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Mind Traps: Substance Use Edition

Community · Medium · 20–30 min

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About This Board

Spot the thinking traps that fuel cravings, slips, and shame—and the evidence-based ways to counter them—across MI moves, CBT skills, and classic distortions. This is a Middle School Science review game in a Jeopardy-style format: a teacher puts the board on one screen, teams pick clues by point value, and the class answers out loud — no student devices or accounts needed. Categories: Classic Distortions in Use, Spot the Distortion, Motivational Interviewing Moves, CBT Skills for Cravings, Relapse Risk Thinking.

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Questions in this game

A peek at what's on the board — 5 categories and one sample clue from each. Answers stay hidden until you open them, so the game still works.

  • Classic Distortions in Use

    Seeing one slip as total failure that ruins sobriety.

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    all-or-nothing thinking

    +4 more clues in this category

  • Spot the Distortion

    “I feel like using, so it means I can't change.”

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    emotional reasoning

    +4 more clues in this category

  • Motivational Interviewing Moves

    Asking “What would be different if you cut back?” uses this OARS skill.

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    open questions

    +4 more clues in this category

  • CBT Skills for Cravings

    Riding out urges like waves until they fade.

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    urge surfing

    +4 more clues in this category

  • Relapse Risk Thinking

    After a slip, thinking “I've blown it, so why bother?”

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    abstinence violation effect

    +4 more clues in this category

Board content

Classic Distortions in Use

$100 — Seeing one slip as total failure that ruins sobriety.
all-or-nothing thinking
$200 — Imagining the worst outcome from a craving, like losing everything.
catastrophizing
$300 — "My last relationship didn't work out, so I'll never find love again."
overgeneralization
$400 — Assuming others judge your recovery without evidence.
mind reading
$500 — Rigid rules like “I must never feel anxious or I'm weak.”
should statements

Spot the Distortion

$100 — “I feel like using, so it means I can't change.”
emotional reasoning
$200 — Focusing only on the last relapse and ignoring weeks of progress.
mental filter
$300 — “My friend is upset because I must have done something wrong."
personalization
$400 — Calling yourself “a loser” after a craving spike.
labeling
$500 — Predicting you'll fail treatment before it begins.
fortune-telling

Motivational Interviewing Moves

$100 — Asking “What would be different if you cut back?” uses this OARS skill.
open questions
$200 — Statements like “You've worked hard this week” highlight strengths.
affirmations
$300 — Paraphrasing to show understanding rather than fixing.
reflective listening
$400 — Client speech favoring change, like “I want to quit for my kids.”
change talk
$500 — Meeting resistance with curiosity instead of confrontation.
rolling with resistance

CBT Skills for Cravings

$100 — Riding out urges like waves until they fade.
urge surfing
$200 — Removing or avoiding cues, like keeping alcohol out of the house.
stimulus control
$300 — Waiting a set time, then doing something else before deciding.
delay technique
$400 — Testing predictions like “If I pass the bar, I must drink” to gather data.
behavioral experiment
$500 — A wallet-sized list of reasons and steps to use when triggered.
coping card

Relapse Risk Thinking

$100 — After a slip, thinking “I've blown it, so why bother?”
abstinence violation effect
$200 — “I deserve a drink after today” that paves the way to use.
permission-giving thoughts
$300 — Downplaying the quantity or impact of use to self and others.
minimization
$400 — Believing you're less likely than others to be harmed by use.
optimistic bias
$500 — Blaming people or situations so you don't see your choices.
externalization of blame

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More Science boardsScience review games for teachersMiddle School boardscognitive distortionsclassic distortions in usespot the distortionmotivational interviewing moves

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