Hi, thanks for your question.
The most important thing is sharing honestly with another who has had a similar experience and has made through it clean. This is the process of recovery, you are doing it!
First thing I want to say is that I have been clean from all mind and mood altering substances (drugs..) B"H, but I have only a few days off of porn from my phone, bli ayin hara.
I do believe that the recovery process can be applied to anything I want to change that is self destructive in my life.
I can say is that my perspective on things have changed a lot through the recovery process that I'm actively involved in on a daily basis. Instead of direct answer I will look at what you wrote responsively.
"How do you deal.."
I don't do it alone. I deal by continually staying connected to the recovery process each day. For me that means daily prayer and meditation with HaShem. Meetings, sponsor, service and step work.
The support of the fellowship is my foundation from which all things are possible.
"after being clean for a while?"
There is no graduation from recovery, it is a life-long process of change and growth. Complacency is a danger. If I ever become indifferent to recovery and say I don't need those meetings anymore I am headed for a relapse.
What the recovery process and the steps do is create a personal relationship and connection to HaShem. This helps me sometimes more than others in difficult situations especially when I am feel connected. So I try to do things daily that help me stay connected. I do what works for me. What makes me feel connected to HaShem.
"being triggered"
There is nothing more normal that for someone new to recovery to feel triggered and have urges. As an Addict that can and will happen especially when I'm new. The closer I am to my last using the stronger the pull will be.
Remember one thing when the thought to use comes: "It is just a thought I don't have to follow it." The thought and the feeling will pass as it always does.
"afraid that the urge will increase"
What happens with more time is the desire to use gets weaker and weaker with total abstinence. The fear though only changes through evidence of not using even when I feel I must. In other words walking through that feeling with faith that I'll be okay even when I don't a ct out on it.
Realize גם זה יעבור, gam zeh yaavor, "this too shall pass."
Remember HaShem is loving, kind and more powerful than us. And He wants the best for us.
His will is for us is not to use, our yetzer harah wants us to use. The choice is ultimately ours. We are not responsible for our disease but we responsible for our recovery and the consequences of our actions.
Today I choose not to pickup that first one because I know "one is too many and a thousand is never enough"
I hope we can continue to share with each other our struggles and triumphs to inspire each other and lift each other up.
I can't do it alone but we can do it together!