Recovery Basics
This document outlines goals, objectives, and interventions during treatment.
Treatment plan
This practice increases awareness of thoughts, emotions, and urges without judgment.
What is mindfulness
What is a SMART goal?
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
This chemical messenger is often called the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter — it surges during substance use and natural rewards like eating, laughing and even gambling
Dopamine
This helps create safety and structure for a healing brain.
What is routine
2 or more missed appointments (no call, no show) including group attendance can results in
An attendance contract and then with further recovery treatment opportunities missed-Discharge
This DBT skill focuses on accepting reality as it is to reduce suffering.
What is Radical Acceptance
What are the benefits of setting short-term goals before long-term goals?
They create achievable steps and build confidence and momentum.
This neurotransmitter helps regulate mood, sleep, and overall well-being — when it’s low, depression and anxiety often increase.
Serotonin
Skipping meals, isolating, or avoiding appointments are examples of these.
What are behavioral relapse warning signs
What does HALT stand for?
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.
This DBT skill uses cold water or temperature change to reset the stress response.
What is TIPP
T – Temperature:
Changing body temperature (such as splashing cold water on your face or holding something cold) can activate the dive reflex, slowing heart rate and reducing emotional intensity.
I – Intense Exercise:
Short bursts of physical activity (like jumping jacks or brisk walking) help burn off adrenaline and lower emotional arousal.
P – Paced Breathing:
Slow, controlled breathing (longer exhales than inhales) helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress.
P – Paired Muscle Relaxation:
Tensing and releasing muscle groups helps release physical tension and calm the body.
What is a healthy way to manage conflict?
Assertive communication, active listening, problem-solving.
Long-term substance use damages the brain’s reward pathway, causing reduced pleasure from normal activities — a condition known as this.
Anhedonia
Research shows mindfulness can physically change the brain by strengthening this area that helps with focus and decision making
Prefrontal cortex
What is the difference between a trigger and a craving?
A trigger is something that prompts thoughts of use; a craving is the urge to use.
What grounding technique uses your five senses?
The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique.
A sponsor or mentor should have these three key qualities
solid recovery time, healthy boundaries, and a willingness to guide others without judgment.
This is the brain’s amazing ability to form new connections and adapt throughout life — even after addiction.
What is neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity shows that recovery isn’t just about willpower — it’s about literally rewiring the brain through these three steps: repetition, new behaviors, and positive reinforcement.
When someone tries to guilt you for taking care of yourself, they are crossing this kind of boundary
emotional boundary
Why is relapse considered a process rather than an event?
It often begins with thoughts, emotions, and behaviors long before substance use occurs.
Practicing this skill builds tolerance for discomfort and rewires the brain’s reward system by breaking the automatic link between craving and use.
What is urge surfing
Research consistently shows that one of the strongest predictors of long-term recovery is not willpower alone but this factor.
Healthy social support and connection.
This primary excitatory neurotransmitter plays a key role in learning, memory, and cravings, and becomes dysregulated in substance use disorders, contributing to relapse risk.
What is glutamate
People often think that Kratom is natural or safe due to it's marketing and availability- but in reality it is risky because it does this....
It activates opioid pathways (binds to opioid receptors) in the brain causing cravings and physical withdrawal, and can lead to relapse on stronger opioids