There is a strong link between our capacity to cope with negative emotional states and their associated negative thoughts and substance use relapse. When individuals use substances as a coping mechanism this strategy may be effective in the short term and but proves maladaptive in the long run. The use of drugs provides both negative reinforcement (namely, the reduction of painful feelings via self-medication), and positive reinforcement (that is, the pleasant experience of being high via positive outcome expectancies). The self-medication hypothesis applies when the individual is using a substance to cope with negative emotions, conflict, or stress (negative reinforcement). From a positive outcome expectancy perspective, the person is focusing on the positive aspects and euphoria of using a substance (positive reinforcement), while ignoring the negative consequences. Therefore, an essential component of recovery is learning healthy ways to self-soothe and cope with stress and painful emotions, and the negative thoughts and rumination associated with them. Without healthy coping skills, a key component of recovery capital, individuals in recovery will continue to seek dysfunctional ways to self-regulate. In this chapter the reader is introduced to one of the causes behind negative rumination and over-compensatory behaviour that accompanies it, which perpetuates the cycle of addiction.

High-risk situations can be understood as events and situations that, if not effectively managed, pose a potential risk for relapse. What is important to note is that it is chiefly the individual’s subjective perception of “risk” that plays a significant role in whether a situation is high risk or not. A high-risk situation poses a threat to one’s perceived ability (what psychology calls “self-efficacy”) to handle the challenging situation at hand. Therefore, by developing more effective coping skills, thereby increasing perceived self-efficacy, one can learn to manage a high-risk situation without defaulting to substance use. This chapter provides practices that enables the reader to effectively deal with high-risk situations. The focus of this workbook is not to provide an exhaustive set of relapse prevention skills and tools but to help the reader to unlock their innate resilience through developing a Recovery Resilience Practice, so that they can effectively apply them.

In this chapter there is a focus on the expectations or Requirements that sustain an addictive lifestyle. It highlights that in addition to fueling resentments, Requirements also affect how one relates to potential high-risk situations, triggers, and stressful events in general. Chapter 1 of this workbook highlighted that oftentimes it is not the situation or event itself that creates emotional distress, but the Requirements individuals have (often automatically and out of awareness) for the situation or event that activate their I-Systems. Thus, a Recovery Resilience Practice does not focus on changing any given situation (crucial insofar as many distressful situations or triggers may be unavoidable) but focuses instead on changing the “who” one brings to that situation – the Natural Functioning self or I-System Functioning self.

Research points out that one reason that many individuals fail to achieve and/or maintain sobriety is that they have inadequate coping skills for dealing with stressful situations and painful feelings. Therefore, the key to preventing relapse is to gain and practice new skills for coping with both anticipated and potentially unforeseen challenges. Yet, simply acquiring these coping skills does not guarantee sustained recovery. One also needs to effectively practice these skills and work a sustainable recovery program. This is evidenced by the fact that addiction treatment and relapse prevention programs have high rates of relapse, despite individuals having a plethora of skills available to them and often being highly motivated for recovery. What the authors highlight in the workbook is that there is a mind-body system, called the I-System, that hinders individuals in recovery from effectively applying these skills and recovery practices, saps their motivation, and causes them to veer off their chosen recovery pathways. From a psychological standpoint, the I-System serves as a regulatory mechanism that maintains psychic balance and prevents psychic disintegration. The approach outlined in the workbook teaches the reader how to recognize and “befriend” this hindrance – so that instead of it being an impediment, it can serve as a compass that guides them through their activities of daily living to stay true to their chosen recovery pathways. The practices in the workbook centers on discerning mind-body practices that support regulation of both mental and physical health, preserving the inherent resilience of our true self. The introduction provides an overview of the workbook and brief introduction to the theory that informs the workbook. The workbook is structured progressively, with each section building on information provided previously. The exercise questions are easy to understand and apply, aiming to heighten the reader’s self-awareness of the dynamics that underlie their addictive behaviour in several key areas of life. The workbook is divided into six sections, each detailing an aspect of a Recovery Resilience Practice and outlining various exercises to help foster their recovery resilience and well-being. Initial exercises aim to unearth what might be hindering their resilience, ultimately resulting in diminished mental and physical functioning. The authors equip readers with a baseline measurement to monitor progress as they gradually introduce various practices and exercises in a systematic way.

In this chapter the workbook’s previous chapters are integrated into an explanation of the dynamics that underlie the cycle of addiction. It highlights that when the I-System becomes hyperactive, individuals forfeit their innate capabilities for creative thought, open-mindedness, and resilience, exhibiting instead overly stringent expectations or assumptions about themselves, others, and circumstances. By presenting examples of thought patterns that obstruct resilience, the authors demystify the nature of problematic and unrealistic “I-System Requirements” or “the shoulds” in life that often breed frustration, physical tension, shame, or withdrawal. The reader is then guided on how to neutralize these negative thoughts or what the authors term the Depressor Storyline. They describe a self-perpetuating cycle often created between a Depressor Storyline and the Fixer Storyline, which involves the Depressor generating negative thoughts that snowball into a Storyline, while the Fixer incessantly devises stories on how to rectify self, others, or circumstances. The objective is to find means to deactivate the hyperactive I-System Requirements, which is crucial to freeing individuals from restrictive and repetitive patterns to attain a state of Natural Functioning.

It is often stated that cravings are a formidable adversary to those on a recovery pathway and that cravings are one of the major factors related to relapse. Individuals who lack effective coping responses and/or the confidence (self-efficacy) to deal with cravings and the situations that trigger them are at high risk for relapse. In this chapter the authors assist the reader to enhance their ability to manage cravings and highlight that it is a pivotal coping skill needed for their sustained recovery from addiction. In this chapter it is highlighted that a Recovery Resilience Practice supports regulation of both mental and physical health, preserving the inherent resilience of our true self. The theoretical underpinning of the practices is based on the notion that the true self, or our genuine essence, can be reclaimed or further nurtured once deeply entrenched defensive patterns, developed to offset feelings of shame and inadequacy, are consciously recognized, understood, and neutralized. It highlights how these patterns are malleable and can be effectively deconstructed through various means to encourage authentic functioning, characterized by creativity, optimism, spontaneity, and resilience.

In the last chapter the authors provide an overview of all aspects of a Recovery Resilience Practice that will contribute towards a sustainable recovery-oriented lifestyle. In this chapter the reader will consolidate their Recovery Resilience Practice and see how to use it to support any recovery program or pathway. As highlighted throughout the workbook, the central aim of a Recovery Resilience Practice is to remove the hindrance that obstructs one’s capacity to access Recovery Capital and apply recovery skills as well as provide a practice that can help one deal moment by moment with stress, high-risk situation, triggers, or any troubling situations. In short, a Recovery Resilience Practice removes the hindrance to one’s innate resilience and capacity for flourishing and assists in achieving recovery and life goals. The last chapter provides an overview of how the workbook assists individuals in recovery to have greater self-awareness of their unhealthy and healthy coping styles and prompts them to evolve to a place of greater self-awareness so that they can make more informed decisions about their lives and efficaciously deal with life’s challenges.