Trauma, Attachment, and Addiction: Why the Past Won’t Stay in the Past. So many people I work with come in thinking their addiction is the problem—but more often than not, it’s actually the symptom. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep doing this when I know it’s hurting me?” or “Why do I feel so empty or anxious all the time?”—you’re asking exactly the right questions. And to answer them, we have to go backward before we can move forward.

Why do most people seek treatment? Stopping the next relapse is why most people come seeking help. By the time a person sits down at their first treatment they have tried to quit on their and could not come up with any solutions that worked. Relapse as a multistage process and the first key in recovery is learning to recognize these early stages. Relapse and subsequent recovery can be a process of gradual growth and personal development. It is during this time that something

Many people contend that relapse is a forgone conclusion – this is NOT true! First, a person needs to be aware of their relapse triggers. These triggers can be categorized in a few groups: environmental, mental, and emotional. One of the easiest ways to start addressing possible relapse triggers is becoming aware of HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). This acronym describes the feelings a person gets when they are in high-risk situations.

Relapse occurs when a drug addict or alcoholic abstains from using or drinking for a period. Then, as if by surprise, this person finds themselves drinking or drugging again. This is how most people understand what relapsing is. However, it is important to understand that relapse begins before a person “picks up” (uses drugs or alcohol again).  People can become dysfunctional within recovery, lose control of behavior, and can develop emotional problems before they pick up.