MY TRIGGERS
The external trigger I'm most likely to encounter in the future.
What is _______? (almost any honest answer) NOT ACCEPTABLE: I have no potential external triggers; nothing could make me use again.
The people whose happiness and well-being I care about most.
Who are _____?
3 things I do daily to maintain my recovery.
What are _______, _______, and _______?
A broad range of answers are acceptable, as long as you name things you actually do every day or almost every day.
It's not the same as religion.
What is spirituality?
1 self-care activity people can engage in in each of these categories: physical health, mental/emotional health, spiritual well-being.
What are; PHYSICAL--eating healthy foods; getting enough exercise; seeing a doctor or dentist; getting good sleep; etc.? MENTAL/EMOTIONAL--spending time with friends and family; enjoying leisure activities; seeing a therapist; taking meds as prescribed; etc.? SPIRITUAL--Meditating; praying; attending religious services; helping someone without any expectation of payment or reward; looking up at a sky full of stars; practicing honesty, tolerance, compassion, responsibility (being guided by spiritual principles); etc.?
The emotion(s) most likely to make me want to use if I let it/them build up AND/OR the memories most likely to bring on such emotions if I allow myself to dwell on them.
What is/are _____? (almost any honest answer) NOT ACCEPTABLE: I have no potential internal triggers; no feelings or memories could make me use again.
Someone who has been a lot of help to me lately.
Who is _____?
2 things I do at least once a week to maintain my recovery.
What are _______ and _______ ? These must be things you actually have done recently and do weekly or more often.
A friend, family member, coworker, teacher, mentor, or whoever who loves and supports me and always makes me want to shine?
Who is _______?
Why self-care is more important to people recovering from than it might be to other people.
What is: because the consequences of poor self care--like being tired, unhappy, ill, or in pain--can put a person's recovery at risk?
How I plan to to avoid potential external triggers and what I plan I plan to do when and if I encounter them.
What are _______ and _______? Almost any reasonable answers that sound like they apply to you personally are acceptable.
Something I've done recently to help one of the people I care about or just to make him or her happy.
What is _______ ?
One thing I do periodically to sustain my recovery.
What is _______? Must be something you've done fairly recently. (Think lifelines.)
Two of my core values.
What are my family, my friends, my work, my hobby or craft, my religion, my reputation, Nature, helping others, making money, honesty, compassion, trust ( or any other spiritual principle). . . anything I'm passionate about and put my all into?
2 benefits I have experienced because I'm doing better at taking care of myself since I stopped using.
What are a clearer mind; more energy; weight gain/loss; better all-around health; more self respect; higher self-esteem; enjoying doing things I had lost interest in doing; exploring new interests; experiencing fewer MH symptoms; feeling a sense of purpose; etc.?
What I plan to do prevent stressful emotions like _______ from building up and to reduce their intensity when they do start to overwhelm me.
What are _______ and _______? Almost any reasonable answers that sound like they apply to you personally are acceptable.
Someone from whom I used to hide what I was doing, what I was thinking, and what I was feeling, with whom I've been more open and honest lately.
Who is/are _____?
3 ways my life has changed for the better since I stopped using.
What are _______, _______, and _______?
Keep it real.
Two habits or practices that can improve my spiritual condition/the well-being of my soul.
What are: worshiping at my church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or shrine; exploring nature; praying; chanting; meditating; helping others; letting go of anger or resentment; laughing without malice or mockery; sharing experiences with people I love; doing things that support my core values; reading or listening to scripture, recovery literature, or inspiring stories. . . ?
3 things I do to take care of myself now that I seldom or never did while I was using.
What are not using alcohol and other drugs; getting enough sleep; starting to eat healthy foods; playing with my kids; meditating. . . ?
The most effective way to fight triggers and annihilate — the absolutely best way to respond when I feel the desire to use.
What is: Say aloud to who cares about me and my recovery that I am or recently have been experiencing cravings?
Someone with whom have I recently shared how I feel about something that was troubling me in the hope of receiving support and guidance.
Who is/are _______ ?
2 ways I hope my life will change for the better as I continue in recovery.
What are _______ and _______?
"It's amazing/With the blink of an eye, you finally see the light/It's amazing/When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright/It's amazing/And I'm sayin' a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight." (Aerosmith, "Amazing")
Some ways addiction can damage addicts' souls.
What are: damaging our relationships with others; ravaging our self-esteem; numbing our emotions; eating away at our core values; shrinking our focus down to "getting and using and finding ways and means to get more;" stealing our joy; silencing our laughter; filling us with fear, anger, hopelessness, and pain. . .
3 activities that I do to stay well physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually well.
What are going for a walk, reading a book, painting, listening to music, exercising, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, saying no to others, practicing yoga, riding a bike, anything that you do that keeps you well?