What Makes an Addiction?
Challenges and Obstacles (Recovery of Substance Abuse)
If It's Negative in Your Life then Make it Positive
Managing the Mind
Basic Building Blocks of Positive Change
100

Physically addictive substances used daily can bring these uncomfortable physical symptoms.

Withdrawal


100

A strong addictive urge that can pull you in a way you may not want to go if you're not careful

Craving

100

We make dozens if not hundreds of these a day with our mind and one of the best ways to improve their lives is to practice making good ones:

Decisions/Choices


100

We experience these in our mind, heart, and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them

Feelings/Emotions


100

The essential inner drive, focus and desire, that brings about positive change and attainment of goals

Motivation

200
It takes more and more of a substance to get the same effect which often fuels the desire and need for using larger amounts.

Tolerance


200

You may have went backwards a little bit but still you didn't completely relapse

Setback

200

This describes overall the way we present and express ourselves. If we have a negative one we should want to change it to grateful and positive

Attitude


200

It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things

Anxiety

200

The ability to look inside yourself honestly and truthfully: Self awareness

Insight

300

Failure to recognize the truth about a problem, particularly an addiction, is often referred as this

Denial

300

Some people may try to deal with substance abuse use by attemping to use less, or change to a less harmful substance. If that isn't working you may need to consider this more basic old option.

Abstinence/Sobriety

300

This categorizes and includes all that is most important in your life and, what you care about the most, and what has the most worth to you

Values

300

These changing temporary states of mind can make us feel high, low and everything in between so it is important to be able to regulate these 

Moods

300

Something just about everyone needs when overcoming a difficult challenge, because it is so difficult to do alone

Support

400
Every bad choice we make can mean we have ti face these later. Addiction can cause people to foolishly ignore these repeatedly.

Consequences

400

With more severe addiction, particularly opioid, if the withdrawal or cravings are overwhelming it may be wise to consider seeing a doctor for this

Medication or Medication Assisted Treatment

400

You can have ups and downs along the way but what matters most is that you keep moving forward. If that is true then you are steadily making this

Progress

400

It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges

Resentment


400

Building insight and motivation lead to this powerful experience defined by a strong sense of positive mental stimulation to try make things better

Inspiration

500

When you spend too much, use too much, and life problems are steadily piling up, it is a good sign you have lost this.

Control

500

They say relapse doesn't suddenly happen out of nowhere - it's not an event, it is often much more of a gradual ________

Process

500

This involves all the people, places, and things that you surround yourself with and that you chose to be connected to

Associations

500
Sometimes addiction can be directly linked to deeply disturbing or distressing experiences that occurred earlier in life all of which is referred to as:

Trauma/PTSD

500

If you find and discover this it can help you define your goals and add meaning and direction in your life

Purpose

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