Mental Health Basics
This common mental health disorder is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and low energy.
What is Depression?
This 12-step recovery program was founded in 1935 and is one of the most well-known peer support groups for addiction recovery.
What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
This mindfulness practice encourages focusing on the present moment without judgment.
What is Meditation?
The term for a treatment approach that involves talking with a therapist to address mental health concerns.
What is Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy?
This singer and mental health advocate wrote the book Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year and has been open about her struggles with bipolar disorder and addiction.
Who is Demi Lovato?
A sudden, intense surge of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes, often accompanied by heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
What is a Panic Attack?
The phenomenon in early recovery where a person experiences lingering withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, cravings, and mood swings.
What is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome or PAWS?
The "opposite action" technique comes from this evidence-based therapy designed to help people regulate emotions.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT?
A common form of therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT?
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship" is a famous quote by this Little Women author who struggled with depression.
Who is Louisa May Alcott?
This disorder involves alternating periods of high energy (mania) and low energy (depression).
What is Bipolar Disorder?
A medication-assisted treatment used to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
What is Methadone or Buprenorphine/Suboxone?
A grounding technique where you name 5 things you see, 4 things you touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique?
The name of the therapy approach that helps people accept distressing emotions while also working to change harmful behaviors.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT?
This former First Lady of the United States founded the Betty Ford Center, one of the most well-known addiction treatment centers.
Who is Betty Ford?
The part of the brain most responsible for regulating emotions, especially fear and anxiety.
What is the amygdala?
The neurotransmitter most associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward that is often affected by substance use.
What is Dopamine?
This technique encourages writing down and challenging negative thoughts with evidence-based reasoning.
What is Cognitive Restructuring or CBT Thought Challenging?
This evidence-based therapy focuses on processing and resolving traumatic memories in PTSD treatment.
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR?
This famous Friends actor openly discussed his struggles with addiction in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Who is Matthew Perry?
This mental health condition is often triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and can cause flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
What is PTSD?
This behavioral model describes the cycle of addiction, including preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect.
What is the Addiction Cycle?
A crisis survival skill in DBT that uses sensory stimulation, like holding ice or listening to loud music, to bring a person out of distress.
What is TIPP or Distress Tolerance?
The stage of change where a person recognizes a problem but is not yet committed to action.
What is Contemplation in the Stages of Change model?
"You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you" is a well-known quote from this British self-help author.
Who is Dan Millman?