Early Recovery
True or False: It’s normal to have ups and downs in early recovery.
What is True?
What does the acronym SMART goals stand for?
Name one way you can practice mindfulness in daily life.
What is “Noticing your breath,” “Eating slowly,” “Listening to music carefully,” “Going for a mindful walk,” etc.?
Name one common trigger for relapse.
What is “Stress,” “Boredom,” “Loneliness,” “Certain people or places,” etc.?
The brain chemical most often linked to feeling pleasure and reward is called this.
What is dopamine?
Name one common feeling people have in early recovery.
What is “Anxiety,” “Hope,” “Uncertainty,” “Loneliness,” “Relief,” etc.?
What’s it called when you assume you know what someone else is thinking (and it’s probably bad)?
What is mind reading?
Name one benefit of practicing mindfulness
“Feeling calmer,” “Less stress,” “Better focus,” “More patience,""increased mood", etc
True or False: Relapse is always a sign of failure.
What is False? (Relapse is part of many people’s recovery journey—it can be a learning opportunity.)
True or False: Addiction changes how the brain works.
What is True?
True or False: Cravings usually last forever and never get easier.
What is False? (They typically get easier with time and coping skills.)
What is an example of distorted thinking that happens when something bad is going to happen or has happened?
Catastrophizing
Give a one-sentence summary of what mindfulness is
Paying attention to the present moment, here and now, etc
What are some common emotions to experience symptoms after a Relapse
Shame, Guilt, Anger
This part of the brain is in charge of making good decisions and controlling impulses, but can “shut down” during cravings or triggers.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
Name one withdrawal symptom that some people may experience in early recovery.
What is “Anxiety,” “Sweating,” “Headaches,” “Irritability,” “Fatigue,” etc.?
This cognitive distortion (thought trap) involves seeing things as only all good or all bad, with no in-between.
What is all-or-nothing thinking (or black-and-white thinking)?
True or False: Mindfulness is about stopping all your thoughts.
What is False? (Mindfulness is noticing your thoughts, not stopping them.)
Name one warning sign that you might be at risk for relapse.
What is “Thinking about using,” “Withdrawing from support,” “Skipping meetings,” “Feeling hopeless,” etc.?
What happens in the brain over time when someone practices healthy habits and stays away from their addictive behavior?
What is “The brain can heal and new pathways are built,” “It gets easier to make healthy choices,” etc.?
This is a Syndrome that happens to people in early recovery.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
This is what “cognitive distortion” or "thought trap" means in CBT?
What is an unhelpful or inaccurate way of thinking about yourself, others, or the world
True or False: Mindfulness can only be practiced while sitting quietly with your eyes closed.
What is False? (You can practice mindfulness anywhere, even while moving or talking.)
What does “urge surfing” mean?
What is riding out a craving or urge without acting on it, knowing it will pass?
Stress can increase the risk of relapse because it affects this “fight or flight” area of the brain.
What is the amygdala?