MH Basics
This term refers to a person’s overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
What is Mental Health
This term describes the physical or emotional discomfort someone may feel when stopping substance use.
What is withdrawal
A breathing technique where you inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold again.
What is box breathing
This feeling often comes up when trying something new or stepping outside your comfort zone.
What is anxiety or nervousness
This everyday item was invented to help people stop biting their nails.
What is chewing gum
A common symptom of anxiety includes a racing heart, sweating, and shortness of breath.
What is a panic attack
What does the acronym HALT stand for?
What is Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired
This grounding technique uses the five senses to bring you back to the present moment.
What is the 54321 technique
What does it mean to validate someone’s feelings?
What is acknowledge and accept their emotions without judgment, even if you don’t agree.
This planet is known as the Red Planet.
What is Mars
This disorder involves extreme mood shifts between depression and mania or hypomania.
What is Bipolar Disorder
This relapse stage happens in the mind before any substance use occurs.
What is emotional/mental relapse
(deciding to relapse before you actually do)
True or false: Distraction is always unhealthy
What is FALSE
Healthy distractions can help redirect thoughts and prevent further distress or potential relapse
This skill involves fully focusing on what someone is saying without planning your response.
What is active listening
This is the only mammal that can’t jump.
What is...the elephant
This therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns.
What is CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)
What does the term “cross addiction” mean?
Switching from one addictive behavior/substance to another.
This skill helps reduce impulsive reactions by pausing before acting.
What is distress tolerance or urge surfing
This communication style clearly expresses needs while respecting others.
What is Assertive communciation
This part of the brain helps regulate emotions and decision-making.
What is the prefrontal cortex
This condition involves persistent difficulty regulating emotions, intense interpersonal relationships, and fear of abandonment, often rooted in trauma.
What is BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)
What does long-term recovery focus on besides abstinence?
Building coping skills, emotional regulation, and healthy lifestyle changes.
This DBT distress tolerance skill focuses on changing body chemistry quickly to reduce emotional intensity.
What are TIPP skills (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation)
This communication breakdown occurs when assumptions replace curiosity, often escalating conflict.
What is mind-reading or cognitive distortion
(jumping to conclusions)
Laughing can help reduce this stress hormone in the body.
What is cortisol