High Risk Imagery

Imagine a high risk situation vividly enough to experience the target motivational state: genuine desire.  Then imagine yourself successfully executing the intended coping tactic.

One measure of how effective you are at producing this motivational state [trance] is whether or not you salivate.  If you can utilize your imagination well enough to get your body to secret saliva, you will know that you are on the right track and have sufficient imagery talent.

Begin with the scripts below, and then develop some that are peculiar to your particular circumstance.

Pleasant, urge script:

You're at a friend's house sitting in a big comfortable chair. You're with people you've known a long time, and you're enjoying yourself very much. You're  feeling totally at ease.  Many of your friends are drinking or consuming the drugs you used to enjoy.  You've gone an entire week without getting high.  As you sit there listening to the conversation and laughter, you begin to wonder how it would taste.  The more you think about the taste [the high]it, the stronger your desire becomes.  Maybe just tonight when you're with your friends and having a good time, it would be okay to have a little.  How could you really enjoy yourself fully unless you were free to have a little when you wanted?  Your desire becomes intense, and you know that there's no good reason not to make an exception in this particular situation.  

Negative Emotional State:

You've been under great stress all day

Finally you get home and you want to relax

but you are still tense from the events of the day

consuming the substance

might relax you and ease the pressure

so you could (relax better, be better to family, work better)

...

Neutral affect

You are home alone

you feel bored

there isn't anything you have to do

and nothing you think of seems

particularly appealing

except maybe a little xxx. . .