Psychologists prefer the word cues, originating from research in which a reward or punishment is paired together with something else i.e. the cue together with food. For example; dogs will associate the sound of a bell with food over time and will begin to salivate as soon as the bell rings. This is known as classical conditioning (based on the research by Ivan Pavlov known as the phenomenon of Pavlov’s dog or Pavlovian Response) and forms part of relapse prevention work.

The body itself has been conditioned to respond to routine behaviour. Most living creatures have an internal timing system that makes them automatically respond to the course of the day to meet their needs. For example, people feel the urge to drink after work, have an evening joint, bedtime pill, weekend of meth, a binge, daily fix or even hourly fix. We’ve become programed to expect something.

Unfortunately, without setting yourself clear goals and using tools to cope, it is very common for most people with addiction issues to experience relapse and remission.

In the 1800’s Ivan Pavlov conducted experiments on how cues around dogs would stimulate them to respond to eating. For example: whenever a bell was rung the dogs would receive food. Eventually, the dogs would salivate as soon as the bell was rung.  This is known as classical conditioning , it now forms part of the basis of the relapse prevention work we cover at Hope Rehab. For more in-depth information please visit our “Relapse Triggers & Radar” page.

Although common, the harm and impact this has on your life should not be minimised. Instead, one should consolidate the reasons behind this and work to avoid those triggers in future. Remission is the beginning of a relapse. Slipping back into old ways of behaving can often be on the cusp of relapse back into drink or drug use. You have to be honest with yourself, where have you gone wrong before?

A common trait for many people recovering from drug and alcohol usage is to only recall the positives from their usage. This is called euphoric recall. Often, people remember the times where they partied on drink and drugs and forget all about the agony.

By unconscious desires to use alcohol or drugs, the mind filters out the negativity and potentially glorifies past experiences. Even music can be a powerful trigger, recalling moments of euphoria, memories of using, positive connections or alternatively negative feelings of depression and anxiety.

Sometimes when people leave treatment they are suddenly faced with an urge to use drink or drugs again. It is important to recognise that cravings are an understandable part of the process and they come and go in waves.  The first wave is characterized by intense feeling or desire to use. Eventually, over the span of a few minutes or more, the wave begins to diminish. However, it can return at similar levels.

The recovery map is the last exercise of the client’s treatment. It helps the client to get a clear view of their new recovery life, what they are going to do, plans and commitments etc., as well as of their personal triggers and slippery behavior, which would lead the client back to the addiction.

Clients fill in their bottom lines in the center of the recovery map. Bottom lines are the things they cannot go back to, i.e. alcohol, medication, heroin and/or cocaine. They also write down their clean date at the bottom of the bottom lines.

After the bottom lines, the focus is on the outer part of the recovery map, the four corners about health and lifestyle, work and education, relationships and their recovery. It is important that clients honestly describe what they are going to do after treatment, and not make a ‘wish list’.

A few examples: