Relapse Prevention
feelings, individuals, or situations that cause your brain to crave substances; if you are unaware of them they could be a factor for relapse.
Triggers
someone who guides a newcomer through the process of 12-step groups
sponsor
200 bonus points for sharing what you know about sponsorship, what you like about the idea of it, and how a "bad" sponsor could affect recovery success.
what is a concern in the recovery community over 12-step programs?
biased facilitation and "curing" addiction.
discussion: do you agree with the confliction? why or why not?
who won Academy Awards for Good Will Hunting and Argo and starred as Batman in the DC Comics franchise, has been open about his issues with alcohol. He went to rehab for the first time in 2001 and has called addiction “a lifelong and difficult struggle.” Following a stay at a treatment center in 2018, Affleck said on social media, “If you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure.” .
What is Ben Affleck
A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique
Mindfulness
Those suffering from addiction often have one or more medical issues that occur as well. True or False?
True
A state of mind where you are thankful and taking notice of the good things in your life, rather than focusing on the bad
gratitude
this state of mind is harmful to recovery. its characterized by being too comfortable or unmotivated to "do the work"
complacency
bonus: 100pts to anyone willing to share a time when they were complacent (does not have to be addiction specific)
a powerful desire to use substances
often perceived as "impulsive" and "uncontrollable"
cravings
what step relates to making amends to those wronged by our addiction?
bonus question anyone can answer: when do you avoid making direct amends?
step 9
bonus answer: when it would cause harm to the person you are making the amend to. we call this "living amends" or living the changes as a sign of remorse in effort to do the "next right thing"
This metallic man has been in recovery since 2003. He was introduced to drugs by his famous father and spent time in jail. He saw a resurgence in his popularity since entering recovery and staring in a series of hit movies.
Robert Downey Jr or "Iron Man"
The practice of taking an active role in regularly doing things that improve your well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress
self-care
You will always notice drug's effect on physical health immediately.
True or False?
False
you may notice the cognitive effects immediately but it takes its toll on your body over time.
Refusing to admit the truth about addiction and its consequences to ourselves.
Denial
the feeling of being trapped in a never ending stream of "unmanageable problems" and giving up/caving in to urges seem like the only option.
this term is a symptom of complacency
hint: if you are trapped and cant move you are ______.
immobilized/ immobilization
the physical symptoms experienced after detoxification that relate to the "bodily healing" from substance abuse
Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms or (PAWS)
to learn more about this; ask the nurses for an information packet :)
what is the only requirement to be a member of NA
a desire to stop using (tradition 3)
This famous British singer, songwriter, and pianist recently had a biopic made of his life. He was knighted by the Queen of England and is one of the best selling musical artists of all time. He went through recovery, built AA/NA meetings into his tour schedule, and has also sponsored other celebrities such as Eminem.
Sir Elton John
Doing or thinking about something different when you feel yourself being triggered to use substances
"changing the channel"
this is a slang term to encourage or introduce a different topic of discussion, usually intentionally.
Drug addiction can:
A) Cause mental health issues
B) Develop because of pre-existing mental health issues
C) Does not effect mental health issues
D) A and B
D
Name at least 3 reasons people use drugs
To feel better (stress, depression, etc)
To feel good (socially, pleasure, relaxation)
Curiosity (peer pressure, seeking a thrill, etc)
Fear of withdrawal (using to avoid feeling ill/dope sick/ hungover) ex: drinking as an "eye opener"
convincing yourself that it is okay to engage in addictive behaviors or use substances is called ____?
Justification
what does the acronym HALT stand for?
hint: it reminds us to stop and evaluate current feelings
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
12-step programs view addiction as an ______
and you "break out"
allergy
examples: “When I drink I break out in a binge" or "I break out in handcuffs and track marks"
She made headlines in 1989 by going to rehab at just 13 and announcing she was an addict. From a famous, and famously troubled, acting family, she was 6 when the movie E.T. launched her career. She says she started drinking when she was 9, and quickly moved on to marijuana and cocaine. She spent her teenage years trying to overcome her notoriety and has since enjoyed success as an actress and producer.
What is Drew Barrymore ?
Getting support from a neutral person who can help with mental health and addiction concerns
therapy or counseling
Name 3 specific areas of the body that can be affected by drug use
Mouth
Liver
Throat
Lungs
Skin
Kidney
Bladder
Heart
Brain
Which class of drug greatly amplifies sensations within the brain (i.e the difference between someone whispering vs. shouting into a microphone)
A) Amphetamines (Crystal Meth, ADHD medications)
B) Cocaine
C) Marijuana
D) A and B
E) All of the above
A and B or Stimulants as a drug class
how could over commitment lead to relapse?
This can lead to feeling overloaded and under pressure.
increased stress that promotes escapism
encourages grandiosity and wishful thinking in high risk situations
recovery is not a race- it can set unrealistic expectations for recovery.
using another hobby, substance, or activity to replace or substitute feelings/results that you used to get from using
cross addiction
when can you bring a friend or family member to a meeting?
if the meeting is listed as OPEN.
closed meetings are for addicts only.
bonus: what 12 step group could you suggest for your family? hint: started by Bill W's wife.
What child film star, part of the biggest movie franchise of the 2000s shared the following statement on alcohol abuse: “I was living in constant fear of who I’d meet, what I might have said to them, what I might have done with them, so I’d stay in my apartment for days and drink alone. I was a recluse at 20. It was pathetic – it wasn’t me. I’m a fun, polite person, and it turned me into a rude bore.”
Daniel Radcliffe
preferred coping skill: exercise
what are the pros and cons of "emotional release" as a coping skill?
Pros: releases the pressure of overwhelming emotions
cons: cannot be done in every situation. some people might think you are acting crazier.
example: a teacher frustrated by a classroom of students chatting/ignoring him might do a "box jump" on the desk to get everyone to focus on him. (not making this up- my government teacher did this- worked every time and people thought he was insane)
Name 3 diseases or illnesses that can result from drug use
Hepatitis
Heart disease
Obesity
Mental health
HIV
Cancer
Stroke
Name 3 reasons that can influence whether or not a person becomes addicted
Genetics (family history)
Age
Environmental factors (neighborhood, friends)
Gender
ethnicity