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Evaluate your
Thinking and Behavior |
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Holding
On |
Getting
Better |
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1. |
Abstinent individuals
want to stop using - so their problems will go
away. |
Recovering
individuals accept and understand that abstinence is the first step
of a new life-style. |
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2. |
Abstinent individuals bring
up memories about the excitement of using. Deep down, they
tolerate abstinence because it keeps them out of trouble. They compare
their abstinence to the “good old days” when they could use
and still control their consequences. Their thinking is dominated by
what they “have to do” now. |
Recovering
individuals work to keep their thoughts in the present. They focus
on today. They look for suggestions about what works for others and
apply it to their situation. They make a conscious decision to look
for the positive side of day to day living. They work at accepting
disappointments as a temporary condition that does
change. |
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3. |
Abstinent individuals get involved in risky situations and fear they might change
“too much”. In doing this they take the biggest risk of all -
expecting different outcomes from the same behaviors. |
Recovering individuals avoid unnecessary
risks.
They know unexpected risks come
up and have pre-planned prevention actions to deal with them. They
take prevention actions quickly, before they are at
risk. |
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4. |
Abstinent
individuals, dominated by their need for excitement and stimulation,
seek contacts and activities that increase risk by exposing them to
triggers. |
Recovering
individuals do not “flirt” with contacts and activities that are
triggers. They work on accepting the slower pace and steady gains of
recovery. |
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5. |
Abstinent individuals are likely to spend their income quickly
without much planning. They continue to look for something besides their own
behavior to make them feel better. |
Recovering
individuals keep the focus on themselves. They trust that self-work
will improve their life. Their self improvements become the basis
for positive self-esteem. |
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6. |
Abstinent individuals place blame and fault for their problems on outside
circumstances such as their family’s attitude, their companions,
their boss, society’s expectations, or the economy. |
Recovering individuals
accept responsibility for their behavior, and work to change
themselves. They avoid blaming other circumstances for their
behavior like “look what you made me do…”. |
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7. |
Abstinent
individuals have no plan or purpose beyond not using in the
short-term. They prefer to go with the flow of other people’s
activities. |
Recovering
individuals are aware of the power of intention and consistently do
the work to achieve specific goals. They set a daily agenda based on
their recovery. |
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8. |
Abstinent
individuals allow thinking and feeling patterns to continue
unchallenged long after negative results have occurred. They complain
about the results, but not the causes of their own
behavior. |
Recovering
individuals work on improving their thinking and feelings before
another round of negative consequences develop. When “soft spots”
are recognized they take action before consequences happen. |
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9. |
Abstinent individuals usually
avoid old associates but worry about ending all contacts. They
are slow to form new, recovery- based relationships. They feel
unsure about new unchallenged relationships. |
Recovering
individuals work on ending contacts that are triggers regardless of
other’s approval. They expect to make new relationships based on
their new lifestyle. |