Ground Yourself
What is the purpose of a grounding technique?
To bring you back to the present moment.
" When might someone in recovery need grounding?"
What substance does Nic primarily struggle with in Beautiful Boy?
Methamphetamine.
"What effects of his substance use did you notice throughout the movie?"
True or False: Alcohol is a drug.
True.
"Why do you think alcohol is sometimes treated differently from other drugs?"
What is a trigger?
Something that increases the urge to use.
"What are some common triggers you've seen or experienced?"
Name one healthy coping skill.
Answers vary.
"Let's get a few more. What's something you personally do that helps you cope?"
In the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, what do you use to connect yourself to the present?
Your five senses.
"Which of your senses helps calm or ground you the most?"
True or False: Nic experiences periods of recovery followed by relapse.
True.
"What does the movie show us about relapse and the recovery process?"
What does AUD stand for?
Alcohol Use Disorder.
"At what point do you think drinking goes from recreational use to becoming a problem?"
Triggers can generally be divided into what two types?
Internal and external.
"Can someone give me an example of each?"
True or False: Asking someone for help can be a coping skill.
True.
"What sometimes makes asking for help difficult?"
True or False: Grounding techniques are only useful when someone is having a panic attack.
False.
"What are some other situations where grounding could be helpful?"
Besides Nic, who else is affected by his substance use?
His family/loved ones.
"What were some ways his addiction affected his dad, siblings, or other relationships?"
Name one area of someone's life that alcohol addiction can negatively affect.
Health, relationships, work, finances, legal issues, etc.
"Which consequences can sometimes be hardest for someone to recognize?"
Feeling lonely, angry, stressed, or bored would be what type of trigger?
Internal trigger.
"Which emotions do you think are especially difficult for people in recovery?"
What is one person you could contact if you were struggling with a craving?
Friend, family, therapist, sponsor, peer, etc.
"What makes someone a safe support person versus someone who might make recovery harder?"
Name one grounding technique you could use when experiencing a craving.
Ex: Deep breathing, 5-4-3-2-1, walking, cold water, mindfulness.
"What grounding technique would realistically work for you? Which ones probably wouldn't?"
Nic's father repeatedly tries to help him. What does he eventually realize he cannot control?
Nic's choices/use.
"What's the difference between supporting someone and trying to control their recovery?"
True or False: Someone can experience withdrawal after becoming physically dependent on alcohol.
True.
"Why might withdrawal make stopping alcohol use more complicated than simply deciding to quit?"
Seeing someone you used to use with would be what type of trigger?
External trigger.
"Can people themselves become triggers? How do you handle that when you still care about the person?"
True or False: A coping skill has to completely get rid of a craving for it to work.
False.
"If the craving is still there, how do you know whether the coping skill actually helped?"
You're overwhelmed, angry, and thinking about using. What's one thing you could do before making a decision?
Ground yourself / pause.
"What could happen if we learn to create even a few minutes between the feeling and the action?"
What is one major message about addiction or recovery that you took away from Beautiful Boy?
Answers will vary.
What is one reason someone might continue drinking even after experiencing serious consequences?
Cravings, dependence, coping, habit, withdrawal, emotions, environment, etc.
"Why do people sometimes say, “Why don't they just stop?” What does that question misunderstand about addiction?"
You're having a terrible day and someone texts asking if you want to use. What's one thing you could do instead?
Use a coping skill / contact support / avoid the situation.
"Let's come up with as many realistic options as we can. What would actually work in that moment?
What's one thing that can make recovery worth continuing when it gets difficult?
Answers vary.
"What are you recovering for? What is something you don't want substance use to take away from you?"