Overcoming Cravings and Triggers: Finding Strength in the Moment

Dear Reader,

So often we think of recovery only in terms of alcohol or drugs. In my experience, however, most alcoholics and addicts have multiple areas of powerlessness. For me, this often surfaces in something as simple as snacking. At the end of the day, when I sit down to watch TV or begin writing, I find myself craving food without restraint. While it may seem small compared to alcohol or drugs, the pattern is the same: my will feels powerless, and the craving takes charge. In trying to resolve this dilemma, I offer the following thoughts on triggers.

Anyone who has walked the path of recovery knows the sudden and powerful urge that can arise when a trigger appears. Whether it comes in the form of stress, loneliness, a place from the past, or even a simple smell or memory, cravings can feel overwhelming. The truth is, these moments do not mean we are failing—they mean we are human. What matters is how we respond. Below are some suggestions to break or at least weaken the pull of a trigger.

1. Pause and Breathe
When a craving strikes, the first step is to slow down. Even a deep breath can create space between the urge and the action. That pause allows us to remember the simple AA truth: “One day at a time.” I have found this technique successful when I feel out of control and my thoughts begin drifting toward harm, either to myself or others.

2. Call on Support
One of the gifts of recovery is that we do not walk alone. Reaching out to a sponsor, friend, or support group can transform isolation into connection. Speaking the truth out loud—“I am struggling right now”—removes the craving’s power to grow in the dark. As the fellowship reminds us: “You are not alone.” Even speaking aloud to my house pet helps. As soon as I hear my own words, I recognize the craziness of my thinking, and that alone can bring me back to self-control.

3. Change the Environment
Triggers often thrive in familiar settings. Sometimes the best strategy is simple: step outside, go for a walk, open a window, or physically move to a safer space. A shift in place can lead to a shift in mind. The Savior invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). My experience with this action has been healing, and it often opens the way for me to get other things done that I had been putting off.

4. Engage the Spirit
Prayer, meditation, and scripture remind us of a Higher Power who cares for us. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And the Book of Mormon assures us: “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14). In these moments, we practice “Let go and let God.” This action for me is vital. Stopping to pray is not only an act of faith—it opens the channel for divine help.

5. Reframe the Struggle
Cravings are not just obstacles—they can be teachers. AA reminds us: “Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual growth.” When we face our triggers, we discover the strength of surrender. As one theologian wrote, “Addiction should be understood as a form of idolatry... replacing God’s rightful place with something that cannot provide what it promises” (Jake Williams). Turning to God in weakness replaces false promises with true healing.

6. Remember the Big Picture
Cravings rise and fall like waves. They do not last forever. In the moment, it helps to recall why we chose recovery—family, freedom, peace, health, and hope. As Paul testified, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). And LDS teachings echo Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Dear friend, triggers may come, but they do not define you. Each time you pause to breathe, pray, or reach out, you are choosing life over chaos. Overcoming cravings is not only saying “no” to the old—it is saying “yes” to the life Christ is offering you, one moment and one victory at a time.

I testify of the power of these practices and the wisdom they bring. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.