steps
This concept shows up in Step One when someone realizes control and willpower alone haven’t worked.
What is powerlessness?
This hallucinogenic substance was reportedly tested by the Nazis in concentration camps and on soldiers as part of experimental research.
What is LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide, precursor compounds)?
In CBT, this refers to the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
What is the CBT triangle?
Alcohol is classified as a?
What is a depressant
This rapper and entrepreneur has openly celebrated years of sobriety and often talks about personal growth and mental health.
Who is Eminem?
This former NFL wide receiver has spoken openly about addiction and now works as a mental health and recovery advocate.
Who is Brandon Marshall?
This step introduces hope by challenging the belief that “nothing will ever change.”
What is Step Two?
The U.S. military issued these stimulant tablets to pilots during WWII to combat fatigue.
What is Benzedrine (amphetamine)?
This CBT skill involves noticing your thoughts without immediately believing them.
What is awareness (or mindfulness of thoughts)?
This uncomfortable phase happens when the body reacts to the absence of drugs or alcohol it’s dependent on.
Withdrawal
This actor and former professional wrestler has spoken about getting sober early in his career and staying committed to recovery.
Who is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?
This legendary MMA fighter entered recovery after struggles with substance use and later became a coach on The Ultimate Fighter.
Who is Matt Brown?
Writing down resentments, fears, and harms caused is a key practice of this step.
What is Step Four?
This German military issued tablets containing this powerful stimulant to pilots and infantry in WWII to increase alertness.
What is methamphetamine (Pervitin)?
These are quick, automatic thoughts that pop up in stressful situations.
What are automatic thoughts?
These are people, places, and things that increase the risk of relapse.
What are triggers?
This singer has been open about sobriety and credits recovery with saving her voice and career.
Who is Demi Lovato?
This former MLB pitcher known for his intensity has spoken publicly about getting sober and turning his life around.
Who is Josh Hamilton?
The spiritual principle of willingness defines this Step, where we prepare for transformation but take no direct action yet.
step 6
In ancient Greece, this substance was commonly diluted with water and consumed at social and religious gatherings.
What is wine?
This CBT technique challenges unhelpful thoughts by asking for evidence for and against them.
What is cognitive restructuring (or thought challenging)?
This “HALT” acronym reminds clients to check themselves before relapse by asking if they are what four things?
What are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired
This comedian and actor entered recovery after a highly publicized relapse and later spoke openly about the challenges of staying sober.
Who is John Mulaney?
This English soccer star overcame alcoholism and later became a coach and media personality.
Who is Paul Gascoigne?
Letting go of self-reliance and choosing a new direction best describes the action of this step.
What is Step Three?
This civilization used cacao beans to make a bitter ceremonial drink believed to have spiritual significance.
Who are the Maya?
This term describes exaggerated or inaccurate thinking patterns, such as all-or-nothing thinking or catastrophizing.
What are cognitive distortions?
During detox, medical staff often monitor this to ensure clients safely adjust to being off substances.
What are vital signs (or blood pressure, pulse, and temperature)?
This country singer and pop crossover star quit drinking and publicly shares about sober living and family life.
Who is Carrie Underwood?
This NFL quarterback credited sobriety with extending his career and improving his leadership.
Who is Ryan Leaf?
Ongoing self-examination and prompt admission of mistakes are core practices of this step.
What is Step Ten?
This Greek god was associated with wine, ecstasy, and altered states of consciousness.
Who is Dionysus?
This CBT strategy focuses on changing behavior first to improve mood, especially in depression.
What is behavioral activation?
This type of therapy helps clients recognize distorted thinking patterns and replace them with healthier thoughts and behaviors.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
This rapper known for Swimming spoke about working toward sobriety and self-reflection before his death.
Who is Mac Miller?
This former UFC heavyweight champion entered recovery after legal issues and later returned to competition.
Who is Andrei Arlovski?
This step requires separating willingness from action when preparing to repair relationships.
What is Step Eight?
This ancient Assyrian and Babylonian substance was used in medical texts and later became globally restricted.
What is cannabis?
This worksheet tool helps clients identify a situation, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and alternative thoughts.
What is a thought record?
This term describes the brain’s tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain — often hijacked during addiction.
What is the reward system (or dopamine system)?
This actress and entrepreneur has publicly credited sobriety with helping her heal from trauma and build multiple businesses.
Who is Jessica Simpson?
This MLB Hall of Famer openly discussed addiction to alcohol and painkillers and later became an advocate for recovery.
Who is Darryl Strawberry?
Becoming willing to change patterns while asking for help instead of forcing change connects these two steps.
What are Steps Six and Seven?
In the 16th century, this European country first imported tobacco from the Americas, leading to its widespread use across Europe.
Spain
In CBT, this technique involves gradually facing feared situations instead of avoiding them.
What is exposure therapy?
This relapse stage happens before physical use, when thoughts and emotions begin drifting back toward old behaviors.
What is an emotional or mental relapse?
This rock musician and reality TV star has maintained long-term sobriety and often mentors others in recovery.
Who is Ozzy Osbourne?
This former soccer goalkeeper has spoken publicly about addiction, mental health, and recovery after retiring from professional play.
Who is Tim Howard?
This step combines service, accountability, and daily practice of recovery principles in all areas of life.
What is Step Twelve?
This ancient civilization used opium, known as “the joy plant,” as early as 3,400 BCE.
Mesopotamia
This CBT concept explains how deeply held beliefs formed early in life influence automatic thoughts and behaviors.
What are core beliefs (or schemas)?
This ongoing condition means that recovery requires lifelong management and support, not a one-time cure.
What is addiction as a chronic disease?
This author, podcaster, and former addict founded a global recovery community focused on connection and compassion.
Who is Russell Brand?
This NFL Super Bowl–winning wide receiver overcame addiction, incarceration, and homelessness before becoming a motivational speaker.
Who is Michael Irvin?