Relapse Radar
This earliest stage of relapse can include poor sleep, isolation, irritability, skipping supports, and neglecting self-care even when the person is not consciously thinking about using.
What is emotional relapse?
This skill involves recognizing that a craving rises, peaks, and eventually falls rather than trying to immediately make it disappear.
What is urge surfing?
“Everybody is judging me” is an example of a thought, not necessarily this.
What is a fact?
Fight, flight, freeze, and this fourth response are common automatic reactions to perceived threat or stress.
What is fawn?
Changing unhealthy people, places, and these can decrease exposure to relapse triggers.
What are things?
Fantasizing about past use, bargaining, romanticizing substances, and thinking about people or places connected to use are signs of this stage.
What is mental relapse?
These three words describe a craving-management strategy where you postpone acting, occupy yourself with something else, and then reconsider your choice.
What are Delay, Distract, Decide?
This skill involves examining whether there is evidence supporting a negative or automatic thought instead of immediately believing it.
What is thought challenging / cognitive restructuring?
Hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness make up this common recovery acronym.
What is HALT?
Meetings, sponsors, sober friends, therapists, family members, and treatment providers are examples of this recovery resource.
What is a support system / recovery network?
A person says, “I haven’t had a craving, so I’m fine,” but they have stopped attending meetings, are isolating, sleeping poorly, and becoming increasingly angry. What important recovery concept are they overlooking?
What are relapse warning signs / emotional relapse?
Calling a sponsor, going for a walk, taking a shower, exercising, or playing a game during a craving are examples of this part of the 3 D’s.
What is Distract?
“I messed up one thing, so I ruin everything” is an example of this type of distorted thinking.
What is all-or-nothing thinking / overgeneralization?
A client becomes angry during an argument and immediately leaves the room before saying something harmful. What emotional-regulation principle are they using?
What is creating space / pausing before reacting?
Employment, transportation, safe housing, supportive relationships, coping skills, and community connections collectively contribute to this concept.
What is recovery capital?
This term describes thoughts such as “I deserve to use,” “Just once won’t hurt,” or “My drug of choice is the only substance I really have a problem with.”
What is rationalization?
Someone has an intense craving after an argument. Instead of arguing with the craving, they notice the physical sensations, breathe, and allow the urge to pass without acting. Name the primary technique being used.
What is urge surfing?
A client thinks, “My friend hasn’t answered me, so they must be angry with me.” What thinking error are they most likely using?
What is mind reading / jumping to conclusions?
Someone notices a racing heart, tense muscles, rapid thoughts, and an urge to escape before recognizing that they are anxious. These physical changes are examples of what?
What are physiological warning signs / stress responses?
A person has completed treatment but has no schedule, no sober supports, large amounts of free time, and few meaningful activities. What relapse-risk factor is most clearly missing?
What is structure/routine?
A client begins isolating, then starts remembering only the enjoyable parts of using, begins contacting old associates, and eventually develops a plan to obtain substances. Put the relapse progression in order.
What is emotional → mental → physical relapse?
A person says, “The craving is so strong that I know I’m eventually going to use.” Identify the faulty assumption and give the recovery principle that challenges it.
What is treating an urge as a command/fact; cravings are temporary and do not require action?
Complete the recovery chain: Trigger → Thought → Emotion → _____ → Consequence. Then explain why changing the missing step can interrupt relapse risk.
What is behavior/action?
Explain the recovery difference between having an emotion and acting on an emotion.
What is emotional awareness/regulation — emotions provide information but do not require impulsive behavior?
A person says, “I’m doing well now, so I don’t need meetings, therapy, or accountability anymore.” Name two recovery concepts that this thinking threatens.
What are maintenance, accountability, support-system development, relapse prevention, or recovery capital?