Coping Skills
This acronym stands for being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired, and represents four states of mind that can lead to cravings or relapse.
HALT
This well-known prayer, often heard in 12-step rooms, asks for the serenity to accept things, the courage to change them, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Serenity Prayer
This primary neurotransmitter is heavily linked to the brain's reward, pleasure, and motivation pathways.
Dopamine
This common cognitive distortion involves seeing situations in only two categories (e.g., perfect or ruined, good or bad) without any middle ground.
Black-and-white (or all-or-nothing) thinking
Saying this simple, two-letter word is one of the most basic and vital ways to establish a healthy personal boundary.
No
A mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings and bodily sensations.
Mindfulness
In 12-step programs, this term refers to a person further along in recovery who volunteers to guide a newer member through the steps and offer peer support.
Sponsor
A medical process in which a person’s body eliminates harmful substances, safely managing potentially dangerous physical withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxification
This therapeutic technique focuses on identifying and changing negative or automatic thought patterns and behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A dysfunctional relationship pattern where a person prioritizes the needs of others over their own, often enabling the other person's addiction.
Codependency
These three things are the most common triggers for a return to substance use.
people, places, and things
This foundational recovery concept involves acknowledging reality as it is in the present moment, without trying to fight it, deny it, or blame yourself.
Radical Acceptance
Medical professionals classify addiction as this type of chronic, biological condition, rather than a moral failing.
a disease
In group therapy settings, this is the primary rule that ensures everything shared in the group remains strictly confidential.
"What is said in group, stays in group"
These types of boundaries are overly rigid, leading to isolation and a refusal to let anyone close or accept help.
Walls
A grounding technique where you name 5 things you see, 4 things you touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste.
5-4-3-2-1 Technique
The first of the 12 steps requires individuals to admit they were powerless over their addiction and that their lives had become this.
unmanageable
What is the chemical involved in memory formation in the frontal lobe?
Glutamate
This cognitive distortion occurs when you expect the worst-case scenario to happen, convincing yourself that a situation is an absolute disaster before it even plays out.
Catastrophizing
When setting boundaries, using statements that start with this pronoun helps you express your feelings without making others defensive or accusatory.
"I" Statements
These coping skills involve taking healthy, intentional actions that improve mood, reduce stress, or move us toward our goals.
Behavioral coping skills
In recovery, this concept means taking ownership of your actions, admitting when you are wrong, and correcting mistakes rather than blaming external circumstances.
accountability
This term describes the brain's unique ability to reorganize itself, form new neural connections, and heal over time in recovery.
Neuroplasticity
This term describes the psychological defense mechanism where a person justifies an unhealthy behavior by offering a logical, but false, reason for it.
Rationalization
This occurs when a family member or friend inadvertently protects an individual from the consequences of their substance use, delaying their motivation to seek help.
Enabling