Episode 14 - Understanding Triggers and How to Avoid Them

The Role of Triggers in Recovery

Triggers are like invisible strings, pulling you back into destructive habits before you even realize it. They can feel automatic, almost like muscle memory, and can quickly lead you down a path you’ve worked hard to leave behind. Triggers come in many forms—they might be as obvious as walking past a bar where you once spent your nights or as subtle as the faint smell of a drink, the sound of an old favorite song, or an emotion that takes you by surprise. Left unchecked, triggers can derail your progress and lead to feelings of frustration or defeat. But when you identify, understand, and prepare for them, triggers become opportunities—not obstacles—to choose a different, healthier path forward.