February 24, 2026

#107 How the Addiction Cycle Works (And How to Finally Break It)

58 minutes

Struggling with trauma/PTSD and need help? Join my private recovery community here and get my 9 best relief tools 100% FREE: https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

In this high-impact session, Brad and Kayleen break down the addiction cycle into four clear stages: trigger, pain, addictive behavior, and fallout. They explain how this cycle feeds itself and why awareness alone is a major step toward breaking free. But awareness isn't enough — you need a plan.

The key insight is that there are two journeys you must walk to truly overcome addiction. The short-term journey is about breaking the habit by using healthy coping skills when pain hits. The long-term journey is about healing the root trauma that's driving the pain in the first place. If you only do one, you'll stay stuck. Do both, and you can get to a place where the addiction becomes a complete non-issue.

Brad and Kayleen also dive into the critical role of self-talk — how you're either talking yourself into the addictive behavior or talking yourself into a different choice. They share practical strategies for preparing ahead of time, including creating a list of enjoyable activities you can turn to when the urge hits, and how to use that moment of pause to redirect yourself.

💡 What You'll Learn

The four stages of the addiction cycle and how they feed each other

Why the fallout from addictive behavior affects literally everything in your life

The two journeys required to break free: short-term habit change and long-term trauma healing

Why healthy coping alone won't fully solve the problem

How to prepare a list of enjoyable alternatives before the urge hits

The power of self-talk in that critical moment of decision

Why getting out of your environment is a key strategy

How to build references of success that you can lean on

🧠 Key Takeaway

You need to walk two journeys to break the addiction cycle: change the habit through healthy coping skills, and heal the underlying trauma that's driving the pain. One without the other keeps you stuck.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive. To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit: https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:20 Understanding the Addiction Cycle

08:44 Defining Addiction and Its Impact

16:20 Breaking the Addiction Cycle: Short-Term Strategies

25:31 Breaking the Addiction Cycle: Long-Term Strategies

31:19 The Day-by-Day Process of Recovery

31:58 Achieving a Non-Issue State

32:47 Defining and Breaking Addictions

34:38 Evaluating and Setting Boundaries

38:58 Short-Term Coping Strategies

45:27 The Power of Self-Talk

50:53 Navigating the Platform and Resources

55:27 Final Words and Encouragement

Topics Covered: PTSD recovery • addiction recovery • addiction cycle • trauma and addiction • healthy coping skills • breaking bad habits • self-talk • sobriety • behavioral addiction • substance use • healing the root cause • habit change • recovery toolbox • dopamine • emotional regulation • relapse prevention • recovery mindset • trauma processing

...more

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