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IDENTIFYING HIGH RISK SITUATIONS

There are several "high risk" situations that may make you feel that you could relapse. It may be helpful for you to review the following list of commonly identified relapse factors to determine if any of these may pose a threat to your continued recovery. Once you identify your possible high-risk relapse factors, you can then begin to plan relapse prevention strategies to help you handle these without using alcohol or drugs.

The following is a list of high risk factors identified by other alcoholics and drug dependent persons, research studies and professional counselors or therapists. Under each section, circle the number next to the high risk factor if it applies to you:

  1. Negative Feelings, Attitudes and Thoughts of Behaviors
    1. Anger expression problems (for example: holding anger in, expressing it inappropriately or violently).
    2. Anxiety or nervousness.
    3. Boredom or lack of constructive leisure interests.
    4. Denial ("I don't have an alcohol/drug problem")
    5. Depression
    6. Excessive or impulsive behavior (for example, gambling too much, overeating, spending too much money, overworking, excessive sex).
    7. Exhaustion or fatigue
    8. Fears which seem unreasonable.
    9. Feeling helpless or hopeless
    10. Guilt
    11. Impatience with recovery plan.("things don't seem to be moving fast enough")
    12. Lack of meaning in life (nothing seems important)
    13. Loneliness or isolating yourself from others.
    14. Overconfidence about sobriety ("I've got this thin licked; I'll 'never' use alcohol or drugs again.")
    15. Painful memories (for example, from combat experience, death of a loved one, or from experiences growing up in a troubled family).
    16. Reoccupation with alcohol or drugs.
    17. Resentment towards others
    18. Self-pity
    19. Shame
    20. Socialising in bars or with others using drugs
    21. Thinking alcohol or drugs are needed in order to "have fun".
    22. Unusual or disturbing thought.
    23. Other
  2. Social Pressures to Use alcohol or Drugs
    1. Being invited to a social or recreational event where alcohol or drugs are likely to be used (parties, picnics, ball games, weddings, etc.)
    2. Being invited to a bar or club
    3. Difficulty refusing alcohol or drugs offered by others
    4. Difficulty being around others who are using alcohol or drugs
    5. Difficulty being around others who are intoxicated or "high"
    6. My social group consists mainly of others who misuse alcohol or drugs.
    7. Others
  3. Sobriety Plan or Treatment Related Problems
    1. Feelings that treatment is not helping me
    2. Feeling that I don't want to be involved in treatment
    3. I seem to remain involved in recovery activities only for short periods of time.
    4. Or attending my outpatient counseling sessions.
    5. Not going to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings regularly.
    6. Not taking Antabuse as prescribed
    7. Not working my individualized recovery plan for example, not staying out of bars; not completing my daily inventory; not working at making changes I agreed to as part of my recovery, etc.)
    8. Not getting my family involved in recovery activities.
    9. Others:
  4. Problems in Relationships with Other People
    1. Argumentative with others
    2. Difficulty meeting people or developing new relationships
    3. Difficulty trusting others
    4. I have no friends and tend to be a loner
    5. My friends consist mainly of others who misuse alcohol or drugs.
    6. My spouse or parent has an alcohol or drug problem.
    7. Sexual problems (for example, fears of sober sex; impotence; lack of control over sexual feelings or behaviors; inappropriate sexual behaviors.)
    8. Specific stresses or problems in a relationship (for example, "I just can't seem to get along with my parents or my spouse," "I can't seem to handle my responsibilities as a parent like I should.")
    9. Others:
  5. Urges, Cravings, Temptations, or Testing My Control
    1. Being around others in certain places such as bars or parties makes me feel like using alcohol or drugs.
    2. Having alcohol or drugs in my home tempts me.
    3. I purposely put myself in alcohol or drug use situations to see if I can avoid using.
    4. I sometimes get an urge or craving to use alcohol or drugs without anything seeming to trigger this off.
    5. I try to have a few drinks (or drugs) to see if I can control my use.
    6. The sight or smell of alcohol or drugs sometimes triggers and urge or craving to use.
    7. The sight or smell of certain things in my environment which remind me of using alcohol or drugs sometimes triggers off an urge or craving.
    8. Others:
  6. Other High-Risk situations.
    1. Achieving success at my job (for example, being promoted).
    2. Difficulty handling evenings or weekends.
    3. Difficulty handling stress or anxiety.
    4. Difficulty solving problems without getting overwhelmed.
    5. Feeling good and happy about my life and myself.
    6. Lack of constructive ways of spending my days.
    7. Lack of hobbies or leisure time interests.
    8. Physical pain or problems.
    9. Wanting to celebrate special occasions (holidays, birthdays, etc.)
    10. Others:
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