional states or concerns. Therefore, they are more vulnerable to relating to others, even at times participating in addictive activities.
Also, for any addict willing to avoid relapse, they have to avoid its potential triggering conditions. It includes avoiding former friends still under drug addiction.
Approval-seeking behaviors are similar to people-pleasing habits. During such circumstances, an addict seeks for external approval sources. If these addicts defy the benefits of recovery and sobriety, it can be difficult for them to escape the relapse trap to gain others’ approval.
The Need for Validation
Validation, similar to approval-seeking behaviors, should never be centered on what other people think or say about somebody. When addicts rely on how other people perceive them, they fail to recognize the internal changes required for a sober life.
People with validation concerns are susceptible to external influences, primarily arising from their spouse. For instance, if a spouse refuses to validate an addicted partner, it produces anxiety and stress, which are crucial causes of addiction relapse.
Final Words about Addiction Relapse
Seeking close support from an addiction therapist or a counselor to identify potential or existing emotional triggers for addiction relapse is crucial for the recovery process. A professional therapist can help you with any emotional challenges while ensuring you have low relapse risks in the future.
Therefore, if you realize that emotional triggers are the leading cause of relapse into addiction, ensure to consult a rehab center near you for professional advice and support on how to prevent it.
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