PATTERNS OF ADDICTIVE THINKING
Refusal to admit the true conditions about one's reality. Normalizes substance use and unwillingly facing the fact that one has an addiction.
Denial
What are some common thinking errors?
All-or-nothing thinking, Over-generalizing, Filtering, Converting positives into negatives, Jumping to negative conclusions, Catastrophizing, Mistaking feelings for facts, Personalizing, Self put-down, Using Should statements, Magnifying and minimizing.
What are some examples of recovery thinking?
"I can't have just one"
"Even though it's hard, I'm capable of withstanding urges to use"
"Relapse can happen to anyone, but it can be avoided"
"I'm making positive changes that help my recovery"
"My relapse didn't wipe out the gains I've made"
etc.
True or False?
Thoughts often occur spontaneously or automatically with no effort on your part?
True
Distraction from being absorbed by one's thoughts and emotions.
Selfishness
What are some likely feelings one may feel during addictive thinking?
Despair, content with use, all-powerful, over-confident, frustration, hopelessness, invincible, carelessness, recklessness, etc.
Complete the sentence:
"If I'm sober, I..."
-don't need to lie to my family
-won't have hangovers
-won't have a bad reputation
-will feel healthier
-will sleep better
-will be able to plan for the future
-will have better relationships.
etc.
What strategies are involved in challenging addictive thoughts?
De-catastrophizing, use hopeful statements, forgive yourself, stay on task, avoid "should" and "must, focus on progress,
Making abrupt decisions that are illogical and not accompanied by reasoning.
Irrationality.
What is some likely behavior to come from addictive thinking?
Relapse, taking just one drink, stop going to meetings, going to bars, etc.
What are some likely feelings associated with recovery thinking?
Acceptance, contentment, empowered, encouraged, vigilant, cautious, satisfied, hopeful, etc.
True or False?
The final step in changing your thinking patterns is to not replace distorted thoughts with rational thoughts and beliefs?
FALSE
The final step is to replace distorted thoughts with rational ones.
Believing that we need external aspects such as approval, job, or drugs to feel happy, worthy, and stable. Which is why some have a hard time quitting their addictive substances.
Conditions
What are some examples of Addictive thinking?
"I need drugs to numb the pain"
"I don't need as many meetings because I'm now in control"
"I've tried and it doesn't work. I'll never recover"
"Relapse won't happen"
etc.
What are some examples of likely behavior to come from recovery thinking?
-abstain from use
-attending meetings
-avoiding people and places associated with use
-continue efforts to stay sober
etc.
Thoughts can be very powerful and are not always logical..it takes ____ and ____ to learn how to replace distorted thoughts with rational ones
Thoughts can be very powerful and are not always logical..it takes TIME and EFFORT to learn how to replace distorted thoughts with rational ones
Believing the false idea that circumstances control people rather than people control the circumstances. Also manifests when one blames another for their poor choices including drug use.
Victim mentality
Addictive thinking is not _____ and ignores evidence of _____?
Addictive thinking is not LOGICAL and ignores evidence of FACTS.
Recovery thinking reflects the ___ of what substance use looks like now
Recovery thinking reflects the REALITY of what substance use looks like now.
List the four-step process that can help assess addictive thoughts and learn how to create a new recovery belief system
1- Listen to your thoughts!!! What are you saying to yourself?
2- Identify the addictive thought
3- Challenge the addictive thought
4- Replace the addictive thought with a recovery belief- a more realistic and accurate self-talk statement.