Coping Skills
Name one healthy coping skill.
Walking, music, journaling, exercise, breathing, talking to someone, or another healthy strategy.
True or false: Alcohol is a depressant.
What is true?
When budgeting, which should usually be prioritized: needs or wants?
What are needs?
A person, place, emotion, thought, or situation that increases an urge to use is called this.
What is a trigger?
Give a genuine compliment to another participant.
The compliment must be respectful and sincere.
This breathing exercise involves inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding for equal counts.
What is box breathing?
Name two areas of functioning that cannabis may affect.
Memory, attention, motivation, coordination, mood, reaction time, sleep, or judgment.
Name two benefits of following a daily routine.
Stability, productivity, improved sleep, reduced stress, accountability, or better time management.
What does HALT stand for?
What are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired?
Name three personal strengths that could help someone reach their goals.
Answers vary: determined, creative, honest, resilient, hardworking, caring, or responsible.
Name three healthy actions someone could take during a craving.
Delay, distract, leave the situation, call support, exercise, eat, hydrate, journal, or attend a meeting.
This term means needing more of a substance to experience the same effect.
What is tolerance?
Name three things someone should do before a job interview.
Research the employer, practice answers, prepare clothing, plan transportation, bring documents, or arrive early.
Give one example of an internal trigger and one example of an external trigger.
Internal: anger, anxiety, sadness, or boredom. External: people, places, parties, money, or seeing substances.
Demonstrate an assertive response to a friend who pressures you to use a substance.
Example: “No, I’m not doing that. I’m working toward different goals.”
Explain the difference between a healthy coping skill and an unhealthy coping skill.
A healthy coping skill manages emotions without creating additional harm; an unhealthy skill may provide temporary relief but creates further problems.
Why can mixing alcohol with medications or other substances be especially dangerous?
The combined effects may be unpredictable and increase the risk of overdose, unconsciousness, breathing problems, injury, or death.
Turn the goal “I want a job” into a specific action that can be completed within 24 hours.
Examples: complete one application, update a résumé, call an employer, or practice interview questions.
Name three possible warning signs that someone may be moving toward a return to use.
Isolating, skipping appointments, romanticizing past use, contacting unhealthy people, stopping coping skills, mood changes, or increased cravings.
Explain the difference between passive, aggressive, and assertive communication.
Passive ignores personal needs, aggressive disrespects others’ needs, and assertive expresses needs clearly and respectfully.
Name one coping skill for each situation: anger, anxiety, boredom, and loneliness.
Examples: take space for anger, breathe for anxiety, do an activity for boredom, and contact support for loneliness.
Explain why using a substance to cope with stress may make the original problem harder to manage over time.
It may provide temporary relief without resolving the problem and can lead to dependence, avoidance, worsening symptoms, or additional consequences.
You receive $100 but need transportation, food, toiletries, and entertainment. Explain how you would prioritize the money.
Cover essential needs first—transportation, food, and toiletries—before spending any remaining money on entertainment.
Create a brief prevention plan that includes a trigger, warning sign, coping skill, and support person.
Answers vary but must include all four elements.
Your plans fall apart, you argue with someone, and you begin thinking about using. Walk the group through four healthy actions you could take.
Recognize the trigger, leave or pause, use a coping skill, contact support, and make a safe plan.