Status Updates From SMART Recovery Handbook

Good for people in recovery who are not interested in a 12 step program, as SMART doesn't use the steps.

Made a new worksheet for goal setting! New ways of maintaining a balanced lifestyle were discussed, including mindfulness, meditation, diet, and exercise.

VACI (Vitally Absorbing Creative Interests) are activities that are meant to replace your addictive behaviors. They check off the same boxes that you addictive behaviors did, but in a healthy way. Ex: Getting a buzz from alcohol can be replaced with a competitive sport.

Planning ahead and goal setting are also important towards setting up a balanced life and making sure you make time for these activities.

I have read up on negative self-talk and replacing words and phrases with more positives ones, I also started up on maintaining a balanced life and was able to create another evernote template!

Learned about doing word exchange to change the self-talk we have to a more positive one. For example, instead of saying "I should" we exchange "should" for "want to". The idea is that we evoke self-control (want) in our words rather than wishful thinking (should), at least for this example.

The DIBs worksheet was especially enlightening! What a great tool for combating irrational beliefs. I also read up on universal acceptance of yourself, life, and others which reminded me how hard I am on myself.

More discussion on urges. We went over the different ways discomfort manifests itself and the ABC's of REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy). I was able to add another worksheet template to my Evernote for easy access!

More discussion on urges, but leaning more on the prevention of them. I did a DEADS template on Evernote to really home in on tools that will prep me for upcoming urges and how to navigate them

I hit another worksheet so I went over possible distractions to can give myself to deal with an urge. Also made a template of it in Evernote!!!

Currently going over ways to understand and cope with urges. I just made a log in my evernote to easily keep track of urges! I will be doing this with other worksheets as well.

Honestly one of my favorite books on managing any and all addictive behaviors! I make it a point to reread this book and work on the exercises annually to remind myself of these solid principles and to check in on my own overall growth. If there is a behavior that you find problematic in your life. READ THIS BOOK

Sober time

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