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How To Stop Triggering Your Addiction: Feeling Overwhelmed

October 19, 2015 Kira Lesley

It's important to learn how to avoid feeling overwhelmed in addiction recovery. (Overwhelmed by Stress and Anxiety? How to Deal with It). Feeling overwhelmed was one of my major triggers while in my addiction. Whether I felt overwhelming sadness, fear, or worry, these feelings were often a trigger for addictive behavior. Feeling overwhelmed is an almost universal addiction trigger; here's how to avoid feeling overwhelmed and stop triggering your addiction.

Feeling Overwhelmed Triggers Addictive Behavior

Feeling overwhelmed can trigger addictive behavior. How do you stop feeling overwhelmed? Here's a tip that can end this addiction trigger. Take a look.

Even before I started drinking, I did not know how to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I thought I knew how to handle it--by throwing myself into accomplishing tasks. I might have been productive, but in an unsustainable way.

I exhibited obsessive and compulsive symptoms about my studies and grades, perhaps even addictive. I barely slept, had no social life at all, and was generally crabby and short-tempered to my family. Then, once I sank into my addiction, I used alcohol, or whatever I could get my hands on, to escape the overwhelming feelings.

The Feeling Overwhelmed And Addictive Behavior Cycle

Of course, feeling overwhelmed and triggering addiction is a vicious cycle. The deeper I fell in my addiction, the more I felt I could not come back from it. I behaved in ways I never could have imagined. I was overcome with remorse and fear. In order to deal with that overwhelming powerlessness, I drank more.

A major part of recovery for me was learning to cope with these unpleasant feelings without drinking or engaging in other addictive behavior. Prayer and focusing on the "next right thing" saved me on many occasions.

How To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed: The Next Right Thing

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APA Reference
Lesley, K. (2015, October 19). How To Stop Triggering Your Addiction: Feeling Overwhelmed, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, October 31 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/debunkingaddiction/2015/10/feeling-overwhelmed-as-a-trigger-for-addictive-behavior



Author: Kira Lesley

susan
April, 22 2018 at 5:42 am

your beautiful dont forget that honestly I can see the sadness in you dont accept to live like that whatever you situation is and whoever made you feel like that your not your more beautiful and powerful than you think, trust me love

Ann Carver
October, 22 2015 at 3:49 am

Overwhelm of losing three family members definitely triggered my spending addiction in my late twenties and the act of turning to drink and drugs in my you gets years to block out abuse. I now help others but thank you this post has helped me realise purpose and cause overwhelm is important to manage - I practice morning pages daily and mindfulness colouring plus ask for help lately thank you

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Kira Lesley
November, 1 2015 at 5:55 pm

Thank you for your comments. I'm sorry for your losses, but I'm glad you have been able to find recovery. It's interesting how we use cross addiction ,isn't it? You said it started with spending, then drugs and alcohol. I wish you all the best.

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