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.

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.

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.