High-Risk Feelings
What are high-risk feelings?
Emotions that can increase the urge to use substances if they are ignored instead of managed
What is a high-risk person or place?
A high-risk person is someone who encourages or participates in substance use. A high-risk place is a location associated with past substance use or where substances are easily available.
Why is community support important during recovery?
Community support reduces isolation, provides encouragement, increases accountability, and reminds people they are not alone.
What makes someone a healthy support person?
A healthy support person is honest, trustworthy, respectful, encouraging, dependable, and supportive of your recovery goals.
Why is it important to remember your reasons for recovery?
Remembering your reasons helps strengthen motivation during difficult moments and reminds you of what you want to protect.
Why is it important to recognize and address your emotions before they become overwhelming?
Because unrecognized emotions can become triggers for substance use, while identifying them early gives you the opportunity to use healthy coping skills
What are three boundaries you can set to protect your recovery?
Avoiding people who use substances, blocking contacts connected to substance use, refusing offers of drugs or alcohol, leaving risky situations, and choosing sober activities.
Name four community resources that can help someone maintain recovery.
Recovery meetings, therapists, peer recovery coaches, sponsors, outpatient treatment programs, faith communities, recovery housing, and community support groups.
Why are healthy boundaries important in recovery?
Boundaries protect your emotional well-being, reduce relapse risk, and help you maintain healthy relationships.
What are five benefits of living a substance-free life?
Better physical health, improved mental health, stronger relationships, financial stability, increased self-confidence, employment opportunities, improved decision-making, and greater peace of mind.
What are three healthy coping skills you can use when you're experiencing difficult emotions instead of using substances?
Why is changing your daily routine sometimes necessary during recovery?
Changing routines helps avoid people, places, and situations connected to past substance use and creates healthier habits that support long-term recovery.
If someone says, "I don't think support groups are for me," what would you encourage them to do?
Encourage them to try several different meetings before deciding, keep an open mind, ask questions, and find a group where they feel comfortable.
What should you do if someone repeatedly pressures you to use substances?
Clearly say no, reinforce your boundaries, leave the situation if necessary, and spend time with people who support your recovery.
How can setting goals help someone stay motivated in recovery?
Goals provide direction, increase motivation, measure progress, build confidence, and create hope for the future.
Imagine you had a stressful day at work and begin thinking, "Using would help me relax." What should you do instead?
Recognize that the thought is a relapse warning sign. Use healthy coping skills such as calling a support person, attending a meeting, exercising, practicing relaxation techniques, or engaging in another healthy activity until the craving passes.
What are five healthy habits that support recovery?
Sleeping well, eating healthy meals, exercising, attending meetings, counseling, journaling, practicing gratitude, taking medications as prescribed, and maintaining healthy relationships.
What does it mean to stay committed to recovery?
It means continuing to make healthy choices every day, even when recovery becomes difficult or stressful.
Name three qualities of a healthy relationship.
Trust, honesty, respect, communication, encouragement, accountability, empathy, and reliability.
Imagine yourself one year into recovery. What positive changes might you expect to see?
Healthier relationships, stable employment, improved health, better finances, increased self-esteem, more trust from family, emotional stability, and personal growth.
A person says, "Whenever I feel rejected or overwhelmed, I want to use." What is the high-risk feeling, and what are two healthy ways they could respond?
The high-risk feelings: rejection and overwhelmed.
Healthy responses: talking with a trusted support person, challenging negative thoughts, practicing self-care, attending a support meeting, journaling, or using other healthy coping skills instead of substances.
If you experience a setback in recovery, what should you do instead of giving up?
Learn from the setback, ask for support, return to healthy routines, review your relapse prevention plan, and continue moving forward.
Why is asking for help considered a strength instead of a weakness?
Asking for help shows self-awareness, courage, and a commitment to recovery. It allows others to provide support before a problem becomes a crisis.
How can supportive relationships improve long-term recovery?
Supportive relationships provide encouragement, accountability, healthy communication, emotional support, and motivation during difficult times.
What is one long-term goal you have for your future, and how does staying sober help you achieve it?
Answers will vary. The important idea is recognizing that recovery supports personal goals such as education, employment, parenting, financial stability, relationships, housing, or improved health.