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5 Early Recovery Issues

The document discusses five common problems encountered in early recovery from drug and alcohol use, and suggests new alternatives for dealing with each problem. The problems are: using friends who still use substances, feelings of anger or irritability, having alcohol in the home, boredom or loneliness, and dealing with special occasions. For each problem, alternatives like making sober friends, understanding mood changes, removing alcohol from the home, developing new activities and friends, and having a plan are presented.

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1K views2 pages

5 Early Recovery Issues

The document discusses five common problems encountered in early recovery from drug and alcohol use, and suggests new alternatives for dealing with each problem. The problems are: using friends who still use substances, feelings of anger or irritability, having alcohol in the home, boredom or loneliness, and dealing with special occasions. For each problem, alternatives like making sober friends, understanding mood changes, removing alcohol from the home, developing new activities and friends, and having a plan are presented.

Uploaded by

CC
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Handout 13 • Early Recovery Skills Group

Five Common Problems in


Early Recovery: New Solutions
Everyone who attempts to stop drug and alcohol use
runs into situations that make it very difficult to maintain sobriety. The following
chart lists five of the most common situations encountered during the first few weeks
of treatment. Next to these problems are some suggested alternatives for dealing with
these situations.

PROBLEM NEW ALTERNATIVE

Using friends and associates


• Try to make new friends at Twelve
Step meetings or other spiritual
• Continued association with old
recovery groups.
friends or friends who use can
• Try new activities that will increase
cause triggering.
your chances of meeting sober people.
• Plan activities with sober friends or
family members.

Anger or irritability Tell yourself the following:


• Recovery involves a healing of brain
• Small events can create feelings
chemistry.
of anger that seem to preoccupy
• Moods will be affected; it’s a natural
the thinking process.
part of recovery.
• Exercise helps.
• Talking to a therapist or a supportive
friend helps.

Alcohol in the home • Get rid of all drugs and alcohol, if possible.
• Ask others if they would refrain from
• Even if you decide to stop drinking,
drinking and using at home for a while.
it doesn’t mean everyone else in
your house will decide to stop. • If you continue to have a problem, consider
moving out for a while.

Boredom or loneliness
• Put new activities in your schedule.
• Stopping drug and alcohol use often • Go back to activities you enjoyed before
means that many usual activities your addiction took over.
and people must be avoided. • Develop new friends at outside meetings.
Consider exchanging telephone numbers.

39 continued on other side


Handout 13 • Early Recovery Skills Group Page 2 of 2

FIVE COMMON PROBLEMS IN EARLY RECOVERY: NEW SOLUTIONS continued from other side

PROBLEM NEW ALTERNATIVE

Special occasions
• Have a plan for answering questions
about not drinking.
• Parties, dinners, business
• Have your own transportation to and
meetings, weddings, holidays,
from events.
and other events can be difficult
without alcohol and drugs. • Leave if you get uncomfortable or start
feeling deprived.

1. Are any of these issues likely to be a problem for you in the next few weeks?
If so, which ones?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How will you deal with them?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

•••

Try to make new friends at


Twelve Step meetings or other
spiritual recovery groups.

40

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