The Brain & Addiction
This chemical messenger in the brains reward system is hijaked by substance abuse, leading to cravings.
What is dopamine?
The acronym HALT reminds individuals in recovery that they are at greater risk of triggers and cravings when they are in these four states…
What is “Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired”?
In DBT, this skill involves using temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation to quickly lower arousal (hint: this is Cole’s favorite)
What is TIPP?
A person who unintentionally helps a loved one continue their substance abuse by “fixing” their problems.
What is an Enabler?
This "pathway" involves the use of FDA-approved medications (like Suboxone or Vivitrol) in combination with counseling.
What is MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)?
This part of the brain, responsible for decision making and impulse control is often “offline” during active addiction.
What is the pre-frontal cortex?
These are internal or external cues - like a specific person, place, or thing - that sparks the urge to use.
What are triggers?
This specific grounding technique asks the client to name 5 things they see, 4 they can touch, 3 they hear, 2 they smell, and 1 they can taste.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique?
This type of boundary is clear and firm, neither too “porous” nor too “rigid”.
What is a Healthy/Flexible boundary?
This therapy modality helps clients identify the link between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to change their "addictive thinking."
What is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
This term describes the brains ability to heal and form new neural pathways during long-term sobriety.
This acronym stands for the symptoms like brain fog and irritability that can last for months after Acute Withdrawal
What is PAWS (Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome)?
This strategy involves thinking past the initial euphoria from using and imagining the negative consequences, such as the hangover, the guilt, or the legal trouble.
What is "Playing the Tape Through"?
A communication style that is direct and honest without being aggressive or passive.
What is Assertive Communication?
This is the focus of Step 1, where a person admits they are powerless over their substance and that their life has become "unmanageable."
What is acceptance?
A person needs more of a substance to achieve the same effect due to this physiological process.
What is Tolerance?
This mindfulness technique involves “riding out” a craving until it peaks and eventually subsides.
What is “urge surfing”?
Identifying the “stinking thinking” thought and replacing it with a more balanced, and reality-based perspective.
What is reframing?
This term describes a relationship dynamic where one person’s needs are sacrificed to take care of another’s addiction or emotional wellness.
What is codependency?
This specialized therapy focuses on resolving "ambivalence" by helping the client find their own internal motivation to change.
What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?
This “fire alarm” in the brain becomes hypersensitive during early recovery, often caused by intense emotional reactivity.
What is the Amygdala?
This psychological phenomenon occurs when a small "slip" leads to feelings of guilt and failure, causing a person to "give up" and continue using. (We will accept the common, expletive based slang for this phenomenon)
What is the Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE) AKA "the f***-its"?
The skill of doing the reverse of what your “addiction voice” or emotions are telling you to do.
What is opposite action?
This "scripting" technique helps clients set boundaries by clearly stating the behavior, the feeling it causes, and the specific change requested.
What is an "I-Statement" (or the DEAR MAN skill)?
This peer-led recovery group is an alternative to 12-step programs and focuses on self-empowerment and cognitive tools.
What is SMART Recovery?