In addiction recovery, a trigger is any internal or external cue that increases the urge to use substances or return to addictive behaviors. Research on relapse prevention (Marlatt & Donovan, 2005; Witkiewitz & Marlatt, 2021) demonstrates that relapse is rarely a sudden event—it typically follows a chain of high-risk situations, emotional states, and cognitive shifts. By identifying your personal triggers in advance and pairing each one with a specific coping response, you create a protective buffer between the urge and the action. This proactive approach is one of the strongest predictors of sustained recovery.