Spot the Sabotage
“I waited until the last minute and missed an important deadline.”
→ What is procrastination?
Avoiding something because you don’t want to fail
→ What is fear of failure?
This happens when you stop doing what works
→ What is relapse risk increasing?
“I didn’t go to my appointment even though I needed it.”
identify BOTH:
→ Procrastination + Avoidance/fear
First step to stopping self-sabotage
→ What is recognizing the pattern?
“I stopped using coping skills that were helping me.”
→ What is ‘amnesia’ (forgetting what works)?
Sabotaging progress because success feels overwhelming
→ What is fear of responsibility/progress?
One thing that helps catch self-sabotage early
→ What is awareness/recognition?
“I stopped going to meetings once I felt better.”
identify BOTH:
→ Amnesia + Overconfidence/fear of structure
Talking to this person can help interrupt patterns
→ What is a sponsor/counselor/support?
“I kept waiting until everything felt perfect before starting.”
→ What is perfectionism?
Feeling like you don’t deserve good things
→ What is shame/insecurity?
A person who can call you out honestly
→ What is a support system?
“I didn’t apply because I knew I wouldn’t get it.”
identify BOTH:
→ Avoidance + Fear of failure
Doing this regularly helps rewire behavior
→ What are new habits?
“I drove past my old using spot ‘just to see’ and ended up using.”
→ What is impulsive self-sabotage / acting without thinking?
Staying in chaos because it feels familiar
→ What is comfort in chaos?
Replacing negative habits with this is key to change
→ What are healthy habits?
“I picked a fight right when things were going well.”
identify BOTH:
→ Intentional sabotage + Shame/fear of success
A question to ask yourself when something goes wrong
→ “Did I contribute to this?”
“I knew this would mess things up, but I did it anyway.”
→ What is intentional self-sabotage?
Sabotaging your life to get back at someone
→ What is anger/resentment?
This mindset keeps people stuck: “I’ll start when…”
→ What is perfectionism/avoidance thinking?
“I went back to old people knowing what would happen.”
identify BOTH:
→ Negative associations + Comfort in chaos
This helps when your brain is in “autopilot sabotage mode”
→ What is pausing/slowing down/using coping skills?