Triggers & The Urges They Cause

Triggers Cause Cravings, That cause Urges, Which Cause Lapses, Or Relapses. Triggers & Urges are a major part of Sobriety & Recovery. Triggers can be a sole factor in keeping us from our goal of living a Clean and Productive life.

The Smart Recovery Program defines a Trigger as “the things that lead to cravings, which can lead to urges. They may be your emotion, something you have done, or want to do; a time of day, week, or year; something you touch, hear, see, or taste. Or literally anything that can lead to urges.”

“We each have our own set, and our own kind of triggers. Triggers are not excuses to use, and they are not unpredictable. Our behaviors related to addiction never disappear. Addictive behavior teaches your brain to associate some things with the pleasure or relief you feel when indulging in the addictive behavior.”