Do the triggers ever go away?

[btay]

I am getting ready to move so my Dad sent me home the other day with a ton of boxes.  One of them was a box from my stbxh's drink of choice and as soon as I saw it I had that same sinking feeling I used to get when I saw evidence of stbxh's drinking.  I've had this same reaction when my roommate threw an empty bottle of wine away.   Is this something therapy can help with or is it just something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life?

[phoenixrising]

I think therapy can help to minimize your reaction to triggers. However, if they come up out of the blue after a long time of not experiencing them, you might feel the same little jolt. Therapy can help you to manage the feelings that come up with triggers, however, which will mean they won't have the same power over you.

[flex]

I need my triggers to remind me that "yes, your drinking WAS that bad!", etc. I embrace them because of that.

Over time, their power over you will dissipate, but I encourage you not to try to eradicate them entirely from your brain. They do have a good use. Does that make sense?

[mel]

I think that therapy teaches you how to deal with the triggers in a healthy way but that they never go away.

For me, whenever I have a trigger and I use positive coping mechanisms then I get a sense of pride. A moment of "look how far I've come and what I can do!" Those moments give me hope for the future.

[malibu]

I cringe when I see any soda bottles. I have a feeling that no matter what, this will continue on for a very long time.

[btay]

I still have a reaction to the sound of a can opening too. I can talk myself down pretty quickly but I just hate that the rest of my life I will have these weird reactions to such mundane things.