Mental Health Matters
This common feeling is the body’s natural response to stress and can be helpful in small amounts.
What is anxiety?
Paying attention to the present moment without judgment.
What is mindfulness?
A simple physical activity that reduces stress hormones and boosts mood.
What is walking?
A person, place, or thing that increases the urge to use substances.
What is a trigger?
The DBT skill that helps you stay grounded in the present moment.
What is mindfulness?
Trauma‑informed care emphasizes safety, empowerment, and this type of decision‑making.
What is choice?
A phrase meaning progress happens one step at a time.
What is “one day at a time”?
A healthy brain chemical often called the “feel‑good” neurotransmitter.
What is dopamine?
This simple grounding technique asks you to name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.
What is the 5‑4‑3‑2‑1 grounding exercise?
Writing down thoughts and feelings to process emotions.
What is journaling?
The first step in preventing relapse is recognizing these early warning signs.
What are cravings or emotional changes?
This DBT skill teaches you to tolerate distress without making things worse.
What is distress tolerance?
The part of the brain responsible for detecting danger and activating the fight‑or‑flight response.
What is the amygdala?
The belief that people can grow and change throughout life.
What is a growth mindset?
This practice involves talking with a trained professional to explore thoughts and emotions.
What is therapy or counseling?
A short meditation where you scan your body from head to toe.
What is a body scan?
This hormone, known as the “stress hormone,” rises when we feel overwhelmed.
What is cortisol?
A supportive person you can call when you feel vulnerable.
What is a sober support or trusted friend?
The DBT skill that helps balance emotional reactions with logical thinking.
What is wise mind?
Trauma‑informed approaches avoid this type of language or behavior that can re‑activate fear.
What is triggering or re‑traumatizing language?
A supportive phrase reminding someone that asking for help is a sign of this.
What is strength?
This condition involves persistent sadness or loss of interest lasting more than two weeks.
What is depression?
Focusing your attention on the feeling of your feet touching the floor is an example of this type of mindfulness.
What is grounding or sensory awareness?
A technique where you tense and relax muscle groups to release tension.
What is progressive muscle relaxation?
This type of plan outlines coping strategies, contacts, and steps to stay on track.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
A DBT interpersonal effectiveness skill that helps you ask for what you need.
What is DEAR MAN?
A trauma‑informed principle that recognizes each person’s unique background and experiences.
What is cultural humility?
This word describes the inner drive that keeps someone moving toward recovery.
What is motivation?
The ability to bounce back after challenges or setbacks.
What is resilience?
This type of meditation uses slow, intentional movement to connect the mind and body.
What is mindful movement or walking meditation?
Setting boundaries is a stress‑reduction skill that involves saying this word when needed.
What is “no”?
HALT is a relapse‑prevention acronym reminding people to check if they are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or this.
What is Tired?
This DBT skill encourages doing small positive actions to improve your mood.
What is opposite action?
Trauma can affect memory, emotions, and the body. This term describes the body’s physical response to past experiences.
What is somatic memory?
A reminder that even small improvements add up over time.
What is “progress, not perfection”?