H.A.L.T. and triggers

May 22 09:24 UTC 2002

as discussed in item:3

H.A.L.T.

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

Best to avoid these extremes, as our vulnerability is highest and the 
temptation to abuse a substance is greatest.

Triggers are any stimulus that provokes feelings of pain, especially 
pain that encourage us to self-medicate as described above.  Pardon 
the use of "self-medicate" here-- as someone who manages bipolar, I've 
heard it mentioned in the mental health care profession.  Its context 
is used for patients with mental disorders that abuse substances in a 
conscious or subconscious attempt to regulate them.  "Drowning your 
sorrows" is an old cliche phrase that alcoholics will probably 
recognize.

Such triggers may be tonal anchors, which are usually music, which 
will evoke painful memories.  Many triggers may be connected to 
sights, smells, and tactile sensations associated with the addiction.  
For example, porn, old cruising haunts, body smells (soap, perfume, 
etc.) may provoke bestial urges in me to sexually feed.  Parental 
pressure and disapproval are also big ones for me.

Understanding both concepts, I think, is a good step in establishing 
boundaries and gauging where the downward spiral begins.

response 2 of 13:

May 23 01:31 UTC 2002

Well, yes, but aren't even the cases you mentioned mild instances?

Applying theory and techniques of recovery therapy will apply to other 
problems, too.

response 4 of 13:

May 23 20:34 UTC 2002

I think you missed my point.

It is quite clear that you deal with substance abuse indirectly, and 
do not experience the problem yourself.  My point is that the 
techniques will apply to any sense of loss of control, and that 
sometimes addiction stems from attempting to regain that sense of 
control.

Naturally, many people do not go to the extreme of substance abuse.  
But it has been noticed by many that H.A.L.T., the 12-steps, AVRT, or 
other techniques/concepts will apply to any modification of behavior.

response 8 of 13:

Jul 5 08:13 UTC 2002

Looking back again, using HALT and recognizing triggers is helpful in 
learning self-control, whether addicted or not.  Lack of control, of 
any kind, has been scary for me, and I'm still learning to use those 
methods. 

response 10 of 13:

Aug 21 09:25 UTC 2002

hmmm, well, okay.  Not sure what to say more.. but let's try a 
different look.

H.A.L.T. alone is an easy acronym to remember, and I think Hungry, 
Angry, Lonely and Tired pretty much cuts to the core of our 
physiological needs.  The Greeks spoke of a sane mind in a sane body-- 
this concept simply seems to extend to the fact that we are social 
animals, too, and we need the support of others.

To recognize and identify triggers is an important recovery concept 
because it underlies the fact that for many of us, especially those 
struggling with addiction, there were needs (basic needs even) that 
were not met or restricted.  We may have faced abuse or neglect.  
Therefore, we turned to other ways and means to met those needs, some 
which were very unhealthy.  Triggers simply are the catalysts.  They 
may invoke painful memories (or they may even be traumatic experiences 
themselves), or they may simply be any stimulus connected to our 
substance or ill behavior of choice.

Depression, for example, may prompt overeating, drinking, or engaging 
in some sort of stimulus that is appealing to the senses.

For myself, combinations of severe depression and mild mania generally 
prompted a feeling of a loss of control-- and therefore I began doing 
things.. some pleasurable, some painful.. but anything I felt I could 
control.

I remember a recovering drug user who said he kinda wanted to die.. but 
he wanted to have fun while he was doing it.  On the other hand, having 
talked to cutters and having dabbled in it myself, I know some 
behaviors are a deliberate causing of pain-- but the user has a feeling 
of controlling that pain.

Does that make sense?  Using these analogies is simply going back and 
realizing what your basic needs are, making sure you don't come up 
empty, and that you know what sets you off.

response 12 of 13:

Aug 22 06:04 UTC 2002

Oh, the tonal anchor concept.

We seem to connect music to memories.  Examples include lovers who 
refer to "their song," or tunes that have catapulted into superselling 
status because they seemed to jibe with the news of the day.  They are 
lyrics that we relate to, more particularly, with certain life events, 
and instrumental scores that seem to orchestrate our lives somehow.

Sure, many people will use music theraputically-- depressed folks may 
choose deafening metal, moody-broody New Romantic/synthpop (it was 
Depeche Mode a.k.a. Depressed Mood for me), or sugary teen pop, etc. 
but this goes even further-- music that was connected to something 
dramatic, traumatic, or significant.