Toolbox
This person offers guidance, accountability, and support in many 12-step programs.
Who is a sponsor?
This term describes a return to substance use after a period of abstinence.
What is a relapse?
Getting enough of this every night supports brain and emotional health.
What is sleep?
Walking past a liquor store might cause this emotional or physical urge.
What is a craving?
This word means admitting the truth about our behavior, even when it's hard.
What is honesty?
This type of plan outlines what to do when faced with temptation or high-risk situations.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
This phrase reminds us that our own choices and healing are the most important focus.
What is "keep your side of the street clean"?
Regular routines and daily structure can help reduce this type of stress.
What is anxiety?
This common type of craving can be mistaken for hunger, stress, or boredom.
What is an emotional craving?
Recognizing and avoiding this type of friend or acquaintance can be vital to long-term recovery.
What is an enabler?
These two written tools help to identify patterns and prepare for future success: one looks back, the other looks forward.
What are personal inventory and a recovery plan?
The term "dry drunk" refers to this condition - when someone is abstinent but hasn't addressed emotional or behavioral issues.
What is untreated recovery (or emotional sobriety issues)?
This boundary-setting phrase helps protect your peace when you're feeling overwhelmed.
What is "I need to take a step back" (or "I can't do this right now")?
Double Jeopardy
Identifying this chain - Trigger > Thought > Craving > Use > Consequences - is key in behavioral therapy.
What is the relapse cycle?
This daily habit of checking in with yourself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually builds self-awareness.
What is self-reflection?
This strategy involves visualizing success, identifying obstacles, and planning how to overcome them.
What is mental rehearsal (or SMART goals planning)?
This phrase means learning to sit with discomfort instead of escaping it.
What is "feeling your feelings"?
Scheduling downtime, prioritizing rest, and saying "no" help prevent this condition.
What is burnout?
This HALT-related feeling can disguise itself as cravings or irritability.
What is loneliness?
This positive chang occurs when you start showing up on time, following through, and taking care of responsibilities.
What is accountability (or maturity)?
This layered practice includes meetings, healthy habits, peer support, therapy, and spiritual tools.
What is a recovery toolbox (or holistic recovery)?
These words form the acronym that helps identify warning signs that you're slipping back into old thinking or behavior.
What is bored, lonely, angry, stressed, and tired (B.L.A.S.T.)?
The ability to say "I am enough as I am" reflects this deep emotional wellness.
This practice includes identifying people, places, and things that may lead to relapse.
What is trigger mapping?
This phrase means continuing to grow in recovery through learning, honesty, and connection.
What is "progress, not perfection"?