Relapse Prevention
This is the first stage of relapse, where a person’s emotions and thinking may shift before any substance use occurs.
What is emotional relapse?
Provide an example of a time you went back out and used/drank due to your emotions and how you can prevent it now after having the coping skills you have learned?
This type of trigger involves seeing a person, place, or thing that reminds you of using.
What is an external trigger
Taking slow, deep breaths is an example of this type of coping skill.
What is relaxation or grounding
This small item is often given in 12-step groups to mark days, months, or years of sobriety.
What is a chip or coin
When you received a chip or coin for X number of days clean how did it make you feel? Explain.
True or False: Self-care is selfish.
What is False – self-care is necessary for recovery.
Do you feel the same (that self-care is necessary for recovery)? Or do you feel self-care is being selfish?
Name one healthy coping skill you can use instead of returning to old behaviors when feeling triggered.
What is calling a sponsor, journaling, going for a walk, mindfulness, or reaching out for support?
What is one healthy coping tool you plan to use when you`ve complete treatment and how do you feel it will be effective?
This type of trigger happens inside you, like stress, anger, or boredom.
What is an internal trigger
Journaling, art, or music can be used to cope with these kinds of emotions.
What are stressful or overwhelming emotions
True or False: Writing a gratitude list is considered a recovery tool
What is True
Eating balanced meals helps prevent these common relapse triggers.
What are hunger and fatigue
True or False: Relapse happens suddenly, without warning signs.
What is False – relapse is a process that usually has warning signs before it happens.
If you have relapsed before, did you notice your warning signs prior or did you realize after you relapsed?
Name one high-risk situation that could lead to relapse
What is being around people who use, going to bars/parties, stress, or financial problems
Name a high-risk situation you have been in? How would you handle this situation now?
Name one healthy activity you can do when you feel cravings.
What is exercise, calling a sponsor, going for a walk, prayer, or meditation
Name two ways technology can be used as a recovery tool.
What are recovery apps, online meetings, meditation apps, sobriety trackers, or connecting with support groups online
a condition of body and mind that typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the eyes are closed, the postural muscles relaxed, the activity of the brain altered, and consciousness of the surroundings practically suspended
What is sleep
Why is sleep important? Can getting enough sleep help reduce risk of relapsing?
This acronym is used to describe common relapse triggers: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.
What is HALT?
True or False: A trigger always leads to relapse.
What is False – a trigger is a warning sign but can be managed with coping skills.
This coping skill involves focusing your mind on the present moment without judgment.
What is mindfulness
This recovery tool involves rehearsing how to say “no” to offers of substances in real-life situations.
What are refusal skills or role-playing
Explain a time you had group here that you used role playing, did it teach you anything? What did you learn from the exercise?
Practicing gratitude daily is an example of this kind of self-care.
What is emotional or spiritual self-care
One of the best ways to strengthen relapse prevention is by having this type of support system in place.
What is a sober support network (e.g., sponsor, meetings, recovery peers, family, therapist)?
Do you have a support system in place?
Name some of the people you have in this support system.
The best way to handle triggers is to do this ahead of time.
What is make a relapse prevention plan
Some of you have developed a relapse prevention plan how do you plan to remind yourself of this plan once you leave treatment?
Talking honestly about feelings with someone safe is called
What is processing or sharing
These are short, written reminders you can keep on hand to help ground yourself during cravings.
What are coping cards or recovery statements
Planning your day, keeping appointments, and managing stress with schedules are examples of this.
What is practical self-care