Drugs and Alcohol Facts
An individual who has only a few drinks each week cannot be an alcoholic.
False. People who depend on alcohol, or whose ability to function in daily life is impaired by alcoholic, suffer a disease.
The best thing to do when experiencing triggers early in recovery is to avoid them.
True.
On average, a person will drive under the influence up to 80 times before their first DUI.
True
You must use ALL coping skills taught in groups in order to maintain adequate mental health and sobriety
False
1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
True.
Why shouldn't you use drugs/alcohol if you have been diagnosed with mental health disorder?
Alcohol or drugs exacerbates underlying mental health symptoms (i.e if you are already depressed you will become more depresesed)
Name the three most common triggers
People, places and things
Name at least 2 steps from AA
1. Admitting you are powerless to drugs/alcohol
2. A power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity
3. Made a decision to turn our lives around
4. Make a moral inventory
5.Admitting the nature of our wrongs
6. Ready to remove defects of character
7. Humbly ask Him to remove out shortcomings
8. Make a list of person's we have harmed and be willing to make amends
9. Make direct amends
10. Continue to take personal inventory and admit our wrongs
11. Continue spiritual progress
12. Help others in recovery
What are 3 coping skills you can do anywhere?
Deep breathing, mindfulness, grounding techniques
Name 2 cognitive distortions
Black and white thinking (polarized thinking), overgeneralization, catastrophizing, personalization, mind reading, mental filtering, discounting the positive, "should" statements, emotional reasoning, labeling
Due to risk of seizures or death, if withdrawing from these 2 substances it is best to seek inpatient treatment/detox
Alcohol and Benzodiazepines
Give an example of a cognitive trigger
Any thoughts (anxiety, stress, trauma symptoms)
You may experience Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) for up to ___ years.
2
Substance use, overeating, excessive sleep and excessive avoidance are examples of what?
Unhealthy coping skills
Our _____ beliefs (central beliefs that people hold about themselves) contribute to negative self-talk.
Core
After smoking marijuana, how long is a person's driving ability affected?
5-7 hours
3 out of 4 ______ reference using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco (hint: pop culture)
Rap songs
It is important to set ______ on your exposure to certain people places and things, especially early in recovery.
Boundaries
Give me an example of a way to soothe yourself by using one of the 5 senses.
Lighting a candle, taking a bath, soft blanket, pet animal, hug someone, listen to music, look at the stars, drink tea, chew gum, smell flowers
Musical artists Logic and Alessia Cara wrote a song with the National Suicide Hotline phone number as it's title. What is the National Suicide Hotline phone number?
800-273-8255
______ _______ is the leading cause in substance abuse deaths
Why should new relationships be avoided the first year of recovery?
- Relationship may take priority over recovery
-Ups and downs, stress, can lead to relapse
What is a way someone can sabotage their treatment?
Not going to groups, dishonesty, minimizing relapses, not taking meds, intellectualizing, "doing it your way", avoid meetings, becoming complacent (etc.)
Why is deep breathing helpful when experiencing anxiety or racing thoughts?
Deep breathing sends oxygen to our blood which sends a signal to our brain that we are not in danger which slows down the heart.
What does the DBT "TIPP" skill stand for?
Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation