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Module 6.2: Harm Reduction - STOP Skill

Harmful behaviors take the form of doing something too little or too much. This means that even practices that we should be doing regularly or can be beneficial to us sometimes end up harming us. A few examples of this are over or under sleeping, over or under eating, over working or being too sedentary. When a harmful behavior becomes a pattern that you are unable to stop, despite negative consequences or your best efforts to stop, it can be considered an addiction. Almost anything can become an addiction and anyone can develop an addiction. Here are some examples of common addictions:

- Alcohol
- Attention Seeking
- Avoiding:________
- Auto racing
- Betting
- Bulimia
- Cheating
- Coffee
- Colas
- Collecting:
  - Art
  - Coins
  - Junk
  - Clothes
  - Shoes
  - Music
  - Other:________
- Computers
- Criminal Activities
- Dieting
- Drugs (all types)
- Diuretics
- Email
- Food
  - Carbs
  - Sugar
  - Chocolate
  - Other:________
- Gambling
- Games/Puzzles
- Gossiping
- Imagining/Fantasizing
- Internet
- Internet games
- Kleptomania/stealing/shoplifting
- Lying
- Pornography
- Reckless driving
- Risky behaviors
- Self inflicted injury/self mutilation
- Sex
- Shopping
- Sleeping
- Smartphone apps
- Smoking/Tobacco
- Social networking
- Speed
- Spiritual practices
- Sports activities
  - Biking
  - Body building
  - Hiking/Rock climbing
  - Running
  - Weight lifting
  - Other:_________
- Television
- Texting
- Vandalism
- Videos
- Video Games
- Working
- Other:__________

STOP Skill

Stop: Do not just react. Stop! Freeze! Do not move a muscle! Your emotions may try to make you act without thinking. Stay in control!

Take a step back: Take a step back from the situation. Take a break. Let go. Take a deep breath. Do not let your feelings make you act impulsively.

Observe: Notice what is going on inside and outside you. What is the situation? What are your thoughts and feelings? What are others saying or doing?

Proceed mindfully: Act with awareness. In deciding what to do, consider your thoughts and feelings, the situation, and other people's thoughts and feelings. Think about your goals. Ask your Wise Mind: Which actions will make it better or worse?
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