Mindfulness
This mindfulness skill involves focusing your attention on your breathing to calm your mind and body.
What is deep breathing?
This acronym reminds people to watch for being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired—common relapse triggers.
What is HALT?
This part of the brain helps control basic functions like breathing and heart rate.
What is the brainstem?
This is the first stage of the addiction cycle, where a person may start thinking about using or feel triggered.
What is preoccupation (or trigger stage)?
These are people, places, or things that can make someone think about using again.
What are triggers?
This mindfulness technique involves paying attention to each part of your body, often from head to toe, noticing tension without judgment.
What is a body scan?
This is the first stage of relapse, where a person may not be using yet but starts isolating, bottling emotions, or neglecting self-care.
What is emotional relapse?
This neurotransmitter is often linked to pleasure and reward, especially in addiction.
What is dopamine?
This family role is seen as the “perfect one” who gets good grades and tries to make the family look okay on the outside.
What is the Golden Child (or Hero)?
This type of trigger comes from inside, like stress, anxiety, or boredom.
What are internal triggers?
This concept means noticing your thoughts and feelings without trying to change them or judge them as good or bad.
What is nonjudgmental awareness?
This stage of relapse includes thoughts like “maybe I can use just once” or romanticizing past use.
What is mental relapse?
This theory by Sigmund Freud divides personality into the id, ego, and superego.
What is psychoanalytic theory?
This role takes the blame for family problems and is often labeled the “problem child,” even if others contribute to the dysfunction.
What is the Scapegoat?
This type of trigger comes from outside, like certain friends, locations, or environments.
What are external triggers?
This grounding technique uses your five senses to bring you back to the present moment (name things you can see, hear, feel, etc.).
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
This strategy involves reaching out to someone like a sponsor, friend, or counselor when you feel triggered instead of dealing with it alone.
What is asking for help (or using your support system)?
This type of learning happens when behaviors are influenced by rewards and punishments.
What is operant conditioning?
This family member tries to keep the peace, fix problems, and take care of others, often ignoring their own needs.
What is the Caretaker (or Enabler)?
This is a strong urge or desire to use that can feel physical or emotional.
What is a craving?
This mindfulness idea focuses on staying in the present moment instead of thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
What is present-moment awareness?
This concept refers to creating a plan ahead of time that outlines triggers, warning signs, and coping strategies to stay sober.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
This concept refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt by forming new neural connections.
What is neuroplasticity?
This family member tends to withdraw, stay quiet, and avoid attention as a way to cope with chaos at home.
What is the Lost Child?
This coping strategy involves pausing, recognizing the urge, and letting it pass instead of acting on it.
What is urge surfing?