Basic Building Blocks
of Positive Change
of Positive Change
The essential Inner drive, focus and desire, that brings about positive change and attainment of goals.
Motivation
A strong addictive urge that can pull you in a way you may not want to go if you are not careful.
Craving
Stage 1: DENIAL.
During this stage, a person often isn’t aware that their behavior is a problem or doesn’t have a strong desire to make a change.
PRECONTEMPLATION
Hanging out in the same places can be environmental ____ and even cause relapse.
triggers
This actor/comedian who lived in the bay area struggled with addiction and substance abuse. He committed suicide in 2014.
Robin Williams
The ability to look inside yourself honestly and truthfully: Self-awareness.
Insight
You may have went backwards a little bit but still you didn’t completely relapse
Setback
Stage 2: THINKING ABOUT IT.
When a person reaches this stage of addiction recovery, they may begin to see that their addictive behaviors need to change.
CONTEMPLATION
Any recreational or even work activities that put you at risk need to be ____ from your life. Nothing is more important than your recovery.
removed
The singer songwriter of Piano Man struggled with alcohol abuse for years before entering rehab.
Billy Joel
Something just about everyone needs when overcoming a difficult challenge, because it is so difficult to do it alone.
Support
Some people may try to deal with substance use issue by attempting use less, or change to a less harmful substance. If that isn’t working you may need to consider this more basic old option.
Abstinence/Sobriety
Stage 3: LET'S GET READY!
After a person realizes they want to make a change, they typically start to put a plan into place.
PREPARATION
Friends, family or groups who drink, abuse drugs, or engage in activities that are triggers for you, need to be avoided especially for those in early recovery. Find new and ___ people in support groups and meetings.
sober
This Marvel actor has struggled with alcoholism over the years.
Robert Downey Jr.
Building insight and motivation lead to this powerful experience defined by a strong sense of positive mental stimulation to try make things better.
Inspiration
With more severe addiction, particularly opioid, if the withdrawal or cravings are overwhelming it may be wise to consider seeing a doctor for this
Medication or Medication Assisted Treatment
Stage 4: DOING THE DANG THING.
For people struggling with drug or alcohol misuse, this may be entering detox, going to rehab or attending group support meetings. For people who are trying to moderate their substance use, they may make smaller changes to their daily routines or habits.
ACTION
Change is ___ under any circumstances, but for people in early recovery it can seem more difficult.
stressful
his music artist had a hit pop song come out a few years before her death called 'Rehab'
Amy Winehouse
If you find and discover this it can help you define your goals and add meaning and direction in your life.
Purpose
They say relapse doesn’t suddenly happen out of nowhere – It’s not an event, it is often much more of a gradual _____.
Process
Stage 5: KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
This could be continuing to practice the new behaviors a person learned during treatment, attending support groups, continuing therapy or counseling and/or remaining abstinent from using substances.
MAINTENANCE
One of the most popular sayings in AA Alcoholics Anonymous is “if you keep on doing the same things, you will keep on getting the same _____.”
results
This author, who wrote books such as Carrie and The Green Mile struggled with alcohol and prescription drug addiction for years.
Stephen King