RECOVERY REAL TALK
The first step in recovery—no matter your path.
What is admitting you need help?
The simplest tool to interrupt a craving.
What is deep breathing?
The most common type of trigger — people, places, or things.
What are external triggers?
The simplest way to improve mood, energy, and sleep.
What is drinking water?
A myth: “You have to do recovery perfectly.”
What is FALSE — progress > perfection?
People often say this when they think they can “control” their using.
What is “I got this”?
The most important part of a support network — the person you can call without guilt or shame.
Who is a sponsor / accountability partner?
Feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired—together known as this.
What is HALT?
This 10-minute practice lowers stress and improves emotional control.
What is mindfulness / meditation?
Something people in recovery often laugh about: suddenly having 20 new hobbies.
What is rediscovering life?
The phrase that reminds us recovery is a journey, not an overnight transformation.
What is “one day at a time”?
The grounding tool that uses your senses to calm your mind (5 things you can see, 4 you can feel…).
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
A false belief during cravings: “One time won’t hurt.”
What is denial / the big lie?
A habit that rebuilds trust with yourself and others.
What is keeping promises / consistency?
A myth: “If you relapse, you failed.”
What is FALSE — relapse is data, not defeat?
A common feeling early in recovery that signals growth, even if it's uncomfortable.
What is vulnerability?
Writing thoughts down in this can help you rewire your thinking.
What is journaling?
Your body sends this physical signal before your mind realizes it’s a craving.
What is tension or restlessness?
The “superpower” that keeps recovery strong — especially after setbacks.
What is resilience?
Something you learn to do in recovery that you probably avoided before.
What is sitting with feelings?
This is what people really mean when they say “rock bottom.”
What is “the moment you realize something must change”?
A major milestone, but also something people sometimes fear because it means responsibility is returning.
What is clarity?
The powerful near-relapse moment when someone convinces themselves they can moderate.
What is bargaining?
This slowly returns in recovery and helps you enjoy life more deeply than before.
What is dopamine balance / natural joy?
The phrase that gets a whole room nodding because everyone understands it on a soul-level.
What is “I’m tired of my own BS”?