One of the most damaging and common types of addiction is alcohol abuse. People who tried to recover from this issue could experience many drinking triggers. A person must understand before they can even quit.
Because of that, you must examine triggers and gauge which triggers would affect you. A person trying to quit should know how to manage without falling back. So, if you have an experience with triggers of drinking that you need to watch out for, this blog will give you ideas. So without further ado, let’s get started.
Triggers of Drinking: What You Need to Know?
While there can be many triggers for drinking, a few are more common than others. If you understand these factors better, you could give yourself insight into the problem you sometimes lack. You could also help others in the situation by finding what causes the triggers, thereby making a person drink excessively.
HALT
Many would consider this as a damaging acronym and is usually used at alcohol addiction treatment programs. It stands for 4 common drinking triggers – Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, and Tiredness.
These are 4 emotions usually trigger difficulties that cause the person to drink alcohol. For instance, those who associate hunger with alcoholic drinks drink to calm their appetite. Anger may also lead the person to drink to soothe their nerves.
People who drink should calm themselves if they feel their emotions, like eating a snack, sleeping better, and getting to consider rehab. HALT triggers can also be dealt through making sure that individuals will participate in taking care of themselves.
It’s the process where individuals make practical efforts to make sure their physical and emotional needs are met. Because, in reality, it’s so easy to ignore the needs of the mind and body, and people just go too long without eating. People just allow themselves to get overworked and suffer the consequences of being aggressive.
Human Triggers
Do you have friends who always encourage you to drink? These are called human triggers, and it’s usually hard to avoid them because they could be members of your family and friends you love.
But then again, you need to distance yourself from these people until you feel like you have recovered. You may also need to cut them out of your life for the better and to remain healthy and sober.
Social Triggers
There are a series of issues with social triggers. A lot of people have experienced triggers of drinking because of social problems in life. Getting away from family and friends after you move to a new town could make drinking an interesting step.
Any troubles with relationships that include having romantic partners and breakups with partners could make it very difficult for many people to avoid.
Environmental Triggers
When you consider the triggers of drinking, many people don’t look at the environment or surroundings that could cause them to drink. There are, in fact, people who fell off the wagon during the NFL because it’s associated with drinking.
They even have a certain beer when visiting their favorite town. With that, if only people know how to avoid the common triggers and don’t see this as a challenge, it often requires the person to get new hobbies and find hangouts.
Places
Places usually trigger a person to drink alcohol. If a person always had drinks when visiting a friend’s house, or probably a restaurant, know that the places would encourage a person to drink, especially if they’re used to drinking there.
Liquor stores and bars are among the most common places that trigger a person’s cravings for alcohol. A place could be limited to only a particular room in a house or a part of the building.
To some, it could be the whole city and neighborhood that would entice them to drink. Many are convinced that triggers can be flexible to a place or area.
Feelings
Yes, mood or stress levels could contribute to triggers of drinking alcohol. The way you feel could trigger the urge to drink alcohol. Periods of high stress or negative emotions could also cause a desire to use alcohol as a form of self-medication. Also, alcohol could cause pleasurable sensations to lessen your negative emotion’s intensity.
Past Trauma and Unresolved Issues
Past trauma and unresolved issues can be significant triggers for drinking. Traumatic experiences, such as physical or emotional abuse, accidents, or witnessing violence, can deeply affect individuals, leading them to seek solace in alcohol as a coping mechanism. Unresolved issues, such as unresolved grief, guilt, or unresolved conflicts, can also contribute to the desire to numb emotional pain through alcohol consumption. The link between past trauma, unresolved issues, and alcohol use is often complex and deeply rooted. It is crucial for individuals to recognize these triggers and seek appropriate support, such as therapy or counseling, to address and heal from past trauma and unresolved issues in healthier ways, breaking the cycle of relying on alcohol as a means of escape or self-medication.
Financial Stress and Lifestyle Changes
When faced with financial challenges, such as job loss, debt, or financial instability, people may turn to alcohol as a temporary escape or source of comfort. Additionally, significant lifestyle changes, such as moving, divorce, or major life transitions, can create feelings of uncertainty and anxiety, increasing the risk of alcohol misuse as a coping mechanism.
The combination of financial stress and lifestyle changes can create a perfect storm, exacerbating the desire to use alcohol as a means of temporarily alleviating stress or numbing the emotional toll of these challenges. Seeking healthy outlets for stress management, exploring financial support options, and finding alternative ways to cope with lifestyle changes can help individuals navigate these difficult periods without relying on alcohol.
Wrapping Up
Once you are so into drinking alcohol, you probably think it would be impossible to stop all cravings and urge to drink alcohol. However, if you only understand the common triggers, it would be easier for you to take steps to avoid or quit them.
Remember that when triggers come with less power, you will have more control over your sobriety and recovery. If you want to know more about managing yourself when you’re caught up with alcohol, click here for more important things.
