Stages of Recovery
12 (The Stages of Recovery research the first year of sobriety after the decision is made to quit all substances)
The withdrawal stage lasts between __ and __ days.
0 and 15
The honeymoon stage lasts between __ and __ days.
15 and 45
The wall stage lasts from ___ to ___ days.
45 to 120
The adjustment stage lasts from ___ to ___ days.
120 to 180
True or False: After a relapse a person starts back at the first stage?
True, a relapse means continued use after a period of sobriety which means the body will experience all of the stages again. It is important to know that a lapse is one use after a period of sobriety and this may not lead to experiencing the earlier stages again.
Name one emotional or cognitive change that is often noticeable in the 1st stage.
Irritability, depression, memory problems, difficulty concentrating
Name one emotional or cognitive change that is noticeable in the 2nd stage of recovery.
overconfidence, difficulty concentrating, increased motivation/activity, or mood swings
Name one emotional or cognitive change that is often noticeable in the 3rd stage of recovery.
low energy, isolation, increased depression, high anxiety, difficulty sleeping, increase conflict, relapse justification, little/no motivation, and cravings.
The resolution stage lasts from __ to __ days.
180 to 365. In reality, the resolution stage continues on past one year, as recovery is an ongoing process.
What stage is largely recognized as the most difficult stage of recovery?
The Wall
What are three things specific to this stage that may lead to relapse?
Unstructured time, cravings, feeling sick or uncomfortable, difficulty sleeping, and close proximity of triggers.
Name two actions that will help someone get through this stage of recovery without relapsing.
Scheduling, participating in group, self-care, reminding yourself that you are in the honeymoon stage, finding new, substance-free activities to try, avoiding triggers when possible
What is one thing that may lead to relapse specifically in the 3rd stage of recovery?
behavioral drift, relapse justifications, self-medicating mental health symptoms, difficulty sleeping, and conflict
What might be one negative feature of these two stages?
relationship problems, boredom, identity issues, difficulty making new friends, unsure where we fit in, still moments of distrust, and behavioral drift
Withdrawal, Honeymoon, Wall, Adjustment, & Resolution
Name 2 actions that will help someone get through this stage of recovery without relapsing.
Deleting phone numbers, removing paraphernalia, creating a schedule, avoiding too much free time, engaging in treatment...
Explain why this stage is called "the honeymoon"
People believe that they have achieved recovery and are happy with the progress they have made not realizing the challenges that may lie ahead.
Define relapse justification and provide an example
A relapse justification is a reason we tell ourselves that gives the "okay" to use. An example would be...
-"It's the only thing that helps me sleep"
-"I can't be the only sober person on New Year's Eve"
-"I'm already in trouble, I might as well smoke"
What might be one positive feature of these two stages?
Increased emotional intelligence and control, establishing healthy limits, new goals, new sense of self-reliance, ready to share your story to help others, increased motivation...
How long have you been sober, and what stage does that mean you are in?
Sober time = stage of recovery
1-15 days: Withdrawal
16-45 days: Honeymoon
46-120 days: Wall
121-180 days: Adjustment
181-360 days: Resolution
What causes a person to experience withdrawal symptoms?
Withdrawal happens as a result of dependence, which occurs when the body adjusts to the continued presence of a substance. When the substance is no longer in the system, the body experiences withdrawal.
Name the trigger cycle, identify when someone should stop the cycle to avoid relapse, and what strategies can they use.
Trigger>Thought>Craving>Use.
Try to stop the cycle at the thought by using thought-stopping techniques.
Define anhedonia
Being unable to experience positive emotions.
This is a common symptom of depression, which can be a part of the Wall Stage for many.
How does the New Hope program define addiction?
Continued use/action despite negative consequences.