WHere's my Johnson
What is a trigger?
Anything that increases the desire or urge to use substances, such as a person, place, emotion, thought, or situation.
Name one healthy activity you can use to manage stress without using substances.
Exercise, walking, journaling, meditation, calling someone, attending a meeting, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby.
What is one early warning sign of relapse?
Isolating, romanticizing past use, skipping meetings, reconnecting with people who use, increased irritability, poor sleep, or neglecting recovery responsibilities.
Big Meach lives in a sober living and his roommate repeatedly leaves the common area messy. Big Meach is becoming increasingly irritated and thinking, “I can't stand living here anymore, I wanna shadow box.” What would be a healthy way to handle the situation?
Address the issue calmly and directly, use appropriate communication, review the house expectations, and involve house staff if necessary rather than reacting aggressively or leaving impulsively.
Ant gives Chrispy Bacon feedback during group that he doesn't agree with. Chrispy Bacon immediately becomes defensive. What would be a recovery-oriented response?
"Thank you for sharing that, I will take that into consideration."
Name two common emotional triggers for substance use.
Stress, anger, loneliness, anxiety, depression, boredom, shame, or frustration.
What does HALT stand for?
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.
True or False: Relapse usually happens without any warning signs.
False. Relapse often involves a progression of emotional, mental, and behavioral warning signs.
You hear two peers in sober living talking quietly in the kitchen. You assume they are talking negatively about you. You become angry and start planning what you're going to say to them. What thinking error might be occurring, and what could you do before confronting them?
Mind-reading and Pause, challenge the assumption, regulate your emotions, gather facts, and address the situation calmly if there is actually an issue.
Billy and Big K got offended several days ago after losing in spades to their counselor. They continue thinking about it and replaying the card game in their heads. Their anger keeps increasing. How can holding onto the conflict affect recovery?
It can increase stress, anger, resentment, emotional dysregulation, isolation, and cravings, potentially increasing relapse risk.
What is the difference between an internal trigger and an external trigger?
An internal trigger comes from within, such as thoughts, emotions, memories, or physical sensations. An external trigger comes from the environment, such as people, places, objects, or situations.
Name three people or resources someone could contact when experiencing a strong craving.
Sponsor, counselor, peer support, trusted friend, family member, recovery meeting, crisis/support line, or treatment provider.
A client stops attending meetings, becomes increasingly isolated, and tells themselves, “I don't really have a problem anymore.” What are these behaviors examples of?
Relapse warning signs
Someone Big Saylor used with in the past finds out where he lives and asks him to meet them nearby. They tell you they won't bring anything with them. What should you consider before agreeing to meet?
The person's connection to past substance use, potential triggers, cravings, boundaries, and the possibility that meeting them could place recovery at risk.
Your roommate snores so loudly that you swear the walls are vibrating.
You wake up at 3:00 AM thinking:
“This is it. I'm done with everybody. I need a drink.”
Identify the trigger and name two healthier responses.
Sleep deprivation/frustration are triggers. Possible responses include earplugs, white noise, talking respectfully with the roommate, speaking with staff, relaxation techniques, or requesting an appropriate room arrangement.
True or False: A craving means you are going to relapse.
False. A craving is an urge to use, but having a craving does not mean you have to act on it.
Big Abele is extremely angry after an argument with a family member. Big Abele's first thought is, “I need to get high/drunk so I don't have to deal with this.” What are three things Big Abele could do instead?
Take a timeout, leave the situation, practice breathing/grounding, call someone supportive, journal, exercise, attend a meeting, or talk with a counselor.
Big Rucker's significant other tells him that she don't trust him because of things that happened during his addiction. You become angry and want to use. What would an emotionally regulated person say.
"I understand that I have hurt you in the past, and that I need to earn your trust back, let's go to a meeting so you can learn more about my addiction."
Several residents want to break a Blue Door Rule and vape in the house. They tell you, “Everyone does it. Don't be the person who ruins it for everyone.”
What could you say or do?
“I'm not comfortable doing that. I'm going to follow the rules because my recovery is more important.”
Someone sits in “your chair” during group.
You've sat there every Tuesday for three months.
You think:
“They know that's my chair.”
Is this worth turning into a conflict?
No, choose flexibility rather than unnecessary conflict.
Big George is driving past a neighborhood in Hartsville where he used to buy drugs. He suddenly begins thinking about using and experience a strong craving. What type of trigger is this, and what could you do?
An external trigger. You could change your route, call someone supportive, use grounding techniques, play recovery-focused music, or remind yourself of the consequences of returning to use.
Big K friend texts Him: “We're all going out to the backwoods tonight. You should come—nobody is going to pressure you to use but it's gone be lots of drugs.” You know several people there will be using. What are two things Big K should consider before deciding whether to go?
The potential triggers, people present, environment, personal recovery stability, ability to leave, and whether attending supports or threatens recovery.
Billy has been sober for several months. Things are going well, and he starts thinking, “I don't need treatment anymore. I can handle using recreationally.” What would you call this kind of thought, and what should you do?
This is overconfidence, and Discuss the thought with a counselor/support person, review past consequences, identify current triggers, and strengthen the recovery plan rather than acting on the urge.
A peer in treatment constantly talks during group. You find yourself becoming increasingly irritated and thinking, “I can't stand this person.”
What can you control in this situation?
Your own thoughts, emotions, responses, boundaries, and participation. You cannot control the peer's behavior.
You notice someone came home five minutes late.
You immediately start thinking:
“They're definitely breaking every rule in the house.”
You have already mentally prepared to snitch on them to staff
What's the problem?
Making assumptions without facts. Focus on what you actually know, avoid gossip, and allow staff to handle house-rule concerns.