Normal Recovery Symptoms
When you experience various physical and emotional symptoms, including restlessness or sleeplessness, irritability, as well as depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
Withdrawal
Anger is a what emotion?
secondary
What is the opposite of 'RECOVERY'?
Connection
What is another name for 'DUAL DISORDERS'?
Comorbidity or co-occurring
The only time the body is ever at rest.
Sleep but specifically R.E.M. stage of sleep
Name 2 health consequences of alcohol and drugs
liver damage, mental health issues, hygiene, STDs/STIs, etc.
If someone who has used stimulants frequently decides to get sober, what will they typically experience?
A low depression
Describe what a 'TRIGGER' is
An individual's response to internal or external events
What analogy is used when wondering which (mental health or addiction) caused what (mental health or addiction)?
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
A way to remind yourself of the good and the bad of addiction. Commonly used in 12 step programs.
Replaying the tape all the way through
In treatment, what is considered 'LONG TERM SOBRIETY'?
roughly 18 months (1.5 years)
PAWS (post-acute withdrawal symptoms) is described as ___________ rather than physical symptoms
psychological and emotional
Obviously we earn about coping skills to increase our chances of staying sober, but what else do they increase or improve?
Communication, relationships, physical health, emotional regulation, attitudes etc.
Why is dual diagnosis so important?
Treating one area while refusing to touch on another is harmful and increases chances of relapse because the connected issues are not being addressed.
or
Mental health and substance use so overlapped it is impossible to separate one from the other.
What are 3 ways you can measure or observe your growth?
Through journaling and reflecting, from speaking with a mentor/clinician, and keeping track of daily habits.
Why are substances more addictive than natural rewards?
The brain of someone who misuses drugs adjusts by producing fewer neurotransmitters in the reward circuit, or by reducing the number of receptors that can receive signals. As a result, the person's ability to experience pleasure from naturally rewarding (i.e., reinforcing) activities is also reduced.
Why is high anxiety expected in early recovery?
Alcohol, in particular, acts as a central nervous system depressant. When it is removed, the nervous system can swing into a hyperactive state, producing symptoms like racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, heightened startle responses, and physical sensations of tension or dread. For people recovering from opioid dependence, anxiety is also a hallmark of the withdrawal and post-withdrawal period.
Describe the difference between a coping skill and a coping tool.
A coping tool would be an activity or behaviour that does not take time and effort to practice (i.e. listening to music, going for walks, etc.) where as a coping skill takes practice and effort to implement in daily routine (i.e. Journaling, asking for space to reflect before responding, vocalizing need for help, etc.).
What are other factors for mental health symptoms?
Environmental factors, developmental factors, and genetic factors.
Being _______ for something is the ability to be held ________ and deal with the consequences good or bad.
responsible and accountable
Name the 3 areas of your brain that are affected by substance use
Basal Ganglia, Extended Amygdala , Prefrontal Cortex
Typical emotions that increase chance for relapse if not monitored.
Guilt, shame, resentments, disappointment, anxiety, discomfort, intense mental health symptoms, etc.
These 6 components make up a relapse prevention plan.
1. Identify triggers
2. List your coping strategies
3. Create a list of contacts you can rely on in
4. High risk situations exit strategy
5. Small routines you can implement to stay focused
6. Create a list of why you are motivated to stay sober
While you may get a mental health diagnosis in early recovery, why should it be important that you remember the diagnosis may change in the long term?
While physical detox from substances is complete, other areas that were affected by the substances are still rebuilding and trying to comprehend that there is no more substance.
The stages of change, what are they?
Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and sometimes relapse.