Five Potential Ambien Relapse Triggers

Filed under Ambien Addiction

People in Ambien addiction recovery should understand the possibility of relapse and guard against it. Although cravings and relapses may seem to come out of the blue, there are predictable triggers that prompt the desire to use. Individuals have different personal Ambien relapse triggers, but there are many that are common to people in recovery.

Common Relapse Triggers for People in Ambien Recovery

The following are common relapse triggers for those recovering from Ambien addiction:

• Stress – There are many types of stress, and all can prompt drug use cravings. Emotional stress can involve interpersonal struggles, anxiety or fear of failure. Physical stress can be caused by lack of sleep or a poor diet. Even “positive” stress like beginning a new job can serve as an Ambien relapse trigger.
• Celebration – People in recovery may associate drug use with partying and celebration. For that reason occasions such as a promotion, a friend’s wedding or the arrival of the weekend can trigger the desire to use Ambien to enhance the celebratory mood.
• Overconfidence – When people have been in recovery for a while and have been successful at staying clean, they can become overconfident and fail to adhere to their recovery plan. They may feel able to spend time with drug-using friends or skip support group meetings, but changing the recovery environment can lead to Ambien relapse.
• Sensory cues – Information taken in through sight, sound, smell, taste and touch can contribute to Ambien cravings, if the brain associates the sensory information with prior drug use. Going to places where drugs were used in the past is an obvious sensory cue, while other sensory associations are more subtle, often barely rising to the level of consciousness.
• Use of mood-altering substances – The use of alcohol or other illicit or prescription drugs can trigger an Ambien relapse. Most mood-altering substances affect the same areas of the brain, and use of one can prompt cravings for another and interrupt the brain’s healing process.

Recovery Professionals Can Help End Ambien Addiction

Addiction treatment professionals can help patients learn to identify their personal relapse triggers. They can also identify and address co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression which make relapse more likely and teach relapse prevention skills. If you have relapsed or are ready to confront an Ambien addiction for the first time, we can help you find the assistance you need. Call our toll-free helpline any time, and let our counselors answer your questions. They can check your insurance coverage if you wish to help you better understand your options. Recovery is within your reach, so please call today.