What actually triggers an addiction relapse? Dr. Doug Weiss explains why the events leading up to a relapse often have something deeper underneath them: an emotion.
Feeling alone, rejected, hurt, disappointed, overwhelmed, stressed, or desperate to escape can become powerful triggers—especially when addiction has been used for years as a way to avoid these uncomfortable emotions.
In this video, Dr. Doug explains emotional arrestment and why addiction can interfere with emotional development. Instead of learning how to identify, experience, communicate, and manage difficult feelings, an addict may learn to escape those feelings through pornography, sex, alcohol, drugs, technology, or other addictive behaviors.
But emotional skills can be learned and with the right tools an addict can become emotionally mature and avoid relapsing.
For counseling and support, contact Heart to Heart Counseling Center at 719-278-3708 or email heart2heart@xc.org to connect with a certified therapist who can help you start your healing journey. For accelerated recovery, book a 3-Day or 5-Day Intensive to get a lot of specialized help in a short amount of time.
To learn more about managing your emotions, get the Emotional Fitness book here: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/emotional-fitness-book/
To learn more about our counseling services, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/relationship-and-addiction-counseling/
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrDougWeiss
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdougweiss
For more information about our intensive program to get a lot of help in recovering from Sex Addiction, Partner Betrayal Trauma, or Intimacy Anorexia, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/intensives/
To join one of our many support groups, visit the following links:
Phone Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/groups/
Free Facebook Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/facebook-groups/
Visit the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy to find a certified therapist and other helpful resources: https://aasat.org/
0:00 – How Emotions Can Trigger a Relapse
0:17 – What Really Happens Before a Relapse
0:35 – The Feelings That Can Trigger Addiction
1:11 – Why Addiction Can Stop Emotional Development
1:35 – How Addicts Learn to Escape Their Feelings
2:06 – The Emotional Skills You Never Learned
2:31 – Becoming Emotionally Fit in Recovery
2:55 – Learn to Identify, Feel & Change an Emotion
3:27 – How Long Does Emotional Growth Take?
3:34 – Communicating Feelings Without Anger or Isolation
3:58 – Feelings Are Not the Truth
4:02 – Why Emotional Health Helps You Stay Sober
4:20 – Trauma and Other Relapse Triggers
4:39 – When to Get Professional Help
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Why Your Emotions Could Be Putting Your Sobriety at Risk!
Posted on 10/16/2026