Ever find yourself Googling "How to recover from someone else’s addiction" at 2 a.m. while eating handfuls of Goldfish? Yeah, me too. I didn’t quite give up the Goldfish, but I did give up the Googling. Eventually.

Today we're talking about hypervigilance, the emotions you may experience as the loved one of an addict, and the early signs of relational trauma. This is the second one in the series. You can find the first part here.

This post isn’t just for the loved ones though, it can help those struggling understand what their partners are experiencing as they are supporting you.

Relapse is not a failure—it’s a learning experience. This workbook presentation will help you identify warning signs, manage setbacks, and build a strong support system to keep your recovery on track. Use it as a personal guide to strengthen your awareness and develop a proactive relapse prevention plan.

Relapse is not a sign of failure. It’s a sign you’re human and a work in progress. Sometimes, life throws unexpected curveballs at you when you’re trying to keep it together. Whether you’re fresh out of rehab or you’ve been rockin’ your recovery for years, relapse prevention is an ongoing, never-quite-complete mission—like laundry or waiting for the next season of your favorite show. I’m looking at you, RHOSLC!

But don’t panic! Just because relapse is common doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. With practical strategies and a solid support system, you can learn to recognize the red flags, handle setbacks like a pro, and keep moving forward.

This workbook pairs with my blog post "H.E.A.L Check-in Conversation; Communicate in a Healthy Way." Recovery and healing can be challenging to navigate as a couple. Miscommunication, unspoken expectations, and emotional triggers can create distance instead of connection. That’s why intentional check-ins are key.

The H.E.A.L Check-In provides a structured yet flexible way to foster honest, open, and judgment-free conversations. Use this guide to strengthen trust, deepen intimacy, and create a healthier foundation for your relationship.

Ah, communication. That magical word that’s supposed to fix everything. Yet, somehow, it’s the very thing that makes us want to tear our hair out when we’re arguing about who left the wet towel on the floor… again. Add recovery from addiction into the mix, and suddenly that wet towel represents everything wrong in the universe. Good times, right?

This bonus workbook complements Tuesday’s post on how to manage triggers when you’re feeling angry. It has easy-to-use exercise and optional deeper dive exercises for those that want to take a look at self-doubt and obstacles.

Anger is one of those emotions that can hit like a freight train. It can barrel towards you fast and overwhelmingly. For those in addiction recovery—and for the people who love them—anger can be more than just a bad mood. It can be a trigger, a dangerous pull toward old coping mechanisms that promise relief but come with a cost.

What do you do when anger flares up? How do you keep it from dragging you down a path you’ve worked so hard to leave behind? That’s what we’re talking about today: real, practical ways to manage anger and its triggers, whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is.

This may be a hard pill to swallow…no one can make us feel anything.

Ever had someone ignore your kindness when you held the door open for them, and suddenly, your blood pressure is through the roof? Or maybe your boss gave you that “Are you serious?” look during a meeting, and you spent the rest of the day convinced you’re one typo away from unemployment.

We’ve all been there, convinced that other people’s actions made us mad, sad, or just plain bananas. But, and This may be a hard pill to swallow…no one can make us feel anything. Not even that jerk who didn’t say, “Thank you.” (Yeah, I know. I don’t like it either.)