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Addictionary

Addiction, therapy, and recovery. In plain language.

293 termsAn A–Z glossarySearch by term or topic

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A terms

Abstinence: The deliberate avoidance of alcohol or drug use.
Abuse: The misuse of substances or power that causes harm to self or others.
Acceptance: Acknowledging one’s thoughts and feelings without judgment.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): A therapy that encourages acceptance of thoughts and feelings while committing to value-driven actions.
Action Stage: The stage of change in which an individual actively modifies behaviour and environment to support recovery or goal achievement.
Addiction: A chronic brain disorder marked by compulsive use despite harmful consequences.
Addictive Personality: A colloquial term describing traits associated with a higher risk for addiction (e.g., impulsivity, sensation-seeking).
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Potentially traumatic events during childhood that increase risk for later mental health issues.
Affective Regulation: The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences.
Aftercare: Ongoing support following formal treatment to prevent relapse.
Al-Anon: A support group for families and friends of people with alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to distress or impairment.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): A 12-step fellowship for individuals recovering from alcohol addiction.
Amends: Efforts to repair harm caused by past behaviour, often part of recovery programs.
Ambivalence: Mixed or conflicting feelings about change or behaviour.
Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure from previously enjoyed activities.
Anxious Attachment: Attachment style marked by fear of rejection and a strong need for reassurance and closeness.
Anxiety: A state of unease, often involving fear or worry about future events.
Ataraxia: A state of tranquility and being untroubled by external things.
Avoidant Attachment: Attachment style characterized by emotional distance and discomfort with dependency or vulnerability.

B terms

Behavioural Activation: A CBT technique that increases engagement in rewarding activities.
Behavioural Therapy: Treatment focused on modifying maladaptive behaviours.
Benzodiazepines: A class of medications used for anxiety and insomnia, often habit-forming.
Binge Drinking: Consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period.
Biofeedback: Technique using real-time biological data to increase self-control over body functions.
Biopsychosocial Model: Framework viewing health as influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
Bipolar Disorder: A mood disorder characterized by alternating episodes of mania or hypomania and depression, often disrupting energy, sleep, and behavior.
Blackout: Memory loss due to heavy drinking or substance use.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): A condition marked by instability in relationships, self-image, mood, and impulse control; often linked with fear of abandonment and emotional dysregulation.
Boundaries: Limits that define acceptable behaviour and protect emotional well-being.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex): Partial opioid agonist reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Burnout: Emotional exhaustion resulting from chronic stress or overwork.
Burning Desire: In 12-step meetings, an urgent need to share before relapse or crisis.
Bypassing: Avoiding emotional issues through intellectualization or humour.

C terms

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): A structured approach targeting unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
Caffeine: Mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks; may exacerbate anxiety or insomnia.
Cannabis (Marijuana): Psychoactive plant containing THC; used medically for pain and nausea, but can contribute to dependence.
Care Coordination: Collaboration among professionals to ensure continuity of care.
Case Management: Service linking clients to resources and monitoring progress.
Catastrophizing: Cognitive distortion, assuming the worst-case scenario.
Chain Analysis: DBT technique, breaking down the sequence leading to problematic behaviour.
Chronic Relapse: Repeated cycles of recovery and relapse.
Clinical Judgment: The application of professional expertise in decision-making.
Cocaine: Powerful stimulant drug of abuse causing euphoria and severe cardiovascular and neurological risks.
Codependency: A relationship pattern characterized by excessive reliance on another for self-worth.
Cognitive Dissonance: Psychological tension caused by holding conflicting beliefs or behaviours.
Comorbidity: The co-occurrence of two or more disorders in one individual.
Contemplative Stage: The stage of change in which a person begins to recognize a problem but remains ambivalent about taking action.
Coping Mechanisms: Strategies used to manage stress and emotional pain.
Craving: Intense desire or urge to use a substance.
Crisis: Acute emotional distress.
Cue Exposure: Controlled exposure to triggers to reduce their influence.

D terms

DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy): Therapy combining acceptance and change-based strategies.
Decompensation: The worsening of mental health symptoms due to stress.
Defence Mechanisms: Unconscious strategies that protect from anxiety or guilt.
Defensiveness: Protective reactions to perceived criticism or threat.
Dehumanization: Treating oneself or others as less than fully human, often a result of trauma or addiction.
Delusion: Firmly held false belief not grounded in reality.
Depersonalization: Feeling detached from one’s own body or thoughts.
Depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and low motivation.
Derealization: Feeling detached from one’s environment or surroundings.
Desensitization: Gradual reduction of emotional response through repeated exposure.
Detachment with Love: Al-Anon principle of maintaining compassion without enabling.
Detoxification (Detox): Medical or supervised withdrawal from substances.
Displacement: Redirecting emotions from the true source to a safer target.
Disorganized Attachment: An attachment style marked by contradictory behaviours of seeking and avoiding closeness, often resulting from inconsistent or traumatic caregiving.
Dissociation: Detachment from thoughts, identity, or reality, often due to trauma.
Distress Tolerance: A DBT skill set focused on managing painful emotions and crises without resorting to self-destructive behaviour.
Disulfiram (Antabuse): Medication that causes unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed.
Drug-Seeking Behaviour: Actions aimed at obtaining substances, often manipulatively.
Dual Diagnosis: The co-occurrence of a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder.

E terms

Ego Dystonic: Thoughts or behaviours that feel inconsistent with one’s self-image.
Ego Syntonic: Thoughts or behaviours that feel natural or acceptable to the self.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A trauma therapy using bilateral stimulation to process memories.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Awareness and management of one’s own and others’ emotions.
Emotional Regulation: Managing and responding appropriately to emotions.
Emotional Sobriety: The ability to maintain emotional balance without substances.
Empathy: Understanding and sharing another’s emotional experience.
Enabling: Supporting another’s harmful behaviour, often unintentionally.
Enmeshment: Blurred personal boundaries within relationships.
Eudaimonia: A state of human flourishing, living a life that is worthwhile rather than simply experiencing happiness or pleasure.
Euphoric Recall: The tendency to remember past substance use or behaviors as pleasurable while minimizing or forgetting the negative consequences.
Existential Therapy: Focuses on meaning, freedom, and personal responsibility.
Exposure Therapy: Gradual exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety.

F terms

Family Disease Concept: The view that addiction affects the entire family system.
Family Systems Therapy: Examines family dynamics as central to an individual’s issues.
Fantasy Bond: Illusion of connection that substitutes for genuine intimacy.
Fentanyl: A powerful synthetic opioid for severe pain; 50–100× stronger than morphine and a leading cause of overdose deaths.
Fight-Flight-Freeze Response: Automatic survival reaction to threat.
Flashback: Sudden re-experiencing of a traumatic event.
Forgiveness: Letting go of resentment toward oneself or others.
Forgiveness Therapy: Structured process of releasing resentment.
Frustration Tolerance: The ability to endure discomfort without acting impulsively.
Functional Analysis: Examination of the triggers and consequences of a behaviour.
Future Tripping: Anxiety from obsessing about future events.
Futility Thinking: The belief that change is impossible, common in depression and addiction.

G terms

Gambling Disorder: Persistent, maladaptive gambling behaviour.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): A neurotransmitter linked to relaxation and reduced anxiety.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): A condition characterized by chronic, excessive worry about various aspects of daily life, accompanied by physical symptoms like tension and restlessness.
Gestalt Therapy: Focuses on awareness and present-moment experience.
Goal Setting: Collaborative identification of desired therapy outcomes.
Gratitude Practice: Intentional focus on appreciation to improve mental health.
Grief Work: Therapeutic processing of loss.
Grounding Techniques: Methods for anchoring oneself in the present moment.
Group Therapy: Therapeutic sessions involving multiple participants and one or more facilitators.
Guilt: Emotional response to perceived wrongdoing or failure.
Guilt Tripping: Manipulating others through guilt.
Guilt-Induced Relapse: Returning to use because of shame about prior relapse.

H terms

Habituation: Decreased emotional response to a repeated stimulus.
Halt Technique: Recovery acronym reminding to avoid being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
Harm Reduction: Strategies aimed at minimizing the negative effects of substance use.
Helplessness: Feeling incapable of influencing outcomes.
Higher Power: A concept from 12-step programs referring to a spiritual source of support.
Hopelessness: A feeling that improvement or recovery is impossible.
Hyperarousal: A state of heightened physiological and emotional activation often seen in trauma and anxiety disorders; symptoms can include increased heart rate, hypervigilance, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.
Hypoarousal: A state of reduced physiological and emotional activation associated with shutdown, numbness, or dissociation; often a protective response to overwhelming stress or trauma.

I terms

IFS (Internal Family Systems): A model that views the mind as composed of “parts” with different roles.
Illusion of Control: Overestimation of one’s ability to influence events.
Impulse Control: The ability to resist immediate urges or temptations.
Imposter Syndrome: Persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud despite success.
Insight: Awareness of one’s motives, emotions, and behaviours.
Integrative Therapy: Combines multiple modalities to fit client needs.
Inpatient Treatment: Residential care for individuals with severe mental health or substance issues.
Intergenerational Trauma: Transmission of trauma effects across generations.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: A DBT skill set emphasizing assertiveness, boundary-setting, and maintaining self-respect while building healthy relationships.
Intervention: A structured meeting to encourage a person to seek help for addiction.
Intimacy: Deep emotional connection and vulnerability with others.

J terms

Jealousy: Emotion triggered by perceived threat to a valued relationship.
Journaling: Writing to process thoughts, emotions, or experiences.
Judgment: The cognitive process of making considered decisions.
Judgmental Thinking: Critical thoughts that hinder acceptance or growth.
Justification: Rationalizing behaviour to avoid guilt or responsibility.

K terms

Karma: A concept from Eastern philosophy used therapeutically to explore responsibility, cause and effect, and personal growth.
Kratom: A natural opioid-like plant that can be stimulating at low doses and sedating at high doses, with potential for dependency.
Kübler-Ross Model: The five stages of grief model (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

L terms

Labeling Theory: The idea that being labeled “addict” or “patient” can influence behaviour.
Lapse: A brief return to substance use after a period of abstinence.
Learned Helplessness: The belief that one has no control over negative events.
Learned Optimism: Cognitive practice of reframing negative thoughts positively.
Lifestyle Balance: Maintaining equilibrium between work, rest, relationships, and self-care.
Lifestyle Modification: Behavioural changes to promote recovery and health.
Limbic System: Brain area involved in emotion and motivation.
Loneliness: Painful sense of social disconnection.
Low Self-Esteem: Negative perception of one’s worth or abilities.
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD): A hallucinogen causing perceptual changes and emotional shifts.

M terms

Maintenance Stage: Ongoing effort to sustain behaviour change after initial success.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): A mood disorder involving persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and impaired functioning lasting at least two weeks or longer.
Maladaptive Coping: Unhealthy responses to stress that perpetuate problems.
Maladaptive Schema: Deeply ingrained belief patterns that perpetuate distress.
Mania: Elevated mood, energy, or activity associated with bipolar disorder.
Manic Episode: Period of elevated mood and energy causing impairment.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Model describing human motivation from basic to self-actualization.
MDMA (Ecstasy): Empathogenic stimulant that enhances mood and emotional connection; being researched for PTSD therapy.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Combining medication with counselling for addiction.
Meditation: Practice of focused awareness and calm presence.
MET (Motivational Enhancement Therapy): Structured approach to strengthen motivation for change.
Metacognition: Thinking about one’s own thought processes.
Methadone: Long-acting opioid used in pain management and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence.
Methamphetamine: A potent stimulant that increases dopamine, causing euphoria, energy, and high addiction risk.
MI (Motivational Interviewing): A counselling approach that strengthens motivation for change.
Mindfulness: Nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment.

N terms

Naloxone (Narcan): An opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses overdose effects; used in emergency and harm-reduction settings.
Naltrexone: Blocks opioid receptors to reduce alcohol and opioid cravings.
Nar-Anon: A support group for families and friends of people with substance use disorder.
Narcissism: Excessive self-focus and lack of empathy for others.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA): A 12-step fellowship for individuals recovering from drug addiction.
Narrative Therapy: Helps clients re-author their personal stories.
Negative Reinforcement: Removal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage behavior.
Negative Self-Talk: Internal dialogue that reinforces low self-esteem.
Neurodiversity: Recognition of neurological differences as natural human variation.
Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections.
Neurotransmitter: Chemical messenger facilitating brain communication.
Nicotine: Stimulant found in tobacco and vaping products; highly addictive with strong behavioral and physiological components.
Nonjudgment: Acceptance of experiences without labeling them as good or bad.
Norm Violation: Behavior that breaks social or cultural expectations.
Numbing: Emotional shutdown to avoid pain.

O terms

Obsessive Thinking: Persistent, intrusive thoughts causing distress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Disorder involving intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
Onset Age: The age at which a disorder or behaviour begins.
Operant Conditioning: Learning through rewards and punishments.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Dependence on prescription or illicit opioids.
Optimism Bias: Belief that negative outcomes are less likely to happen to oneself.
Outpatient Treatment: Therapy conducted while the client lives at home.
Overcompensation: Exaggerated behaviour to hide perceived inadequacy.
Overdose: Dangerous or lethal consumption of a substance.
Overt Behaviour: Observable actions rather than internal experiences.
Oxytocin: Hormone related to bonding and trust.

P terms

Panic Attack: Sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms.
Parentification: When a child assumes adult responsibilities in a family.
Peer Counselor: A trained individual in recovery providing support to peers.
Peer Support: Mutual help provided by individuals with lived experience.
Perfectionism: Unrealistic striving for flawlessness.
Person-Centered Therapy: Approach emphasizing empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard.
Personality Disorder: Enduring pattern of inner experience that deviates from cultural expectations.
Pharmacotherapy: The use of medication in treatment.
Physical Abuse: The intentional infliction of bodily harm or injury, often accompanied by emotional or psychological trauma.
Pink Cloud: A phase of early recovery marked by heightened optimism and euphoria that can fade, sometimes leading to disappointment or relapse risk.
Placebo Effect: Improvement due to belief in treatment rather than its active ingredient.
Positive Psychology: Focus on strengths, resilience, and optimal functioning.
Positive Reinforcement: A behavioural principle in which desirable outcomes or rewards increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS): Persistent symptoms after detox, such as anxiety and fatigue.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Persistent distress following trauma.
Precontemplative Stage: The stage of change in which an individual has not yet recognized or accepted that a problem exists.
Preparation Stage: The stage of change where an individual begins planning concrete steps toward taking action.
Process Addiction: A compulsive engagement in rewarding behaviours, such as gambling, sex, gaming, shopping, or exercise.
Psilocybin: Psychedelic compound in certain mushrooms; studied for depression and end-of-life anxiety.
Psychoeducation: Learning about psychological principles relevant to recovery.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Focuses on unconscious patterns formed in early life.
Psychosis: A state of losing touch with reality, involving delusions or hallucinations.

Q terms

Qualitative Assessment: Evaluating subjective aspects of an experience.
Qualitative Research: Study of human experience using interviews or observations.
Quantitative Research: Statistical analysis of measurable data.
Quasi-Addiction: Drug-seeking behaviour that mimics addiction but stems from inadequate pain control.
Quiet Ego: Healthy self-concept balanced with humility and compassion.
Quitting Fatigue: Burnout from repeated attempts to stop using substances.

R terms

REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy): Focuses on challenging irrational beliefs.
Reappraisal: Reinterpreting a situation to change its emotional impact.
Recovery: The ongoing process of change toward improved health and well-being.
Recovery Capital: Internal and external resources supporting sobriety.
Reframing: Viewing a situation from a new, more adaptive perspective.
Regression: Reverting to earlier behaviour patterns under stress.
Rehabilitation: Comprehensive treatment for restoring function and health.
Relapse: Return to substance use after a period of sobriety.
Relapse Prevention Plan: Structured strategy to manage triggers and high-risk situations.
Remission: Period in which symptoms are reduced or absent.
Replacement Behaviour: A healthier action that substitutes a harmful habit.
Reparenting: Providing oneself with the care and guidance missed in childhood.
Repression: Unconscious blocking of distressing thoughts or memories.
Resentment: Lingering anger toward perceived injustice.
Resilience: The capacity to adapt to adversity and recover from challenges.
Reward Pathway: Brain system involved in pleasure and reinforcement.
Risk Assessment: Evaluation of the likelihood of harm to self or others.

S terms

Safety Planning: Developing strategies to maintain safety in crisis situations.
Secure Attachment: A healthy attachment style formed through consistent and responsive caregiving, leading to trust and emotional security in relationships.
Self-Acceptance: Embracing one’s strengths and imperfections.
Self-Awareness: Conscious understanding of one’s own emotions and behaviours.
Self-Compassion: Treating oneself with kindness during suffering.
Self-Disclosure: Therapist’s intentional sharing to enhance rapport.
Self-Efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations.
Self-Medication: Using substances to cope with emotional pain or mental illness.
Self-Sabotage: Engaging in behaviours that undermine one’s own goals or well-being, often driven by fear, low self-worth, or unresolved internal conflict.
Sensory Grounding: Using senses to anchor attention to the present.
Shadow Work: Exploring hidden or repressed aspects of the psyche.
Shame: A deep sense of unworthiness or self-rejection.
SMART Recovery: A secular program using cognitive-behavioural techniques for sobriety.
Sobriety: The state of living free from substances.
Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Focuses on building solutions rather than analyzing problems.
Stigma: Negative stereotypes attached to addiction or mental illness.
Stoicism: A philosophical framework emphasizing reason, self-discipline, and acceptance of what cannot be controlled. In therapy, it informs practices that build resilience, emotional regulation, and personal responsibility.
Stress Response: The body’s reaction to perceived threat or pressure.
Support Network: People or groups offering emotional and practical assistance.

T terms

Tapering: Gradual reduction of medication or substance use.
Telehealth: Providing therapy services via phone or video call.
Therapeutic Alliance: The collaborative bond between therapist and client.
Therapeutic Boundaries: Limits protecting both client and therapist integrity.
Thought Record: CBT tool for tracking and analyzing unhelpful thoughts.
Tolerance: The need for increased substance amounts to achieve the same effect.
Tolerance Break: Planned abstinence period to reset substance tolerance.
Transcendentalism: A 19th-century philosophical and spiritual movement valuing intuition, nature, and inner truth over materialism. In modern therapy, it inspires mindfulness, authenticity, and connection to higher purpose or meaning.
Trauma Bonding: Strong attachment formed through cycles of abuse and reward.
Trauma Narrative: Structured retelling of a traumatic experience for healing.
Trauma-Informed Care: Approach that prioritizes safety and empowerment for trauma survivors.
Triggers: Cues that prompt cravings or emotional reactions.
Trust Building: Process of establishing safety and reliability in therapy.

U terms

Unconditional Positive Regard: Accepting people without judgment.
Unconscious Mind: Mental processes occurring outside of conscious awareness.
Underlying Need: Core emotional drive beneath surface behaviours.
Urge Surfing: Mindfulness technique for riding out cravings without acting on them.
Use Disorder Spectrum: Range of substance use issues from mild to severe.

V terms

Validation: Acknowledging the legitimacy of another’s feelings or experiences.
Values-Based Living: Acting in alignment with core personal values.
Verbal Abuse: Use of language to demean or control another person.
Vicarious Trauma: Emotional residue from exposure to others’ trauma.
Visualization: Mental imagery used to rehearse positive outcomes.
Volitional Control: Conscious ability to regulate one’s own actions.
Vulnerability: Willingness to be emotionally open despite risk.

W terms

Wellness: A holistic state of physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Window of Tolerance: The optimal emotional zone in which an individual can function effectively, balancing arousal and calm; outside it lie states of hyperarousal (anxiety) and hypoarousal (numbness).
Willingness: Openness to experience change or discomfort for growth.
Withdrawal: Physical or psychological symptoms upon stopping substance use.
Withdrawal Management: Medical oversight during detoxification.
Witnessing: Observing another’s emotional experience empathetically.
Working Alliance: Collaborative partnership in therapy focusing on goals and tasks.

X terms

Xanax (Alprazolam): A benzodiazepine medication prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders; often misused due to its calming effects and high addiction potential.

Y terms

Yearning: A deep emotional longing, often discussed in grief and attachment-focused therapy.
Yielding: Choosing acceptance over resistance to foster growth.
Youth Empowerment: An approach emphasizing agency and resilience in young clients through skill-building and self-efficacy.
Youth Protection Factors: Positive influences (support networks, community connection, self-esteem) that buffer against risk behaviours.

Z terms

Zen Practices: Mindfulness-based approaches fostering calm and present-moment awareness.
Zero-Sum Thinking: Belief that one person’s gain means another’s loss.
Zero-Tolerance Policy: Strict rule disallowing any substance use during recovery programs.
Zoom Fatigue: Exhaustion from prolonged virtual interaction.