RECOVERY BASICS
What is a trigger?
A situation, person, place, emotion, or thought that can increase the desire to use.
What is an environmental trigger?
Returning to a neighborhood, house, or location strongly associated with past substance.
Going back to a location where you regularly used substances can create this type of trigger.
What is reaching out for support?
Calling someone you trust when you're struggling.
What is setting a boundary
Saying "no" when something doesn't support your recovery.
What is emotional regulation
Taking a few minutes to breathe, walk away, or calm down before responding is an example of this.
What is a craving?
A strong desire or urge to use a substance or return to an addictive behavior.
What are emotional triggers?
Feeling angry, lonely, bored, or stressed can be examples of these.
What is physical activity?
Taking a walk, exercising, or changing your physical environment can be examples of this
What is an unhealthy relationship dynamic?
A relationship where one person consistently pressures another person to do something they don't want to do
What is all-or-nothing thinking?
The belief that one mistake means everything is ruined
"I messed up today, so I might as well keep using."
What is a relapse prevention plan?
A plan for identifying risks and deciding what you will do when cravings or triggers occur.
Identifying situations that could lead you toward substance use and developing strategies to handle them.
What is overconfidence?
This can happen when someone believes they are "strong enough" to return to an environment connected to past substance use.
What is mindfulness?
Focusing your attention on the present moment instead of becoming overwhelmed by thoughts about the past or future.
What is a healthy boundary statement? (give an example)
"I care about you, but I'm not comfortable being around substance use."
What is early intervention?
Taking action when you first notice warning signs.
Recognizing your warning signs before a crisis occurs.
What is maintaining recovery?
Continuing to work on your recovery even when you are having a good day and don't feel like you need help.
What three things are commonly discussed when identifying environmental relapse risks.
People, Places, and Things
What is pausing?
Taking time before reacting to a craving or stressful situation.
When a craving hits, doing this can create enough space to make a safer decision instead of reacting immediately.
What is assertive communication?
Saying no without feeling obligated to give someone a long explanation is an example of this.
What is personal responsibility?
The ability to recognize that you cannot control everything around you, but you can control how you respond.
What is whole-person recovery?
Recognizing that recovery involves changing behaviors, environments, relationships, and thought patterns, not simply stopping substance use.
What is a relapse pattern or chain of risky behaviors?
A person experiences stress, starts isolating, stops using coping skills, reconnects with old using friends, and eventually begins thinking about using again.
What is using a recovery plan? (Give an example)
Example : A person notices they're becoming overwhelmed, leaves the situation, calls someone supportive, and uses a coping skill before making a decision.
Choose a teammate to make a healthy boundary statement
Someone doesn't feel motivated to attend group but attends anyway because they know it supports their recovery. This demonstrates what important recovery skill.
discipline