Attitude Adjustment
“I’m just not strong enough to stay sober.”
“I have the strength to take recovery one step at a time.”
“You can’t have fun without substances.”
“Fun and joy can come from healthy activities and connections.”
“When stressed, I isolate and avoid people.”
“When stressed, I call a support person or go to a meeting.”
“My family doesn’t support me, so I can’t recover.”
“I can recover even without family support by building other connections.”
Your old using buddy calls and asks to hang out.
“Politely decline and suggest a sober activity or avoid contact.”
“It’s too late for me to change.”
“It’s never too late to start over.”
“Asking for help is a sign of weakness.”
“Asking for help shows strength and commitment to recovery.”
“I keep going to bars even though I’m trying to quit drinking.”
“I choose sober-friendly environments.”
“I’m too ashamed to face anyone.”
“I can face people knowing I’m working to change.”
You feel triggered at a family event.
“Step outside, call a support, or use grounding skills.”
“If I slip once, I might as well give up.”
“A slip is a setback, not a failure—I can keep going.”
“Once an addict, always an addict—there’s no point in trying.”
“Recovery is possible, and people change every day.”
“I ignore my triggers and hope they go away.”
“I identify my triggers and plan healthy coping skills.”
“I’ll just go to one party and not drink.”
“Avoiding high-risk situations supports my recovery.”
You miss a meeting and feel guilty.
“Acknowledge it and make sure to attend the next one.”
“Other people get sober, but not me.”
“If others can do it, I can too.”
“People in recovery can’t be trusted.”
“People in recovery are capable of honesty and growth.”
“I only go to meetings when I feel like it.”
“I attend meetings regularly to build consistency.”
“I don’t need to plan ahead for cravings.”
“Planning ahead helps me handle cravings better.”
You feel like no one understands you in recovery.
“Share openly in a meeting and connect with someone after.”
“Recovery is boring and pointless.”
“Recovery gives me opportunities for a better life.”
“I have to do this all on my own.”
“Recovery is stronger when I use my support network.”
“I spend my weekends with friends who use.”
“I spend my weekends with sober friends or doing new hobbies.”
“If I don’t see instant results, I quit.”
“Recovery is a process that takes time and patience.”
You’re overwhelmed by cravings.
“Use coping skills like mindfulness, calling support, or distraction.”