Addictions often rob people of maturity and emotional development. When difficult emotions arise—stress, loneliness, anger, or shame—many people turn to addictive behaviors as a way to cope. Even when they truly wants to stop, those emotional triggers can keep pulling them back into the cycle of relapse.

In this video, psychologist and sex addiction recovery expert Dr. Doug Weiss explains why addicts struggle to manage their emotions and how emotional triggers fuel addictive behaviors. Drawing from more than 30 years of counseling individuals and couples, he walks through several common emotional triggers that often lead people to fall back into addiction.

More importantly, Dr. Weiss shares practical insights on how to recognize, manage, and overcome emotional triggers so that they can no longer control your decisions. You are not powerless over your emotions. With the right tools, you can learn to drive your emotional car instead of being driven by triggers—and begin building a life free from addiction.

If you or someone you love is struggling with sex addiction, pornography addiction, or compulsive behaviors, there is hope. Healing and recovery are possible.

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/

If you're struggling with sex addiction, check out the following resources:
Final Freedom book: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/sex-addiction-2/
101 Freedom Exercises workbook: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/101-freedom-exercises-for-sex-addiction/
Healing Her Heart After Relapse: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/healing-her-heart-after-relapse-video-download/
Sexual Freedom Class: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/sexual-freedom-class-3/

For information and resources for sex addiction, check out https://www.sexaddict.com/

To learn more about our counseling services, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/relationship-and-addiction-counseling/

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/

#drdougweiss #intimacyanorexia #sexaddiction #emotionaltriggers #addictionrecovery #counseling #therapy

0:00 Emotions That Can Cause Relapse
1:00 Addictions Rob You Of Development
1:21 Medicating Emotions With Addiction
1:50 Learning to Emotionally Regulate Yourself
2:22 Triggering Emotions
2:26 Being Rejected
2:45 Boredom
3:04 Neuromodulation Program
3:24 Anger
3:31 Feeling Lonely
3:39 Feeling Tired
3:52 Identify Triggering Emotions
4:03 Emotional Fitness
4:27 Feelings Vs Thoughts
4:49 Your Feelings Are In Your Body, Not Your Brain
5:06 Feeling Exercise
5:14 Holding & Releasing Feeling In Your Body
5:27 Switching to Opposite Feeling
5:40 Switching Back & Forth Between Feelings
6:19 You Don’t Have to Be Controlled By Emotional Triggers