What Advice Would You Give to Someone Who Deals with Visual Triggers for Substance Abuse?
what adive would you give to someone who deals with visual triggers to use alcohol or drugs. for example, one of my clients lives in an area where when he walks down the street he sees people on patio bars and this triggers him. MOVING IS NOT AN OPTION – this is where the treatment facility is located. traveling a different route is not an option for the most part. what are some effective coping skills he may utilize?
Suggestion:
You are never going to get to a stage where he is completely devoid of visual triggers – unless of course he chooses to move to a muslim country. He should use hypnotherapy to remove the trigger response and replace it with a reinforcement of his sobriety. If you need more information on the treatment of drug and alcohol issues, take a look at http://www.vancouverhypnotherapy.org/hypnosis_for_alcoholism.html
I hope this helps.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
have you tried blinding him?
1) get an ipod (or similar music player)
put great music he likes on it
as soon as he gets ready to go out, especially in the direction of the patio bars, turn the musci up, so that he is walking to the beat of the music.
that gives him an alternate strong sensory input to focus on which might help him look ahead, toward the street, at his feet – but at least something interesting besides watching people drink.
also, some people can read as they walk. If he can, or wants to learn that, it wold also help distract from the other images.
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