Addictionary
A
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Xanax (Alprazolam) - A benzodiazepine medication prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders; often misused due to its calming effects and high addiction potential.
Y
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
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.
© 2025 Ted Boyle