Sobriety and the Truth About "Triggers"
Over the years, we've heard it so many times in so many ways: “I relapsed because I was triggered,” or, “That place has too many triggers.”
Rehab models and even society often frame recovery as some chaotic battlefield where "triggers" lurk around every corner, waiting to ambush you and send you spiraling back into substance use. But here’s the truth: Triggers don’t exist in the way we’ve been taught to believe.
A song, a place, or even a person doesn’t have the power to "make" you crave a substance. These external factors are just reflections of internal discomfort—the real issue isn’t the so-called trigger; it’s the feeling you’re trying to avoid (fear, grief, embarrassment, etc.). Substance use isn’t about the object or experience outside of you; it’s about the desire to escape what’s happening inside of you.
Why Do We Seek to Escape?
Outside of physical dependency, the need to use substances often stems from unresolved pain, fear, or dissatisfaction. When we label external things as triggers, we avoid addressing the deeper question: Why do I want to escape right now?
Sobriety is about more than just abstaining from drugs or alcohol (or at least it should be)—it’s about digging into the "why" behind the desire to check out.
Ask yourself:
What am I avoiding in my life? Why?
What feelings am I unwilling to sit with? Why?
What patterns, people, or habits am I clinging to that keep me stuck? Why?
The craving isn’t caused by the song, the memory, or the environment. It’s caused by a refusal to confront the discomfort within.
Triggers vs. Excuses
Let’s call "triggers" what they often are: excuses. They give us a way to externalize responsibility and avoid looking inward.
Even the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous describes alcohol as “cunning, baffling, and powerful,” emphasizing how it seems to take control of the individual. However, the reality is that alcohol itself is an inanimate object, incapable of thought or action. The true challenge lies within our own minds.
It’s not alcohol that’s attacking us. Instead, we are choosing the escape that alcohol provides over the discomfort of trauma, pain, or emotional struggles. Alcohol becomes the solution to our problem because we don’t want to face the core issue. It offers temporary relief, allowing us to avoid the hard work of healing.
But this dynamic doesn’t last. Substances remain the solution only until they become the problem. Over time, the same substance we turned to for escape compounds our struggles. Now, instead of just unresolved trauma or discomfort, we’re also faced with the weight of physical and mental addiction. What we once used to drown out the pain has added new layers of complexity and harm to our lives.
Instead of asking, "What triggered me?" ask, "What am I running from?"
Instead of blaming external factors, take ownership of your internal state.
This shift is empowering. When you realize that nothing outside of you can "make" you feel a certain way, you take back control over your sobriety and your life.
What’s Holding You Back?
Sobriety requires honesty. To truly move forward, you must identify the areas of your life that keep you tethered to the mindset of escape.
Ask yourself:
What Aren’t You Doing?
Are you neglecting your physical health? Why?
Are you not being honest, skipping meetings, or avoiding therapy? Why?
Are you failing to invest in relationships that nourish you? Why?
What Could You Eliminate?
Are there people in your life who perpetuate negativity or enable old habits?
Are you still holding onto environments, routines, or behaviors that align with your old life?
Answering these questions honestly, and taking action in these areas, creates a foundation for growth, making the need to escape less overwhelming.
Focusing on Growth Instead of Avoidance
When we focus on "avoiding triggers," we live defensively. Sobriety isn’t about avoidance—it’s about growth.
Instead of running from pain, run toward purpose.
Discover new passions and hobbies.
Set meaningful goals that give you a sense of accomplishment.
Instead of avoiding discomfort, learn to sit with it.
Practice mindfulness and emotional awareness.
Develop coping skills that allow you to process difficult feelings without resorting to escape.
Sobriety isn’t just about what to avoid—it’s about what you build.
Taking Responsibility for Your Sobriety
The truth is, no one and nothing can make you relapse. Sobriety is your responsibility. By reframing "triggers" as opportunities to reflect, you transform your recovery journey. Every moment of discomfort becomes a chance to ask:
What is this teaching me about myself?
How can I grow from this experience?
What steps can I take to address the real issue?
“A trigger is anything that recalls thoughts, feelings, or memories of an addiction.” If that’s true, then anything and everything could be a trigger. Think about that for a moment: if you’ve used drugs or drank long enough, you’ve likely associated substances with countless aspects of your daily life. If you live under the belief that everything is a potential trigger, you’re setting yourself up to feel constantly at risk. That’s no way to think or live. This mindset is not only overwhelming but also disempowering. It shifts the focus away from what truly matters: Your response and Your responsibility.
Rather than allowing triggers to control your sobriety, challenge the belief that they hold power over you. A song, a scent, or a memory doesn’t have the ability to force you into relapse. These external cues only highlight the deeper work that still needs to be done—the unresolved emotions or unaddressed discomfort you’re trying to avoid.
By changing how you view “triggers,” you reclaim your power. Instead of bracing for constant ambushes from the outside world, you begin to focus on building internal strength. The reality is, sobriety isn’t about avoiding the world; it’s about learning how to live in it without running away from your feelings.
The Gambit Recovery Approach
At Gambit Recovery, we don’t teach people to fear triggers—we teach them to face their inner challenges with courage and honesty. Sobriety is not about avoiding life; it’s about embracing it fully, even when it’s uncomfortable.
If you’re ready to stop running from yourself and start building a life that doesn’t need escape, we’re here to help. Gambit Recovery provides the structure, support, and community you need to uncover your "why" and create lasting change.
Contact us today to take the next step in your recovery journey.
Sobriety isn’t about avoiding triggers—it’s about finding freedom within yourself.
