Recovery Skills
Taking recovery one day at a time helps prevent this feeling caused by thinking too far ahead.
What is feeling overwhelmed?
Going for a walk, exercising, or stretching are examples of this type of coping skill.
What is physical activity?
This simple grounding technique involves slowly inhaling and exhaling while focusing on your breath.
What is deep breathing?
A person you can call when you're struggling, craving, or thinking about using can be part of your recovery _____.
What is support system/network?
Driving past a place where you used to buy or use substances is an example of this.
What is a trigger?
Creating structure around sleep, meals, meetings, work, and self-care is called this.
What is a routine?
Writing down thoughts and feelings instead of keeping them bottled up is called this.
What is journaling?
In the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, you start by naming five things you can do this.
What is see?
AA, NA, SMART Recovery, and other recovery meetings are examples of this.
What are peer-support groups?
Becoming increasingly isolated and stopping communication with supportive people can be this.
What is a relapse warning sign?
Recognizing people, places, emotions, or situations that increase the desire to use is identifying these.
What are triggers?
Calling someone instead of isolating when you're struggling is an example of this coping strategy.
What is reaching out for support?
Holding an ice cube or splashing cold water on your face uses this sense to bring attention back to the present.
What is touch?
Spending too much time alone and pulling away from supportive people is known as this.
What is isolation?
Feeling stressed after an argument is an example of this type of trigger.
What is an emotional trigger?
Instead of immediately acting on an urge, a person notices it, accepts it, and allows it to rise and fall.
What is urge surfing?
In recovery, healthy coping skills help people deal with uncomfortable emotions without doing this.
What is using substances or returning to harmful behaviors?
Grounding techniques are designed to bring your attention away from overwhelming thoughts and back to this.
What is the present moment?
Saying, “I can't be around you when you're using” is an example of setting this.
What is a boundary?
Thinking, “I can probably use just once now that I've been sober for a while,” is an example of this warning sign.
What is rationalizing/minimizing?
A written strategy identifying triggers, warning signs, coping skills, and people to contact is called this.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
Name three healthy coping skills you could use when experiencing a strong craving.
Examples: call someone, exercise, distract yourself, attend a meeting, journal, meditate, leave the situation, etc.
Demonstration Challenge: Lead the group through one grounding technique.
Any appropriate grounding technique earns the points.
Why can asking for help be considered a strength in recovery rather than a weakness?
Because recognizing when support is needed and reaching out can protect recovery and prevent isolation/relapse.
Name three warning signs that someone's recovery may be getting off track.
Examples: isolation, skipping meetings/treatment, romanticizing past use, increased stress, dishonesty, contacting old using friends, stopping coping skills, etc. rest?