4th of July
What phrase from the Declaration of Independence identifies three unalienable rights?
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
What's the difference between freedom and independence?
Freedom is the ability to make healthy choices.
Independence is relying less on others while accepting responsibility for yourself.
What are the three stages of relapse?
Answer:
Why is complacency dangerous?
Complacency leads people to stop practicing recovery behaviors, increasing relapse risk.
Finish the saying:
"You're only as sick as..."
"...your secrets."
Why was the Revolutionary War fought instead of continuing negotiations?
The colonies believed Britain repeatedly ignored their rights, imposed unfair taxes without representation, restricted self-government, and violated individual liberties. They believed independence was the only remaining solution.
How can unlimited freedom actually become harmful?
Without responsibility, freedom becomes recklessness. Doing whatever feels good often leads to addiction, broken relationships, legal problems, and poor health.
What does PAWS stand for?
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
Symptoms may include:
Explain HALT.
Answer:
These conditions reduce coping ability and increase vulnerability to cravings.
Why is honesty considered the foundation of recovery?
Honesty breaks denial, builds trust, increases accountability, and allows people to receive help before problems become crises.
Name three grievances from the Declaration of Independence that could also apply metaphorically to addiction.
Examples:
Explain the difference between doing what feels good versus doing what is good.
"What feels good" usually provides immediate gratification.
"What is good" often requires discipline but leads to long-term happiness, health, and recovery.
According to the disease model, why doesn't simply "wanting it enough" cure addiction?
Because addiction changes brain circuits involving reward, motivation, memory, and self-control. Recovery requires ongoing treatment, behavioral changes, support, and time—not just willpower.
What is cue-induced craving?
Environmental cues (people, places, smells, music, emotions, money, stress) activate memories associated with substance use, producing cravings even years into recovery.
Name three cognitive distortions that often precede relapse.
Examples:
Why did the Founding Fathers believe liberty required self-government? How does that relate to recovery?
Freedom without self-control leads to chaos. Recovery also requires self-discipline, accountability, honesty, and healthy decision-making. Lasting freedom comes from learning to govern yourself rather than being governed by addiction.
Describe how addiction creates the illusion of freedom while increasing slavery.
People initially believe substances give freedom from pain, stress, or emotions. Eventually, addiction controls their thoughts, behaviors, finances, health, and relationships, making them less free than before.
Explain the difference between abstinence and recovery.
Abstinence means not using substances.
Recovery means building a healthy, meaningful life through emotional growth, healthy relationships, purpose, coping skills, and personal development.
Client stopped meetings, isolates, sleeps poorly, says "I've got this."
Emotional Relapse
Warning signs:
Why is gratitude protective against relapse?
Gratitude shifts attention from what is missing to what is present, reducing negativity, resentment, self-pity, and hopelessness while strengthening hope and resilience. Positive Recovery similarly emphasizes cultivating positive emotions and well-being as part of sustained recovery.
Compare America's fight for independence with a person's recovery journey.
Possible similarities:
Explain how responsibility creates more freedom.
Answer:
Examples:
Responsibility expands choices rather than limiting them.
Using PERMA, explain how someone builds a life that makes relapse less appealing.
Answer:
When life becomes rewarding, the desire to return to substances decreases.
Develop a relapse intervention plan.
Possible plan:
If recovery isn't just about not using, what is it about?
Recovery is about becoming the healthiest version of yourself. It includes: