Triggers and Cravings in Addiction Recovery

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Qualified Clinical Supervisor. She received her PhD in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida in 2002. In addition to being a practicing clinician, she has provided training to counselors, social workers, nurses and case managers internationally since 2006 through AllCEUs.com Triggers and Cravings in Addiction Recovery
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What is a trigger
~ Physical or cognitive stimulus
~ Which causes a physical or cognitive reaction
~ To either repeat (pleasure) or avoid (pain) the stimulus
~ Any pleasurable stimulus is associated with elevated dopamine levels
~ Any painful or distressing stimuli trigger the fight or flight reaction
What is a Trigger
~ The same trigger can be positive or negative depending on the:
~ Frequency of the reinforcement/punishment
~ Intensity of the reinforcement/punishment
Goals
~ Trigger
~ Competing response (IMPROVE, ACCEPTS)
~ Eliminate/counter condition trigger
~ Approaches
~ Continue the chain:
~ Trigger Depression  Coping Skills (competing response)
~ Break the chain
~ Eliminate the trigger (cognitive distortions, low self-esteem)
~ Eliminate the negative aspects of the trigger (bridge, Kenny, source of resentment or determination)
Unconditioned triggers
~ Purpose: Generally survival
~ Sight-bright sun, something (ball, fist) headed to your face, inability to access caregiver
~ Sound-loud noise, heartbeat
~ Smell-pleasant, noxious
~ Touch- pain, temperature, hugs
~ Taste- Pleasant or noxious
Conditioned Triggers
~ Conditioned triggers are things that in themselves have no meaning to the person.
~ Sight- Bottle, Snow
~ Sound-Music, Sirens
~ Smell-Smoke, Brownies
~ Touch- Hot stove, wool sweater
~ Taste- Coffee, Reeses ice cream
~ Thought- Lice, Thanksgiving
Where do they come from?
~ Learned
~ Experience (Trial and error)
~ Positive/Reward:
~ Brownies  Positive feelings
~ Get good sleep  More energy, better mood
~ Negative:
~ Brownies  Blood sugar crash and upset stomach
~ Getting good sleep  Less time with friends
Where do they come from?
~ Learned
~ Observation
~ Positive/Rewarding
~ Dad drinks after a hard day  gets less angry
~ Dad exercises after a hard day  gets less angry
~ Negative/Punishing
~ Dad drinks after a hard day  gets a hangover, grumpy the next day
~ Dad exercises after a hard day  cant move tomorrow and cranky
Trigger to Obsession/Compulsion
~ Trigger
~ Pleasure-I really want to do that again because it makes me happy or eliminates pain
~ Smell brownies cant wait for them to be done
~ New relationship & cant wait to see them again
~ Gambling can’t wait to get that big win again
~ Trigger actual or memory of pain/distress hopelessness, helplessness  intensification of depression/anxiety/anger or escape
Why Do I Care
~ Knowing triggers for the behavior to be eliminated will prevent the client from being triggered and moving on to obsessive thoughts or the behavior.
~ Smoking
~ Knowing positive triggers can help create a treatment plan
What is a Trigger
~ Triggers can be:
~ Auditory
~ Depression: Taps, music, children playing
~ Anxiety: Sirens, phone ringing, sudden loud noises, creaking floor boards
~ Addiction: Anything that triggers depression/anxiety
What is a Trigger
~ Triggers can be:
~ Visual
~ Depression: Grandma’s old house, pictures of abused animals/children, television shows
~ Anxiety: Messy house before mom comes, bridges
~ Triggers can be:
~ Olfactory (Smell)
~ Depression: Hospital smell, smell of smoke, cologne/perfume
~ Anxiety: Smell of smoke, smell of hospital
~ Addiction: Cigarette smoke, bar/casino, baked goods, alcohol
~ Happiness: Flowers, cologne/perfumes,
What is a Trigger
~ Triggers can be:
~ Cognitive
~ Depression/Anxiety: Cognitive distortions
~ Addiction: Distress Intolerant thoughts
~ Happiness: Empowerment, Self-Esteem, Hopefulness
The Problem of Generalization
~ Generalization can occur when characteristics of one instance of something are attributed to all instances
~ Engaging in a behavior that produces dopamine release produces a reward, so you are likely to do it again.

[@DocSnipes]

👌More videos can be found on this topic at
czcams.com/play/PLcB3trehXswi_IBZDr3aIdAKTzG4MCbqB.html&si=qP-t-8rOyA9Il32N
❤️Self help activities and worksheets and concierge coaching with Dr. Snipes can be accessed at DocSnipes.com
👍Online Courses for Continuing Education (CEU, OPD, CPD) and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification

[@glennrice7795]

Thank you again Dr. Dawn! I've been sharing your videos with my SMART Recovery members during 2020's corona virus outbreak as a learning opportunity during quarantine. They have been well received!

[@davidpebley6650]

I use the videos in group because the patients respond to the level of information that is not dumbed down or directed at patients. They like that it is more or less counselor training

[@DocSnipes]

Great. I am so happy they are helpful!

[@DocSnipes]

You are welcome. Glad they are helpful. Ty for watching and sharing.

[@oregondude9411]

Thank you for this video. I'm a "patient", not a counselor. But it helps me regardless.

[@samantha-kemp-therapy]

I have the same reaction to the phone ringing

[@DocSnipes]

:)