Triggers
Something triggers your need for the nicotine, which in turn could be a trigger for another addiction which could also trigger another addictive behavior… cascading thru multiple addictive behaviors
In your case you may have had a series of behaviors all linked to each other.
Psychology Today: Triggers and relapse, a craving connection for addicts (read more here)
“”(…) As if matters needed to be made worse, triggers not only bring about responses that make you think about the drug. In fact, over and over in learning and addiction research, it’s been shown that triggers actually bring back drug seeking, and drug wanting, behavior. As soon as a cue (or trigger) is presented, both animals and humans who have been exposed to drugs for an extended period of time, will go right back to the activity that used to bring them drugs even after months of being without it. In fact, their levels of drug seeking will bounce back as if no time has passed. Sound familiar?! Given these findings, is it any wonder that cravings bring about relapse in so many addicts who are trying to quit? If simply thinking about, or hearing, something that was always tied to drugs can bring about such a strong response, what is an addict to do? (…)""
This is one major reason why when kicking any habit one may have to make changes in lifestyle and often, but not always, in relationships to avoid the associated triggers.
This is a very complex situation and you may need a spiritual advisor and professional counseling in addition to frequent prayer and reconciliation to help you get thru this aspect of your life.
