Stigma
How does stigma impact a person’s willingness to seek professional help?
It creates fear of being judged, discriminated against, or seen as weak, which can delay or stop treatment.
What’s the difference between reacting and responding?
Reacting = impulsive/emotional; Responding = thoughtful, logical, aligned with values.
How does practicing self-love differ from boosting self-esteem?
Self-love is unconditional acceptance of self, while self-esteem is confidence tied to achievements or external validation.
Why can self-honesty feel threatening during recovery?
It forces acknowledgement of mistakes, consequences, and the need for change, which can bring discomfort or shame.
Quote: “It’s not the drugs that make a drug addict. It’s the need to escape reality.” – Unknown
Question: What does this quote suggest about the deeper reasons behind addiction?
Addiction isn’t only about substances, but about avoiding pain, trauma, or reality.
Compare public stigma and self-stigma.
Public stigma = society’s negative attitudes; self-stigma = when individuals internalize these attitudes and apply them to themselves.
How does “thinking with pain” influence relapse triggers?
Pain-based thinking heightens cravings, justifies unhealthy choices, and ignores long-term consequences
Why is self-love sometimes harder for people in recovery to practice?
Shame, guilt, and past mistakes can make acceptance difficult, requiring intentional healing and forgiveness.
How can denial disguise itself as confidence or “having things under control”?
Overconfidence may be a mask for avoiding the truth, hiding struggles, or justifying risky behaviors.
Lyrics (Macklemore, “Starting Over”): “If I can be an example of getting sober, then I can be an example of starting over.”
Question: How does this lyric connect to the hope of recovery?
Recovery can inspire others and show that change and fresh starts are possible.
How can stigma in healthcare settings directly affect treatment outcomes?
Clients may receive less compassionate care, feel invalidated, or avoid returning, leading to worse health outcomes.
Identify a cognitive distortion you often experience when in pain and explain how you could reframe it with rational thought.
Examples vary: “I always fail” → “I’ve made progress and can continue improving.”)
Give two examples of how lack of self-love can sabotage recovery.
Negative self-talk leading to relapse, tolerating toxic relationships, neglecting self-care, etc.
Describe a situation where being dishonest with yourself could lead to relapse.
Minimizing cravings, pretending “just one won’t hurt,” or denying the need for support.
Quote: “Addiction is the only prison where the locks are on the inside.” – Unknown
Question: What does this mean about personal responsibility and freedom in recovery?
Recovery starts when a person chooses to unlock the door within themselves — it’s an internal battle.
Why might people in recovery hide their history of addiction, and what long-term effects can this have?
Fear of rejection or discrimination; may lead to isolation, lack of support, and limited opportunities
Explain how mindfulness practices train the brain to separate thoughts from painful emotions.
Mindfulness builds awareness of thoughts without judgment, reducing reactivity and allowing for calmer, values-based choices.
Negative self-talk leading to relapse, tolerating toxic relationships, neglecting self-care, etc.
Boundaries protect well-being and sobriety; without them, risk of burnout, enabling, or relapse increases.
How can journaling or self-reflection help uncover hidden areas of dishonesty within yourself?
Writing reveals patterns, contradictions, and suppressed truths that might not come up in daily thoughts.
Lyrics (Demi Lovato, “Sober”): “I’m sorry for the fans I lost who watched me fall again. I wanna be a role model, but I’m only human.”
Question: What truth about relapse and recovery is expressed here?
Recovery is imperfect, relapse can happen, and honesty about struggles reduces shame.
Develop one strategy you could personally use to challenge stigma in your community and explain how it could reduce harm.
Open-ended – examples include advocacy, sharing personal recovery stories, challenging harmful language, or educating others.
Think of a recent challenge you faced. Reconstruct how the outcome might have been different if you had used brain-based rather than pain-based thinking.
Open-ended, reflective – requires personal example and analysis.
Design a personalized daily self-love practice that includes physical, emotional, and mental elements.
Open-ended – e.g., exercise, affirmations, journaling, healthy meals, checking in with emotions.
Create a recovery affirmation that ties together self-honesty and accountability. Explain how repeating it could support growth.
Open-ended – “I choose truth even when it’s hard,” “Honesty builds freedom,” etc.)
Quote: “Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.” – Carrie Fisher (actress and recovery advocate)
Question: How does this perspective highlight the gradual process of recovery?
Recovery often isn’t instant; it’s step-by-step, slowly moving away from destructive patterns and toward healing.