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.

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.

The chapter presents a range of research evidence that supports a social model of recovery from substance use disorders and combines them into a conceptual framework for building recovery capital across the course of the recovery journey. The model is predicated on the mental health recovery concept of CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment) combined with positive social connections (often involving peer-based support), resulting in a belief in change that enables an individual to engage in meaningful activities. These developments in turn can generate a virtuous cycle of empowerment, positive self-efficacy, and self-esteem that promote a positive social identity that is sustained through engagement in prosocial recovery and community groups and activities. At a collective level, this has benefits for communities and cities in generating new connections and greater access to resources that result in improved community capital and Recovery Cities.