Coping Skills 101
A strategy or behavior used to manage stress, emotions, or difficult situations.
What is a coping skill?
This is a person, place, thing, thought, or emotion that causes a strong urge to use or act out.
What is a trigger?
This common condition involves prolonged sadness and lack of interest.
What is depression?
The "A" in AA and NA stands for this.
What is Anonymous?
This technique helps you stay in the present moment.
What is mindfulness?
This technique involves taking slow, deep breaths to calm your nervous system.
What is deep breathing and/or meditation?
True or False: Triggers are always external.
What is false?
This disorder may involve intense worry that’s hard to control.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
In recovery, this term means avoiding substances completely.
What is abstinence?
This “invisible load” builds up when you ignore your own needs for too long.
What is burnout?
This coping method encourages you to speak kindly to yourself, especially during tough moments.
What is positive self talk?
A mindfulness technique that involves riding out the wave of a craving without giving in.
What is urge surfing?
This month is considered Mental Health Awareness Month.
What is May?
This is what it’s called when someone uses again after a period of sobriety.
What is a relapse?
Positive statements you repeat to yourself, often to change your thinking and feelings, or to manifest desired outcomes.
What are positive affirmations?
Name one physical activity that can help reduce anxiety.
What is walking, running, stretching, yoga?
These types of triggers are tied to emotions like shame, guilt, or anxiety.
What are internal triggers?
Name at least two somatic symptoms of anxiety?
What is increased heartrate, shortness of breath, nausea, upset stomach, sweating?
This person helps guide you in 12-step programs, often sharing their own lived experience.
What is a sponsor?
Saying “no” to protect your time and well-being is an example of this.
What is setting boundaries?
These are the 6 different coping skills categories.
What is emotional, cognitive (mental), physical, behavioral, spiritual (reflective) , and social?
Name at least three external triggers.
What is seeing someone using, a certain smell, going to a bar, driving past a certain place.
This term refers to how your brain “rewires” through healthy habits and coping strategies.
What is neuroplasticity?
A recovery acronym: HALT. Name what each letter stands for.
What is Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired?
Drinking enough water and eating regular meals are under which tier of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
What is physiological (basic needs)?