Biological Aspects
This part of the brain is responsible for reward and plays a key role in cravings.
What is the dopamine system (or reward pathway)?
This term describes negative thinking patterns like “I’ve already messed up, so I might as well keep using.”
What is all-or-nothing thinking?
Staying connected to others in recovery helps prevent relapse by providing this kind of support.
What is accountability or peer support?
Many recovery programs encourage connection to this “power greater than oneself.”
What is a higher power?
Relapse often begins long before substance use occurs — it starts when someone stops taking care of these four key dimensions of their recovery.
True. Taking care of these aspects is important to avoiding relapse.
Getting too little of this can weaken impulse control and increase relapse risk.
What is sleep?
Relapse prevention plans often include learning these techniques to challenge unhelpful thoughts.
What are cognitive-behavioral (CBT) skills?
People, places, or things that remind someone of past use are known as these.
What are high-risk situations or triggers?
Practicing gratitude and mindfulness are examples of strengthening this dimension of recovery.
What is spirituality?
Getting enough sleep helps improve impulse control and lowers the risk of relapse.
True.
A return to substance use is often preceded by physical warning signs such as fatigue, headaches, or these strong urges.
What are cravings?
Emotional relapse often starts when someone begins to ignore or suppress these.
What are emotions or feelings?
This type of housing offers a drug-free environment and peer accountability after treatment.
What is sober living (or halfway house)?
Losing connection with personal values, purpose, or meaning can lead to this type of relapse.
What is spiritual relapse?
Staying connected to peers in recovery provides accountability and support that reduces relapse risk.
True.
Regular exercise can reduce relapse risk by increasing levels of this “feel good” chemical in the brain.
What is serotonin (or endorphins)?
This stage of relapse involves internal conflict between wanting to use and wanting to stay sober.
What is mental relapse?
Isolation and withdrawing from others are early warning signs of this type of relapse.
What is emotional relapse?
Helping others in recovery can boost this sense of fulfillment and purpose.
What is service or altruism?
Spirituality in recovery only refers to religion.
False. Spirituality is what YOU make it.
"Higher power of our own understanding."
Poor nutrition can trigger mood changes and relapse because the brain lacks these essential nutrients.
What are vitamins and amino acids?
Identifying these personal events, people, or feelings helps clients recognize when they are at risk.
What are triggers?
Creating a recovery network of supportive people helps strengthen this key protective factor.
What is social connection or community?
Reconnecting with one’s values and beliefs can help restore this essential recovery resource.
What is hope (or inner peace)?
Mental relapse is when someone begins physically using again.
False. Mental relapse happens before the act of physically using substances.