Trigger VS feeling aroused. What’s the difference

[sarahrocket]

Hi there 

my partner is in recovery from porn addiction. 
he agreed to tell me every day how he’s been as he works from home alone. 
yesterday he told me he felt aroused but not triggered. he said he didn’t act on it because he wanted to save it for me . He said it didn’t feel the same as the addiction. He said it felt like just  a normal feeling of arousal.

I asked if before recovery this would’ve resulted in watching porn. He said yes. 

this confused me as I thought it was different to feeling aroused. He previously told me it’s not the same thing. that when he watched the porn it was due to a need to do it, not feeling turned on. 
 

looking for some insight from porn addicts. What’s the difference between feeling aroused and feeling triggered?

i thought acting out behaviour was unrelated to sexual desire. This is what he told me and what reading Paula hall online has told me. 
 

now I’m thinking this is untrue. He said he felt horny and if he wasn’t in recovery he’d have watched the porn. Previously he said ‘it isn’t the same as feeling horny. It’s different. It’s like needing a cigarette not because you want one but because you need one’. 

also…..porn addicts: how can I tell if he’s still keeping things from me? I sort of believe him that he’s being truthful now. But with all the lying previously I can’t be sure. Is there a tell? Is there anything specific I should check for? any specific way I can phrase my question to increase chances of him telling the truth? 
 

help:(