Relapse Justifications
“I’ll only do it once.”
What is minimization?
“I feel like I can’t handle this” is a ___, not a ___
What is a thought, not a fact?
Allowing urges without acting on them
What is acceptance?
This trap sounds logical but leads to relapse
What is “just this once” thinking?
Name one acceptance statement
“I can feel this and not use” (or similar)
“It’s been a hard day—I deserve it.”
What is entitlement thinking?
Acceptance teaches us we don’t have to do this with thoughts
What is obey them?
Urges are often compared to this natural event
What is a wave?
Avoiding feelings actually makes this stronger
What is the urge?
Grounding helps by bringing attention to this moment
What is the present?
“It’s not my main substance, so it doesn’t count.”
What is rationalization?
Naming a thought instead of arguing with it is called
What is cognitive defusion?
Acceptance focuses on changing this, not the feeling
What is behavior?
This emotion often fuels relapse justifications
What is shame?
Doing something meaningful while uncomfortable is called
What is opposite action / committed action?
“Everyone else is doing it.”
What is comparison thinking?
This phrase creates space between you and the urge
What is “I’m noticing the thought that…”?
Sitting with discomfort without fixing it is called
What is distress tolerance?
Trying to control urges instead of accept them usually does this
What is increases them?
Acceptance does NOT mean this
What is giving up or approving?
This justification often shows up right before relapse
What is emotional reasoning?
This belief increases relapse risk: “If I feel it, I must act.”
What is fusion?
Choosing recovery even while urges are present
What is values-based action?
Believing discomfort is dangerous is called
What is emotional intolerance?
This question shifts from justification to acceptance:
“What kind of person do I want to be right now?”
What is values clarification?