Feelings load the gun, addiction pulls the trigger.
Almost anything can be a trigger for sexual addiction. Even memories of past traumas can be present-day triggers. For instance, if your boss looks at one of your coworkers crossly, this might remind you of your alcoholic father, which brings up a slew of emotional discomfort—fear, anger, shame, etc.—and you therefore feel triggered, even though your boss’s expression has nothing at all to do with you in the present moment. This is just life, and, as addicts, we must learn to deal with it. We need to accept the fact that we’re going to be triggered, and when we’re triggered, we need to implement healthy coping mechanisms instead of acting out.
Just for Today
Think about the last time you were triggered. What set you off? Was it something major, or just normal, everyday life?