Avoiding Common Relapse Triggers: Protecting Your Sobriety Post-Rehab

a man following the road to recovery by avoiding relapse triggers

Choosing a life of sobriety is a bold step towards a brand new life. It’s a chance to rediscover yourself, make a fresh start and recharge mentally, physically and spiritually. The courageous choice to end the cycle of unhealthy behaviors isn’t always easy, but the long-lasting rewards are certainly worth the effort.

That’s why it’s important for individuals who have made the courageous choice to seek help for an addiction to alcohol or drugs to understand the underlying environmental and social triggers that may increase the risk of relapse. If you’ve invested the time and energy to make profound strides in your recovery, it’s important to protect your newfound and well-earned sobriety.

By working with licensed addiction recovery specialists, you can identify the potential hazards that might derail your efforts and arm yourself with proven strategies for protecting your health.

3 Common Relapse Triggers

Your emotions. Feeling depressed, anxious or stressed can trigger unhealthy coping mechanisms. If you turned to drugs or alcohol in the past as a way of dealing with uncomfortable emotions, take the time to make a list of healthy strategies you can use instead.

Social situations. It’s common for individuals with addiction issues to associate certain social situations with substance abuse. Take the time to reflect on your past to identify where and when drugs and alcohol were within easy reach. If necessary, consider avoiding places like bars and instead choose to socialize with your friends in drug-free zones.

Happy occasions. You might not realize that attending a celebratory event like a birthday party, wedding or even a baseball game can make relapse more likely. If you’re having fun catching up with friends and family, it’s easy to become distracted from your goals and become tempted to revert to old habits.

By knowing the warning signs and triggers for a potential relapse, you can protect your sobriety and continue your journey to better health.

Getting the Addiction Treatment You Need

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, 10 Acre Ranch can help you break free. Our Southern California rehab for men offers personalized treatment, as well as extensive aftercare support to help you maintain your hard-won sobriety. By emphasizing exercise, nutritional balance, and recreational activities, we encourage clients to develop a healing lifestyle that sticks—during and after recovery.

Call (877) 228-4679 for program details or to discuss your customized recovery program with an addiction counselor.

Disease Education: The Science Behind Withdrawal

photo of male and female college students inside the campus

Have you ever wondered why you do, what you do?

At 10 Acre Ranch, we extend the healing process to also offer disease education workshops to empower individuals with information about the biological underpinnings of chemical dependency.

The foundation of our treatment philosophy is built on a firm belief that while the use of drugs and alcohol begins as a choice, eventually the brain is altered neurologically, triggering cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms.

By understanding the biological complexities of addiction, clients can become more aware of the fundamental behavioral and physical response patterns at work to prevent relapse.

3 Ways Drugs and Alcohol Trigger Withdrawal Symptoms


1. Alcohol – Alcohol inhibits the excitatory neurotransmitter (Glutamate), slowing down the nervous system. An abrupt cessation of using alcohol causes the neurotransmitter to resume activity and excites the brain – resulting in anxiety, irritability, agitation and tremors.

2. Cocaine – The use of cocaine primarily impacts norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin – which play important roles in the neurochemistry of the brain. These neurotransmitters control vital biological functions including mood, appetite, sexual functions and blood pressure. When individuals stop using cocaine, the brain chemistry is profoundly altered, triggering symptoms such as paranoia, fatigue, irritability and more.

3. Opioids – Opioid addiction has become one of the most prevalent forms of chemical dependency in recent years. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, of the 21.5 million Americans with a substance use disorder, 1.9 million are addicted to prescription pain relievers. The extended use of opioids dramatically depletes the “feel good” chemicals naturally produced by the brain like dopamine. When the brain is no longer stimulated by opioids, individuals often experience painful withdrawal symptoms including depression, anxiety and insomnia.

By learning to recognize and manage the symptoms commonly associated with detox, you can learn proactive coping strategies and reduce your risk of relapse.

Drug & Alcohol Treatment in California
10 Acre Ranch’s drug and alcohol treatment center educates men 18 and over by providing addiction discussion groups, lectures, workshops, literature, and other resources. The more clients know about the science behind addiction, the more equipped they are to confront their behaviors and retrain their brains. Addiction is a disease that requires a variety of interventional and behavioral modifications. To learn more about our affordable addiction recovery programs and beautiful California facility, get in touch with the 10 Acre Ranch team today.

Addiction Recovery: Meditation for Beginners

 

“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.”

– Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

The practice of meditation may seem intimidating at first but it is actually one of the most powerful and informal therapies for addiction recovery. There are no rules for participating. All it takes is a willingness to embrace the stillness of a quiet, peaceful mind.

Given the vast number of medical and behavioral health benefits, many holistic addiction treatment centers have started to incorporate meditation therapy as part of an overall recovery program.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to find diversions to escape from the stress of everyday life. While some methods of avoiding painful emotions can offer short-term relief, they only delay the inevitable confrontation with reality.

In contrast, meditation helps to empower individuals with a personal tool to acknowledge feelings, thoughts and emotions in an effort to break through and resolve barriers to emotional growth.

Why Meditation is Great for Beginners

  • Meditation doesn’t discriminate. Regardless of your age or your physical ability, you can start to incorporate meditation into your daily routine.
  • There are zero investment costs up front. Unlike other forms of stress relief, like exercising at the gym or acupuncture, there are no membership fees or expensive pieces of equipment to purchase. By simply taking the time nurture yourself in solitude, you can reap the benefits without straining your budget.
  • You don’t have to worry about comparing yourself to others. Sometimes it can be intimidating to start a new hobby or exercise program if you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. Meditation is unique in that you can choose to practice by yourself to ensure your energy is focused solely on your recovery.

Getting Started

Meditation may seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually a very intuitive tool for supporting your mental and physical health during recovery.

Want to get started today? Find a quiet space in your home, get comfortable and just breathe.

Get the Help You Need

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, 10 Acre Ranch can help you detox. We offer personalized treatment, as well as extensive aftercare support to help you maintain your hard-won sobriety. By emphasizing exercise, nutritional balance, and recreational activities, we encourage clients to develop a healing lifestyle that sticks—during and after recovery.

Call (877) 228-4679 for program details or to discuss your customized recovery program with an addiction counselor.

Detox: Discover Four Strategies for Optimal Sleep

photo of a woman having trouble with sleeping

Detox. For individuals recovering from an addiction to pain medication, opiates or alcohol, the process is critical. Yet, it can often cause uncomfortable side effects such as insomnia. Restlessness, the inability to remain asleep and other sleep disturbances are common as the body readjusts to healthy levels of body, mind, and spirit during detox.

The good news is that these symptoms typically diminish over time during detox and eventually healthy sleep routines return.

During the process of detoxification, there are proven strategies you can employ to reduce the length and severity of symptoms associated with sleep disorders.

Using these four healthy sleep habits, you can get the rest you need on your journey to better health.

  1. Commit to a regular schedule.

It may seem tempting to sleep in on the weekend, but don’t. You can actually increase your risk of experiencing episodes of poor sleep. Set your alarm clock for the same time each morning (and don’t hit snooze!) and make going to bed at the same time each evening a healthy habit.

  1. Hit the gym.

According to research published by the National Sleep Foundation, 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week provided a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality. Why? Studies suggest that the body interprets the rapid increase, then decrease in body temperature as a signal that it is time to sleep.

  1. Check your thermostat.

Some studies have found that your bedroom’s temperature may help you get a good night’s sleep. While everyone has their own preference, many researchers suggest setting the thermostat to around 65 degrees for a night of sound sleep.

  1. Be aware of your screen time.

If you wake up in the middle of the night, reaching for your iPhone may seem like a good way to pass the time. But, smartphones and tablets can actually disrupt sleep. These devices emit “blue light” which is interpreted by the brain that it’s morning.

Get the Help You Need

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, 10 Acre Ranch can help you detox. We offer personalized treatment, as well as extensive aftercare support to help you maintain your hard-won sobriety. By emphasizing exercise, nutritional balance, and recreational activities, we encourage clients to develop a healing lifestyle that sticks—during and after recovery.

Call 877-228-4679 for program details or to discuss your customized recovery program with an addiction counselor.