Name That Coping Skill
Taking slow, deep breaths to calm your body
Deep breathing
A situation, feeling, or person that makes you want to use
Trigger
Sleeping regularly and eating well
Healthy Coping
Stress can increase cravings
True
You feel bored and want to use—what’s one healthy alternative?
Activity, hobby, call someone
Naming 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste
Grounding (5-4-3-2-1)
A strong urge to use substances
Craving
Avoiding problems and pretending they don’t exist
Unhealthy Coping
What is one physical sign of stress?
Headache, tension, fast heart rate, sweating
Your friend offers you alcohol—what’s one way to respond?
Say no, leave, change subject
Writing down your thoughts and feelings to process them
Journaling
Name one emotional trigger
Stress, anger, sadness, boredom
Talking to a trusted person about stress
Healthy Coping
What emotion is often underneath anger?
Hurt, fear, sadness
You’re feeling overwhelmed—what coping skill could you use immediately?
Deep breathing, grounding
Challenging negative thoughts with more realistic ones
Cognitive restructuring / positive self-talk
Name one environmental trigger
Parties, certain friends, specific places
Using substances to escape emotions
Unhealthy Coping
Name one way to calm down when overwhelmed
Breathing, grounding, stepping away
You’re in a place where others are using—what should you do?
Leave, call support, avoid situation
Doing something active like walking, sports, or working out to improve mood
Exercise
What is one healthy way to respond to a craving?
Call someone, distract yourself, use coping skill, leave situation
Scrolling social media for hours instead of dealing with stress
Can be unhealthy coping (depending on use)
Why is it important to deal with emotions instead of avoiding them?
They build up and can lead to unhealthy coping/relapse
You had a stressful day and strong cravings—what’s a full coping plan?
Identify feeling → use skill → reach out → distract → safe environment