Recovery
Meditation, mindfulness, exercise, therapy, calling a sober friend, and thinking of consequences are all examples of this useful tool in recovery.
What is a coping skill?
Distortion: Everything is either the worst or the best, good or bad. There is no in-between or gray area.
Ex: "If I don't get an A, I'm a failure."
What is Black and White Thinking?
85-90% of Stimulant-related drug deaths involve this drug.
What is Meth?
This 12-Step alternative is based on scientific methods rather than spirituality, with a heavy emphasis of self-empowerment, and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy.)
Distortion: Assuming you know what someone else is thinking.
Ex: "They probably think I'm making such a fool of myself."
What is Mind Reading?
Withdrawal from this substance can cause anxiety, muscle aches, increased tearing, insomnia, runny nose, sweating, hot/cold flashes, and yawning.
What is an Opiate? (Fentanyl, Heroin, Vicodin, etc)
After leaving treatment, 85% of individuals relapse within this length of time.
What is 1 year? (Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse)
This recovery program was established in the 1940s and started in California. It asserts that its therapeutic value for aiding people in recovery is that the program is based on people helping people.
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
One of these prescribed and federally regulated medications can help an opiate addicted individual start recovering from their addiction and structuring his or her life again.
What is Suboxone, and Naltrexone?
The voice inside our heads that constantly criticizes, puts us down, is demanding, negative and harsh.
What is the Inner Critic?
Withdrawal from this drug can cause restless behavior, depressed mood, fatigue, increased appetite, vivid and unpleasant dreams and slowing of daily activity.
What is cocaine?
More than 90% of people who have an addiction started to drink alcohol or use drugs before what age?
18 years old.
This common misconception implies that every alcoholic/addict has to lose everything in order to get sober.
What is a "rock bottom"? Addiction, like most other diseases, progresses with time. The longer we wait, the more mental/physical damage is done. A colossal fallout isn't necessary for someone to realize they truly want treatment.
This voice inside our heads is supportive, encouraging, hopeful, and focuses on the possibilities and positives.
What is The Inner Coach? (Or Sacred Self, Higher Self, Inner Guide, etc.)
Withdrawal from this substance can cause anxiety, agitation, sweating, increased heart rate, trouble sleeping, nausea and/or vomiting, hallucinations, and seizures.
What is a benzodiazepine? (Or "benzo." Ex: Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium)
Each year in the United States, an estimated 95,000 people die from this legal drug, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in our country.
What is alcohol? (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
This type of amends is usually reserved for family members and loved ones. There is often a lingering mistrust that takes time to regain. How do we rebuild our relationships with them?
Living amends, which means creating real changes through true and honest behaviors/actions, as well as following an emotionally sober path.
AA/NA/12-step programs originated from this fellowship that nurtured many of the spiritual ideas and practices that became essential to "the program."
(Think Bill W. before AA..)
What is the Oxford Group?
What are Core Beliefs?
This drug as an approved anesthetic in humans and was discontinued in 1965 because patients often became agitated, delusional, and irrational while recovering from its anesthetic effects. (Hint: it's a hallucinogen that you don't hear about very often anymore.)
What is PCP?