Triggers & Cravings
These can be people, places, emotions, or situations that increase the urge to use.
What are triggers?
“I already messed up, so it doesn’t matter anymore.” What type of thinking is this?
What is all or nothing thinking?
“It’s not that bad. Other people are worse.”
What is minimization?
Wanting to change but also wanting to keep using is called what?
What is ambivalence?
Abstinence means not using. Recovery includes what else?
What is lifestyle change, growth, self awareness?
Feeling bored, angry, or lonely before using would be what type of trigger?
What is an internal trigger?
After a lapse, intense guilt can increase the risk of what?
What is a full relapse?
“I only use because my partner stresses me out.”
What is externalizing blame?
Instead of telling someone to change, this approach asks them to say their own reasons.
What is motivational interviewing?
Recovery often requires grieving what?
What is the old lifestyle or identity?
Cravings usually rise, peak, and fall if not acted on. What does this suggest about cravings?
What is that cravings are temporary?
Overconfidence in early recovery can lower awareness of what?
What are warning signs or high risk situations?
Anger in early recovery often protects which deeper emotions?
What is shame, fear, grief, vulnerability?
Change tends to last longer when it is driven by what type of motivation?
What is intrinsic motivation?
Shame based identity increases relapse risk because it creates what belief?
What is hopelessness or “I can’t change”?
Avoiding all triggers forever is unrealistic. What skill is more important long term?
What is coping skills or distress tolerance?
Stress weakens the ability to pause and think before acting. What mental skill is reduced?
What is impulse control or decision making?
Resistance in treatment might be protecting what?
What is fear, loss of control, identity threat?
A person says, “I know I need help, but I’m not ready.” What is happening internally?
What is fear or internal conflict?
Long term recovery becomes more stable when people build what protective factor?
What is purpose, connection, or meaning?
If someone keeps relapsing after emotional conflict, what might be the real trigger underneath the argument?
What is shame, rejection, abandonment, or emotional pain?
A relapse often begins before the substance is used. Name one early warning sign.
What is isolation, skipping meetings, lying, mood changes, rationalizing use?
Someone says, “Using is who I am.” What psychological shift is required for recovery?
What is identity change?
What is one cost of staying the same that people often avoid thinking about?
What is loss of relationships, health, freedom, self respect, future goals?
Is recovery mainly behavior change or identity transformation? Defend your answer.
What is a supported argument linking behavior and identity?