Whenever we are on our journey of recovery, we will come across things that remind us of our past. Past situations, interactions, experiences (whether good or traumatic) have a way of trying to revisit us. When this occurs, it triggers the internal emotions, memories and thoughts that are attached to it. A trigger will cause your brain to flashback. It is an obstacle that can deter you from recovery and even cause you to relapse. When you relapse, you will start doing the addictive behavior all over again.
With this in mind we must become very aware of our state of being. Be in tune with your emotions. Are you feeling sadness, anger, fear or anxiety? Are you feeling overwhelmed, out of control, rejected or abandoned? Be mindful of your thoughts. Negative thinking can trigger negative emotions. Also, don’t get sucked into dwelling on traumatic memories of your past. These memories will release an array of emotions and thoughts that will trigger past responses to trauma and possibly cause relapse. How do you prevent this from happening? Be intentional about assessing yourself to see if you are in a state of calm. Here are some things you can do.
Set the tone of your day by positive affirmations. Say things like, “Today, I am expecting good things” or “I am so thankful to be alive.” This will change the usual negative, panicky and pessimistic view on life that many people are used to having when they wake up.
Find good even in the bad situations. There is an old saying, “Life Happens.” This is true in and of itself. Part of living is experiencing the good and the bad. How we respond to our experiences determines whether we move forward or backwards. When life happens, make a decision that you are going to find out how to use it to make you better and not bitter. Even find humor in certain circumstances. Be mindful to look for something good no matter how small.
We need to have strategies in place to use that will help us stay free from the negative habitual responses stored in our brains. Begin changing your thought patterns by intentionally focusing on good things. Retrain your brain to respond to bad with good. It is a process, but over time you will find that you are enjoying life at a greater level and things that used to trigger you emotionally and pull you in a downward spiral no longer have that level of power over you anymore.
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