Relapse Prevention
feelings, individuals, or situations that cause your brain to crave substances; if you are unaware of them they could be a factor for relapse.
Triggers
a powerful desire to use substances
often perceived as "impulsive" and "uncontrollable"
craving
In this stage one may be experience ambivalence in changing their behavior that others perceive as an issue and continue to engage in their unhelpful behavior, despite negative consequences.
What is Precontemplation
This film is the true story of William Griffith Wilson, a World War I veteran whose small drinking problem becomes a serious addiction after he loses his fortune in the stock market collapse of 1929. Wilson's career and his domestic life are in tatters when he meets Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, also struggling with a drinking problem. The two form a support group that becomes the basis for a famous organization.
My name is Bill W
A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique
Mindfulness
Those suffering from addiction often have one or more medical issues that occur as well. True or False?
True
A state of mind where you are thankful and taking notice of the good things in your life, rather than focusing on the bad
gratitude
these thoughts are harmful in recovery and can be things we tell ourselves to talk us into using again
Relapse justification thoughts
bonus: 100pts to anyone willing to share a time when they had a justification thought
someone who guides a newcomer through the process of 12-step groups
sponsor
200 bonus points for sharing what you know about sponsorship, what you like about the idea of it, and how a "bad" sponsor could affect recovery success.
In this stage one notices and accepts that in order to maintain sustained change in their changed behavior they will need to continue to practice skills, take steps to change their lifestyle in addition to their unhelpful behavior.
What is the Action Stage
This metallic man has been in recovery since 2003. He was introduced to drugs by his famous father and spent time in jail. He saw a resurgence in his popularity since entering recovery and staring in a series of hit movies.
Robert Downey Jr or "Iron Man"
The practice of taking an active role in regularly doing things that improve your well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress
self-care
You will always notice drug's effect on physical health immediately.
True or False?
False
you may notice the cognitive effects immediately but it takes its toll on your body over time.
Refusing to admit the truth about addiction and its consequences to ourselves.
Denial
Making a list of warning signs, social supports, and coping skills to avoid relapse.
the physical symptoms experienced after detoxification that relate to the "bodily healing" from substance abuse
Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms or (PAWS)
What "Stage of Change" fits the following description:
some awareness of the problem; thinking about pros/cons; some awareness of changing; going back and forth on willingness
Contemplation
This famous British singer, songwriter, and pianist recently had a biopic made of his life. He was knighted by the Queen of England and is one of the best selling musical artists of all time. He went through recovery, built AA/NA meetings into his tour schedule, and has also sponsored other celebrities such as Eminem.
Sir Elton John
Getting support from a neutral person who can help with mental health and addiction concerns
therapy or counseling
This is the neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that is most effected by substance use.
What is Dopamine
A professional who helps support your recovery who is not counselor and likely has personal experience in recovery.
What is a Recovery Coach
What's the 4 points SMART Recovery focuses on?
1. Building and Maintaining Motivation
2. Coping with Urges
3. Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors
4. Living a Balanced Life
What does the acronym H.A.L.T. stand for and how is it helpful in recovery?
H.A.L.T. stands for "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired." H.A.L.T. is helpful in determining where one is at and can help one prevent greater vulnerability to relapse.
In this stage one begins to take steps in changing their unhelpful behavior
What is the Preparation Stage
A biopic of a famous country music legend and his rise to fame in Tennessee. While on tour, he meets the love of his life, singer June Carter. However, things take a turn when he becomes involved in drugs and his marriage to first wife, Vivian, begins to fall apart. June eventually helps him recover from his addiction and he proposes to her in front of a live audience.
Walk the Line (Johnny Cash)
This skill can help one to be more mindful of our actions and can prevent us from engaging in harmful releases, substance use, or in general unhelpful behaviors that don’t align with our recovery efforts.
What is the STOP skill
These are the most common mental health diagnoses in people with a substance abuse disorder:
What are depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders?
True or False? Over time with repeated substance use, our brain can think that the substance is the most important thing for survival.
True; When repeated it can hijack the brain, making it think that the substance is the most important thing for survival.
how could over commitment lead to relapse?
This can lead to feeling overloaded and under pressure.
increased stress that promotes escapism
encourages grandiosity and wishful thinking in high risk situations
recovery is not a race- it can set unrealistic expectations for recovery.
This skill looks at the pros and cons of continuing or discontinuing one's use and the short-term and long-term benefits.
What is a cost-benefit analysis?
In this stage one has consistently practiced skills helpful to their changed, more helpful behavior. One also takes steps consistently to sustain a lifestyle to support their changed behaviors.
What is the Maintenance Stage
What child film star, part of the biggest movie franchise of the 2000s shared the following statement on alcohol abuse: “I was living in constant fear of who I’d meet, what I might have said to them, what I might have done with them, so I’d stay in my apartment for days and drink alone. I was a recluse at 20. It was pathetic – it wasn’t me. I’m a fun, polite person, and it turned me into a rude bore.”
Daniel Radcliffe
preferred coping skill: exercise
Urges are like waves; they come, grow, and eventually crash. Just like waves they can also come in sets; rolling in one after the other. One uses their core mindfulness skills to learn to surf them, noticing and identifying their feelings and their physical response in that moment non-judgmentally.
What is Urge Surfing?
The two main parts of the brain where tissue function is affected by a substance use disorder.
What is the limbic system and prefrontal cortex?
Name 3 factors that can influence whether or not a person becomes addicted
Genetics (family history)
Age
Environmental factors (neighborhood, friends)
Gender
Ethnicity