Triggers and Warning Signs
Thinking Errors/Stinking Thinking
Coping Skills/Response Strategies
Recovery Tools/Support
What would you do?
100

What term describes something (people, places, feelings) that increases the chance of using?

What is a trigger?

100

True or False: Thoughts can directly influence behavior.

What is True

100

What coping skill involves focusing on the present moment without judgment?

What is mindfulness?

100

What is a structured group like AA, NA, or SMART Recovery?

What is a support group?

100

You feel overwhelmed and anxious. What is ONE healthy action you could take right now?

  • Deep breathing
  • Call someone
  • Go for a walk
  • Use STOP
200

True or False: Warning signs always come after cravings.


What is 

False

200

I’ve been good for weeks, so I can handle it now.” What type of thinking error is this or what is the person exhibiting?

What is 

Overconfidence / minimizing risk

200

 True or False: Coping skills only work if cravings are gone.

False

200

True or False: Asking for help is a weakness in recovery

False

200

You’re feeling bored and lonely and start thinking, “Nothing bad will happen if I just hang out with an old friend (who uses substances)

What are TWO safer choices you could make instead?

  • Call a support person
  • Go to a meeting-virtually but in person is even better :-)
  • Engage in a healthy activity (watching a funny/favorite show, hobby-painting, coloring, crafting)
  • Change environment
  • Start moving (cleaning, go for a walk, gym-yoga or somatic stretches)
300

Name 4 internal warning signs?

What is 

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Boredom
  • Shame
300

“I’ve been good for weeks, so I can handle it now.” What type of thinking error is this?"

What is mind reading?

300

Name TWO ways to interrupt a craving in the moment.

What is 

  • Deep breathing
  • Urge surfing
  • Distraction
  • Leaving the environment
300

What is the difference between a lapse and a relapse?

  • Lapse = one-time slip
  • Relapse = return to ongoing use
300

You’re at a gathering and someone offers you a substance. What are TWO responses you could use?

  • Say no clearly and leave
  • Call support
  • Use refusal skills
  • Change environment
400

According to T. Gorski and Miller-A person starts skipping sleep, isolating, and losing interest in recovery. What phase of relapse is this?

What is an Emotional relapse?

400

What’s the danger of thinking, “I already slipped, so today doesn’t matter”?

 It leads to continued use and full relapse (lapse - relapse escalation)

400

What does the “O” stand for in STOP, and why is it important?

What is Observe

  • Importance: It creates space between impulse and action
400

How do recovery supports help during a mental relapse? Give TWO examples.

  • Provide reality-check on thinking errors
  • Interrupt isolation
  • Offer accountability
  • Reinforce coping strategies
400

You are feeling a craving and start thinking, “I deserve this.” Identify the thinking error and a coping skill to use.

Error: Justification

Skill: STOP, deep breathing, urge surfing

500

According to Stages of Relapse: A person says, “Nothing is wrong, I just don’t feel like going to meetings anymore.” What early pattern is this showing

 What is Emotional relapse / denial of warning signs

500

 A person has been doing well in recovery but after one stressful event, they think: “This proves I’ll never be able to stay clean, so there’s no point in trying.” Identify the thinking error(s)


  • Overgeneralization (one event = permanent failure)
  • All-or-nothing thinking (if not perfect, then failure)
  • Possibly catastrophizing (future is hopeless)
  • Why it’s dangerous:
    • Increases hopelessness
    • Reduces motivation to use coping skills
    • Can push someone from mental relapse → physical relapse
500

A person is triggered, emotional, and thinking about using. Build a 3-step response plan

  • Pause (STOP skill)
  • Regulate (breathing / grounding)
  • Act (call support / leave situation)
500

Name THREE principles of recovery (Yale-style or common relapse prevention rules).

  • Be honest
  • Ask for help
  • Change your lifestyle
  • Self-Care
  • Don't Bend the Rules
500

A friend says, “It’s just one time, you’re fine.” Walk through how you would respond and protect your recovery.

  • Recognize trigger + thinking error
  • Reject rationalization
  • Use coping skill
  • Remove self from situation
  • Reach out to support
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