Brain & Biology
This neurotransmitter is known as the brain’s ”feel-good” Chemical?
What is dopamine
Cravings can feel ______, ______, and ______.
What are physical, mental, and emotional?
CBT focuses on how ______ affect feelings and behaviors.
What are thoughts?
This stage is when a person doesn’t yet see their behavior as a problem.
What is precontemplation?
Addiction often replaces a person’s identity with this single label.
What is “I’m an addict”?
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for these two functions.
what are decision making and impulse control
Give one example of an internal trigger.
What are boredom, anxiety, depression, excitement, or loneliness?
DBT combines mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal skills, and ______.
What is distress tolerance?
This stage is when a person is “on the fence” — aware of the problem but ambivalent.
What is contemplation?
Name one personal role someone might want to reclaim in recovery.
What are parent, partner, worker, friend, community member, etc.?
This area of the brain stores emotional memories and triggers stress and cravings
what is amygdala
Give one example of an external trigger.
What are people, places, smells, money, or celebrations?
This CBT tool involves identifying and replacing irrational thoughts.
What is cognitive restructuring?
This stage is when someone begins planning concrete steps to change.
What is preparation?
According to Dr. Walter Ling, long-term recovery is about building this kind of life.
What is a sane and meaningful life?
Name 3 stages of the addiction cycle in the brain
binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, preoccupation/anticipation
This term describes how the brain reacts with dopamine to cues even before using.
What is cue-reactivity?
In DBT, DEAR MAN is a skill used for this purpose.
What is assertive communication / interpersonal effectiveness?
Name two common relapse prevention tools used in the maintenance stage.
What are monitoring, support groups, CBT/DBT skills, relapse prevention plan, etc.?
This therapy approach helps clients “rewrite” their personal stories.
What is narrative therapy?
Addiction rewires this brain system, which normally reinforces survival behaviors like eating and bonding.
What is the mesolimbic reward pathway?
Name two coping strategies for handling cravings.
What are mindfulness, delay techniques, support systems, grounding, etc.?
Name one distress tolerance skill that helps a person endure crisis without making it worse.
What are self-soothing, distraction, pros/cons, or radical acceptance?
True or False: Relapse is a failure.
What is false? (It’s part of the process for many, and an opportunity to recommit.)
Name two core values that can guide recovery.
What are integrity, love, perseverance, compassion, resilience, honesty, etc.?