Worksheet
Clients map their stressors and anxiety symptoms and see how self-medicating with alcohol has made both worse.
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This worksheet addresses the common overlap between substance abuse and mental health issues, emphasizing the high prevalence of dual diagnoses. It guides individuals in identifying personal stressors, anxiety symptoms, and the impact of self-medication with alcohol or drugs. The tool aims to highlight the destructive cycle of using substances to manage anxiety, the development of tolerance, and the rapid escalation of related problems. By reflecting on these issues, users can gain insight into their patterns and begin to break the cycle of self-medication and addiction.
Written by clinical psychologist Dr. Hal Baumchen, PsyD, LP, LADC, this printable PDF worksheet gives clinicians a practical, session-ready tool. The conversational, encouraging tone makes clinical concepts accessible to clients at any stage of recovery, while structured prompts keep the work focused and productive.
How clinicians use it: as an in-session exercise to open and structure discussion, as between-session homework to reinforce skills, as a progress tool to track growth over time, and as part of a treatment unit paired with the companion lesson and PowerPoint on this topic. Formatted for easy printing and immediate use in individual or group settings.
