A brief guide to helping healing

1. RELAPSE PREVENTION
CREATING A HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE
IRENE CAUWELS, LCPC, CADC, ACHT, NCC
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN
TODAY???
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2. THE GOAL ISN’T SIMPLY SOME BEHAVIORAL
CHANGE; WE DON’T WANT YOU TO JUST BECOME
NICER VERSIONS OF YOUR OLD SELVES
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3. OUR AIM IS NOT ONLY TO HELP YOU ACT BETTER, BUT
TO HELP YOU BECOME THE BEST YOU . . .CONNECTED
WITH YOUR INNER STRENGTHS
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4. OR
HOW DO WE GET FROM
HERE
BRAIN IMAGE OF
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
(AMEN CLINICS)
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5. TEXT
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6. TO HERE
HEALTHY BRAIN SCAN PHOTO
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7. 100 PEOPLE DIE FROM DRUG OVERDOSES EVERY DAY IN THE
US
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8. “I HAVE ONE GLASS OF WINE AT NIGHT.
THAT’S IT!”
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9. HEALING THE BRAIN REQUIRES SOME WORK
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10. THE MEMORY OF A DRUG
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11. DENIAL - “DON’T EVEN KNOW I AM LYING” -
ROBS OF ABILITY TO ACCURATELY ASSESS
SITUATION FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
ISOLATION - “WISH THEY WOULD JUST
LEAVE ME ALONE!”
DESTRUCTION - EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL,
SPIRITUAL DEATH - “I GIVE UP”
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12. MY BRAIN HAS BEEN TAUGHT
My brain has been taught to get
excited and want my substance
(or behavior). Anything I can
see, hear, smell, touch, feel,
and/or taste can remind me of
my use. These are triggers.
My “impulsive brain” (the “GO”
center) reacts FASTER to
triggers . . . .way before the
“thinking brain (the “stop”
center) has a chance to
respond.
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13. ANYTHING I CAN SEE, TOUCH, TASTE, HEAR,
SMELL - USING ANY OF MY 5 SENSES - CAN
BE A TRIGGER.
THE BRAIN CAN’T TELL WHAT IS REAL VS.
REMEMBERED VS IMAGINED . . .SO
MEMORIES CAN BE A TRIGGER TOO!
THE GOOD NEWS IS - WE CAN IMAGINE A
NEW LIFE . . .A NEW HEALTH
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14. High-risk situations (old using
friends, old hangouts, parties),
Post-acute withdrawal (PAWS),
HALT, chronic pain or injuries,
physical problems.
PHYSICAL AND
PHYSIOLOGICAL TRIGGERS
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15. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL
TRIGGERS
Arguments, conflicts,
failure to cope with
problems,
Impulsive decision
making,
Using processes to
numb out (work,
internet, gambling,
sex, spending, food .
. . )
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16. EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS
“Negative” moods,
emotional lability,
anger, frustration,
hopelessness,
irritability.
Identity and role
confusion,
Euphoric moods
and excitement,
desire to celebrate,
sexual arousal
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17. MENTAL TRIGGERS
SELECTIVE MEMORY
(REMEMBER GOOD TIMES ONLY)
DRUG USING DREAMS
JUSTIFYING, MINIMIZING
TELLING MYSELF I’M NOT THAT
BAD OFF AFTER ALL . .
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18. SPIRITUAL TRIGGERS
SHAME, FEAR, SELF-LOATHING,
FALLING AWAY FROM HIGHER POWER
BEING ANGRY AT HIGHER POWER
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19. SPIRITUAL TRIGGERS
“WHY ME” AND . . .
“IF YOU WILL
LOVE ME THEN I
SHOULDN’T HAVE
THIS”
BELIEVING I AM
NOT WORTHY
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20. IF I RELAPSE - HOW
DID I HANDLE IT IN THE PAST?
LIED AND/OR HIDE IT
BECOME SECRETIVE
BLAMED OTHERS
DENIED IT HAPPENED
FELT SHAME, GUILT
GIVE UP AND GO
BACK TO USING
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21. IS DOING THE SAME THING
OVER AND OVER . . .AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS
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22. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I
RELAPSE
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
DISCUSS WITH
EVERYONE
ASK FOR HELP
BE
ACCOUNTABLE/RESP
ONSIBLE
USE IT AS LEARNING
MAKE A PLAN
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23. Recovery Behaviors
are THE answer:
•Honesty
•Accountability
•Responsibility
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24. SIX AREAS OF WORK
BRAIN
MIND
PURPOSE
SPIRIT
BEHAVIOR
EMOTIONS
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25. BRAIN HEALING
SMILE
STAY
INTELLECTUALLY
ACTIVE
YAWN
MEDITATE
EXERCISE
CONVERSATIONS
FITH
HEALTHY FOOD
AVOID VIDEO
GAMES!!
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26. BRAIN HEALING
EVEN LIGHT
EXERCISE (30 MIN
A DAY)
HELPS
REBALANCE
DOPAMINE
ENDORPHINS,
ETC.
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27. Mindfulness stimulates the
growth of the middle pre-frontal
cortex; the link between limbic
and pre-frontal cortex
Enables one to pause, have
insight and empathy)
Improves ANS responses.
BRAIN HEALING
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28. A SHORT PROGRAM IN MEDITATION HELPS THE BRAIN AND
IMMUNE FUNCTION HEAL
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29. MIND - HEALING
FEED BRAIN WITH
DAILY
GRATITUDE!
FOCUS ON THE
POSITIVE
RECONNECT
WITH NATURE!
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30. SPIRIT HEALING
WE MUST
PRACTICE
SPIRITUAL
DISCIPLINES AND
HAVE LIKE-
MINDED,
SUPPORTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS
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31. WHAT COMMITMENT ARE YOU
WILLING TO MAKE?
EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE WILL
REQUIRE MORE OF US THAN WE
ORIGINALLY IMAGINED.
FOR ANYTHING THAT MATTERS,
THE TIMING IS NEVER QUITE
RIGHT, THE RESOURCES ARE
ALWAYS A LITTLE SHORT, AND
THE PEOPLE WHO AFFECT
OUTCOMES ARE ALWAYS
AMBIVALENT.
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