Cravings
The Skills to cope with Cravings.
Tom's Story
more on craving skills
Cravings Work Sheet
100

the first time Tom Had a beer...

He didn't crave it, gradually he realized he liked the taste of Beer. 

100

You need to ___________ yourself from the craving

Detach



100

True or false: Tom worked at the New Detroit stamping plant. Where he lived a  blue-collar existence and he struggled to make ends meet while pursuing his dream of becoming an underground rapper. 

False  he worked on an assembly line at an Auto Factory. 

100

a person rides out a powerful craving by treating it like an ocean wave that eventually loses its force. Instead of fighting or giving in to the urge, they observe and accept the intense physical and emotional sensations until they subside

Urge Surfing. 

100

Step 1 


Monitor your cravings. 


200

Cravings are triggered by 

External Factors

200

Recalling negative consequences can help you _____________ to alcohol and other drugs

Develop and aversion. 


200

true or false: Tom had strong cravings to drink after he went to the rap battles at the Shelter with his boys Future and B- Rabbit. 

False , but Good Movie though!!!

200

Seeing your urge as a fiery dragon. when you recognize it, behead it with the sword of awareness. 

Samurai warrior


200

Step 2 


Understand your patterns


300

Cravings are not...`

triggered by internal sources out of your control. 

300

Play out the script or " think through the drink" keep the mental picture rolling is the same as when 12 steppers say...

Play the tape all the way through. 


300

what did Tom have cravings for

BEER

300

when a craving hits and you tell yourself I'm not going to drink for the next 3 hours

Postponement. 


300

Step 3

anticipate your cravings and make a coping plan


400

Having a craving to use does not mean

your treatment or support group have failed


400

Play the tape all the way through , is what technique to cope with feelings.

Develop an aversion. 


400

TOM thought that he could have his __________, who didn't own a car, call him at work and ask him to drive her to an appointment. But that excuse would work for only so long. 

Mother-in-Law

400

 a mental distraction technique that involves purposefully shifting your focus away from the craving and onto a different activity or thought. This strategy works by engaging your attention so that the intense urge has a chance to pass, since most cravings are intense but short-lived

Switching Channels

400

Step 4

Practice your plan


500

your behavior will...

not change overnight. It took along time to discover you had a problem with alcohol or drugs. It will take a long time to learn new behaviors. 


500

Urge Surfing, Samurai warrior and postponement are all tools in this craving coping skill. `

Detach from craving


500

On day 3 of monitoring his cravings what substance did Tom wrote down that he desired?


POT

500

Going to AA or NA meetings is an example of 

Alternative Activities


500

Step 5


Decide what works.

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