Recovery Basics
This 12 step program is the most widely known peer support group for alcohol recovery
What is Alcoholics Anonymous
This type of breathing helps calm the body and reduce cravings
What is Deep breathing or diaphragmatic breathing?
This is the most common trigger for relapse: stress, boredom, or peer pressure?
What is stress?
Drinking enough water and getting 7 to 8 hours of this can help reduce relapse risk
What is sleep?
Alcohol is classified as this type of drug: stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen?
What is the present?
The first step in recovery often involves admitting this
What is admitting powerlessness over the addiction
Engaging in activities like walking, journaling, or listening to music are examples of these
What are healthy coping strategies?
Creating a daily plan of structure, goals, and routines help reduce this relapse risk factor
What is idle time or lack of structure?
Exercise helps boost these feel good brain chemicals
What are endorphins
This spring chemical, linked to pleasure and reward, is often disrupted by addiction
What is dopamine
This is the term for physical or emotional discomfort experienced after stopping substance use
What is withdrawal
This grounding technique uses your five senses to bring you back to present
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
Name one red flag warning sign of relapse
What is isolation, skipping meetings, cravings, or dishonesty?
Eating foods rich in vitamins and proteins can help the body heal from this process
What is substance use or addiction?
Needing more of a substance to get the same effect.
What is tolerance?
This acronym, HALT, is a reminder to check in when feeling vulnerable to relapse. What does HALT stand for
What is hungry, angry, lonely, tired?
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people to identify and change these unhelpful mental patterns
What are negative thoughts?
This type of support, often made up of friends and peers in recovery, helps people stay accountable
What is a sober support network?
This type of self care involves setting limits with people who may trigger unhealthy behaviors
What are boundaries?
The organ of the body that is most impacted by long term alcohol use
What is the liver
This stage of change is when a person recognizes they have a problem but isn't ready to take action yet
What is contemplation?
This practice, rooted in staying present and non judgmental, is often used in relapse prevention
What is mindfulness?
Relapse is not a failure, but part of this larger process
What is recovery?
Recovery often includes healing not only physically and mentally but also this other dimension
What is spirituality
Addiction is now understood as this type of disease: moral failing, chronic brain disease, or temporary weakness?
What is a chronic brain disease?