Situational Triggers
What time of day do cravings often hit hardest for many people?
Evenings or after work, when you used to use.
What time of day do the cravings hit the hardest for you?
What kind of people should you avoid when in early recovery?
Who are people who still use or don’t support your sobriety
If you have any of these people in your circle, should you cut ties now? Why is it important to cut ties with old people, places, and things.
Taking slow, deep breaths is an example of this type of coping skill.
What is relaxation or grounding
Feeling this emotion can make you want to “numb out.”
What is sadness or depression?
Do you experience sadness or depression and often find yourself reverting back to the use of drugs and alcohol? What can you do different in order to not revert backwards?
True or False: Self-care is selfish.
What is False – self-care is necessary for recovery.
Do you feel the same (that self-care is necessary for recovery)? Or do you feel self-care is being selfish? Why?
What kind of events can be especially risky for relapse?
Parties, holidays, or stressful family gatherings.
What type of place might trigger old habits?
What is
a bar, club, or house where you used to use
Journaling, art, or music can be used to cope with these kinds of emotions.
What are stressful or overwhelming emotions
HALT stands for Hungry, _____, Lonely, and ____?
What is Angry and tired.
Eating balanced meals helps prevent these common relapse triggers.
What are hunger and fatigue
Name a healthy alternative activity to replace old habits.
Exercise, meetings, art, meditation, calling a friend.
Name one high-risk situation that could lead to relapse
What is being around people who use, going to bars/parties, stress, or financial problems
Name a high-risk situation you have been in? How would you handle this situation now?
Name one healthy activity you can do when you feel cravings.
What is exercise, calling a sponsor, going for a walk, prayer, or meditation
What is the difference between a feeling and an action?
A feeling is what we experience; an action is how we respond to it.
a condition of body and mind that typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the eyes are closed, the postural muscles relaxed, the activity of the brain altered, and consciousness of the surroundings practically suspended
What is sleep
Why is sleep important? Can getting enough sleep help reduce risk of relapsing?
What’s one way to prepare for a high-risk situation?
Make an exit plan or bring a sober support person
Why is it important to avoid keeping drug paraphernalia or alcohol at home?
Because it’s a direct trigger and can lead to relapse.
Did you clean your space, house, room prior to coming into treatment? Do you feel you should have done this before coming?
This coping skill involves focusing your mind on the present moment without judgment.
What is mindfulness
How can practicing mindfulness help you stay grounded when you feel triggered or overwhelmed in your recovery journey?
What’s one healthy way to cope with anger?
Exercise, journaling, talking to a sponsor, etc.
Practicing gratitude daily is an example of this kind of self-care.
What is emotional or spiritual self-care
How can practicing gratitude or other forms of emotional/spiritual self-care strengthen your recovery and help you maintain a positive outlook?
What’s the best way to handle an unexpected craving?
Use grounding techniques, call for support, and wait it out.
What recovery slogan reminds us to change these “three things”?
What is “Change people, places, and things”?
Why? Give me an example.
Talking honestly about feelings with someone safe is called
What is processing or sharing
Do you like to process your feelings and thoughts? After processing how do you feel?
When someone in recovery starts to feel strong emotions like guilt, shame, or resentment but keeps them bottled up instead of expressing them in a healthy way, what can this often lead to?
What is emotional relapse — which can lead to physical relapse if not addressed?
Planning your day, keeping appointments, and managing stress with schedules are examples of this.
What is practical self-care
How can using practical self-care, like keeping a schedule or setting reminders, support your recovery and help prevent relapse?