Recovery Basics
Recovery involves more than simply stopping substance use. Name one other area of life that may need to change.
What are relationships, coping skills, routines, thinking patterns, environment, mental wellness, employment, etc.?
What are the three stages of relapse?
Emotional, mental, physical
This emotion says “I did something bad.”
Guilt
This coping skill involves writing thoughts and emotions down to process them safely.
Journaling
What are symptoms that occur when someone stops using a substance called?
Withdrawal
A client gets into an argument with their partner and immediately wants to use substances.
emotional trigger
This term describes a strong desire or urge to use a substance.
What is a craving?
This stage of relapse begins before a person actually uses substances.
Emotional relapse
This emotional response often occurs after losing a loved one, relationship, lifestyle, or sense of identity.
Grief
This coping skill involves setting healthy emotional and physical limits with others.
Boundaries
What does MAT stand for?
medication assisted treatment
Driving past an old dealer’s house creates cravings.
Environmental trigger
Having nothing meaningful to do with your time can create this common recovery problem.
What is boredom or lack of structure?
HALT stands for these four emotional/physical states.
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
This emotion often causes people to hide, isolate, or avoid support.
Shame
This coping skill involves identifying triggers before reacting emotionally.
Self awareness
Name one medication commonly used in opioid treatment.
Methadone, Suboxone, Vivitrol
Feeling lonely late at night causes urges to use.
Loneliness
Goals become more achievable when you turn large goals into these.
What are smaller, manageable steps? (SMART recovery golals)
Thinking about people, places, or substances from active addiction is part of this relapse stage.
Mental relapse
What is one unhealthy behavior people may use to avoid shame?
Substance use, isolation, anger, dishonesty
What coping skill involves replacing irrational thoughts with healthier ones?
Cognitive reframing
What happens when tolerance increases?
A person uses more
A client receives unexpected money and immediately thinks about substances.
financial trigger
Spending time with people who encourage your growth helps build this.
What is a healthy support system?
Name one common relapse trigger.
Stress, people, places, emotions, trauma, conflict, etc.
This type of grief occurs when someone mourns the person they used to be before addiction.
identity grief
This coping skill teaches clients to “ride out” cravings without acting on them.
urge surfing
This neurotransmitter is heavily connected to pleasure and addiction.
Dopamine
Seeing old friends from active addiction increases cravings.
Social triggers
True or false: Recovery includes learning how to enjoy life again.
True
What is one sign someone may be entering emotional relapse?
Isolation, irritability, dishonesty, anxiety, poor self-care, etc.
This recovery concept teaches that healing requires feeling emotions instead of avoiding them.
Emotional processing
This coping skill involves taking a pause before reacting emotionally
mindfulness
Why does addiction affect decision making?
Substances impact the brains reward system
Going to a bar “just to hang out” increases relapse risk.
high risk environment
This type of thinking increases impulsive reactions and emotional instability.
Irrational thoughts
This stage of relapse often includes bargaining thoughts like “Maybe I can use just once.”
mental relapse
What is one difference between shame and grief?
Shame attacks identity; grief responds to loss.
What healthy coping skill can help reduce shame and self-hatred?
Positive self talk
This part of the brain helps control decision making and impulses
Prefrontal cortex
A client becomes overly confident and thinks, “One drink won’t hurt.”
complacency