Triggers & Cravings
This internal state can trigger relapse even if nothing “bad” is happening externally.
👉 What is a feeling or mood (like boredom, anger, loneliness, stress)?
When someone has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, it’s called this.
👉 What is dual diagnosis (or co-occurring disorders)?
HALT stands for these four relapse risk states.
👉 What are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired?
Using substances to cope with anxiety, depression, or trauma is often called this.
👉 What is self-medication?
A craving usually rises, peaks, and falls like this natural phenomenon.
👉 What is a wave? (urge surfing)
Missing psychiatric medications while using substances increases the risk of this.
👉 What is relapse of mental health symptoms?
This coping skill involves riding out a craving without acting on it.
👉 What is urge surfing?
Name one way untreated depression can increase relapse risk.
👉 What is low motivation, hopelessness, “what’s the point” thinking, isolation, sleep disruption, etc.?
Name two early warning signs that a relapse may be building before substance use actually happens.
👉 What are isolation, romanticizing use, skipping meds, sleep changes, irritability, lying, etc.?