AA
This step involves making a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
Step 3
This acronym stands for Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
PAWS
This chemical is naturally produced in the brain when human connection and bonds are formed.
Oxytocin
This category of substances synthetically increases chemicals in the brain related to oxytocin, or the "love hormone"
This thought distortion occurs when one sees only the worst possible outcomes of a situation
Catastrophizing
This step states that "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs"
Step 12
This stage of recovery primarily includes physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea, fevers, vomiting and other symptoms and lasts approximately 7 days
Detoxification or Acute Withdrawal
This part of the brain responds to threats of survival. If activated, it can increase adrenaline and symptoms such as sweating, increased heartbeat and can be felt physically as a rush of energy, panic, fear and more. In the evolution of humans beyond hunting/gathering, it can be triggered by ruptures in relationships and also substance withdrawal
Brain Stem
This category of chemicals increases the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in the system leading to temporary increase in sense of reward and energy in the brain and body, and extreme depression, sadness, fatigue and loss when it wears off. It can effect a persons ability to focus and have energy
Amphetamines, stimulants
The statement "If I hadn't hoped something bad would happen to him, he wouldn't have gotten into an accident" is an example of which distortion
Magical thinking
These steps entail making an inventory of moral shortcomings, sharing them with God and another human, becoming ready to remove them, and asking God to remove them
Steps 4-7
After detox comes the Post Acute Withdrawal stage, How long can these symptoms last?
3-6 months
This part of the brain is where the majority of our emotional processes occur, and also our memories and attachment.
Limbic System
This substance increases dopamine in the brain, leading to a temporary increased sense of reward and pleasure, but a drastically decreased since of pleasure after it wears out of system
cocaine, crack
Unconsciously keeping unpleasant information from your conscious mind or memory by stuffing it deep down inside
Repression
This step is seeking, through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Step 11
This stage includes symptoms such as difficulty thinking clearly, managing feelings and emotions, memory problems, recognizing and managing stress, sleeping, and co-ordination.
PAWS-Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
This part of the brain regulates communication, rational thinking, logic, creative problem solving and empathy
Neocortex
This substance depresses activity in ones neurotransmitters making it difficult for your brain to communicate to itself, leading to less inhibition, confidence and relaxation temporarily.
Alcohol
Assigning your own unacceptable feelings or qualities to others
Projection
This step is continuing to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
Step 10
How long can it take the brain, nervous system and brain chemicals to balance out after abstinence begins?
6-24 months
This part of the brain modulates behavior and our interactions with the external world through behaviors and choices. It is not fully formed until the age 26 which can contribute to impulsivity
Pre-frontal cortex
This substance has been long thought to not have any addictive qualities, but actually thins the cortex and prefrontal cortex over time, impacting ones ability to think clearly, act rationally, be motivated, rewarded and the brains ability to communicate with itself
Marijuana
Justifying a feeling or behavior that you subconsciously believe is unacceptable, with logic
Rationalization