WHATS UNDER MY ANGER
Guilt says, “I did something bad.” What does shame say?
“I am bad.”
Can you control whether you use substances today?
Yes—your choices and recovery actions are within your control/influence.
Someone cuts you off in traffic. What's the safest recovery response?
A. Follow them
B. Let it go and keep driving
C. Speed around them
D. Show them exactly how you feel 😂
Answer: B
What's the first stage of anger escalation?
Answer: Irritation.
True or False: Anger can be a relapse trigger.
Answer: True.
Name two feelings that can hide underneath anger.
Hurt, fear, shame, embarrassment, rejection, powerlessness, etc.
Can you control whether someone forgives you?
No
Your roommate eats the food you've been saving.
A. Eat his tomorrow
B. Say nothing and stay mad
C. Tell him not to use your things without asking
D. Threaten him
Answer: C — assertive communication
Jaw tight, shoulders tense, breathing changes. What are these?
Physical warning signs.
Someone says, “I used because getting high helped me stop thinking about how angry I was.” What were substances being used for?
Answer: Coping/numbing/escaping the emotion.
You keep replaying an argument and getting angry again. What is this called?
Rumination.
Your family doesn't trust you yet. What can you control?
Your consistency, honesty, behavior, communication, recovery actions, etc.
Your partner hasn't answered your text, but you see them online. What's the fact?
A. They're ignoring you
B. They're cheating
C. They haven't answered
D. They're disrespecting you
Answer: C. Everything else is interpretation.
You're pacing, raising your voice and finding it harder to think clearly. What stage are you probably entering?
Answer: Agitation.
Why can holding onto resentment put recovery at risk? *Your morning material makes this connection directly.
Answer: It can keep anger and distress active, increase rumination, and contribute to urges to escape through substances.
Why can shame sometimes come out as anger?
Anger can protect us from feeling exposed, embarrassed, rejected, powerless, or vulnerable.
True or False: Setting a boundary means making another person change their behavior.
False. A boundary identifies what you will do to protect your needs/well-being.
Staff corrects you about something you disagree with. Give one assertive response that doesn't involve shutting down or becoming aggressive.
Multiple answers accepted.
Why are coping skills easier to use at Stage 1 or 2 than Stage 4?
Answer: You're still able to think more clearly and make deliberate choices before becoming highly dysregulated.
Finish this chain:
Trigger → Thought → Feeling → Anger → ______
Accept: urge, reaction/behavior, substance use, craving, provided they explain the pathway.
“I messed everything up, so I'm just a bad person.” Is this guilt or shame, and how could you reframe it?
Shame. Reframe toward the behavior: “I've made harmful choices, but I can take responsibility and change my behavi
Someone disrespects you. Name three things you can control before responding.
What you say, whether you walk away, whether you retaliate, whether you pause, whether you contact support, whether you use, etc.
Someone says something disrespectful in front of everybody. Give a response that protects your boundary AND your recovery.
THE TEACHER IS THE JUDGE OF THE CORRECT ANSWER.
You're at Stage 3 and getting more worked up. Name three things from your skills menu you could do before reaching Stage 4.
FIND ANSWER IN YOUR WORKBOOK.
You're angry and suddenly want to use. Name three things you could do before acting on the urge.
Accept appropriate coping/recovery responses.