Craving
The term for an intense urge or desire to use a substance.
What is a craving?
The term for automatic or habitual substance use despite wanting to stop.
What is compulsion?
The inability to limit use or stop once started is called this.
What is loss of control?
Negative outcomes from substance use are called this.
What are consequences?
Talking to a sponsor, therapist, or friend when urges arise is called this.
What is reaching out for support?
Cravings can be triggered by these internal experiences like stress or emotions.
What are internal triggers?
Compulsive use often bypasses this type of thought.
What is conscious thought?
A common phrase reflecting false belief in control: “I’ll only ___.”
What is “use a little” / “have just one”?
Consequences can affect these areas of life: physical, emotional, relational, or legal.
What are domains of life?
A technique to observe cravings without acting on them is called this.
What is mindfulness or urge surfing?
Cravings usually rise and fall like this.
What is a wave?
Compulsion is often strengthened by this type of relief.
What is emotional or stress relief?
Control is influenced by this brain system that regulates decision-making.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
The brain can minimize these during cravings, making them less effective at stopping use.
What are consequences?
This type of plan helps prevent relapse by identifying triggers and coping skills.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
A common strategy to cope with cravings by noticing and riding them out.
What is urge surfing?
This technique helps create a pause before acting on a compulsion.
What is grounding or a mindfulness pause?
Making a plan ahead of time to avoid use is called this.
What is setting boundaries or a relapse prevention plan?
Playing this forward helps a person anticipate what might happen if they use.
What is “playing the tape forward”?
Engaging in healthy activities, hobbies, or exercise strengthens this.
What is recovery or resilience?
Cravings involve this part of the brain, responsible for reward and motivation.
What is the limbic system (or reward pathway)?
Compulsion is part of this 4-step cycle in addiction (after craving).
What is the compulsion stage of the addiction loop?
Control is often lost when this overrides rational thinking.
What is craving or compulsion?
Despite consequences, people may continue using due to this overriding factor.
What is craving or compulsion?
Breaking the addiction cycle often requires insight plus this.
What is coping skills or behavior change?