Top 5 card games in addiction recovery

A list of our Top 5 card games for people in addiction recovery. Use these as addiction recovery tools. To play or to grow. Ideas here.

4
minute read

Are you looking for ideas or gifts to buy for a friend or a loved one in recovery? Card games can be an alternative and creative choice.

Mainly, card cards can be used as a therapeutic tool. They can engage people in skills building, help cope with life after getting sober, or simply serve as affirmations of lessons learned. So, if you want to keep your loved one’s recovery on a roll, check out these five (5) card games as gift suggestions. Because you can give a real-life tool to your loved one in recovery as his/her support on the road to STAYING sober!

Top 5 card games for addicts in recovery

When people become sober for the first time they feel highly motivated. But, one of the biggest challenges in recovery is not just to get, but to STAY sober. People new to addiction recovery are constantly exposed to temptations within the process of staying sober and starting a new life. Reminding a person that s/he is strong enough to overcome addiction, can be a contributing factor to the success of their addiction treatment.

Doctors and addiction specialists continuously remind us that emotional support from family members and close ones is very important in the process of recovery. So, why not give one of these five (5) card games a try?

1. Recovery Bingo for Adults

This is a social and educational game for people in recovery. Recovery Bingo for Adults focuses on successful identification of:

  • active steps in the recovery plan
  • areas for further self-inventory work and the ways to accomplish this
  • supporters and enablers in your life
  • signs of potential relapse
  • slogans or sayings that can motivate recovery

When looking for something therapy-related as a gift to a person in recovery, we recommend Recovery Bingo for Adults to be among your top choices.

2. Sober Cards

Playing with cards is one of the oldest ways we have been entertaining ourselves for centuries. But what if a deck of cards could help remind a person in addiction recovery to stay sober by talking to his/her subconsciousness?

Sober Cards features different motivational slogans and quotes and can serve as an inspirational activity while in recovery. Whether you decide to play card games or just shuffle the deck and pick a “card of the day” and read the motivatonal quote, fun and encouragement will be a part of the process.

Sober Cards can be a very powerful tool to make an impact in the recoverer’s motivation process, plus playing cards is always fun. Check out these Sober Cards by SoberCityUSA.

3. Courage to Change Series of Games

When people in recovery have difficulties communicating and being open within the recovery process, card games and learning cards can make the communication more easier. Courage To Change consists of a wide variety of card games and learning cards that remind people in therapeutic environments of the importance of new beginnings and learning new skills.

These cards can make a great impact on cognition, memory, and functional activities required in recovery such as:

  • Anger management
  • Daily living
  • Managing money
  • Mental health
  • Problem solving
  • Substance abuse recovery

They are used by modern counselors, and work well for yonger individuls, but can serve as a catalyst for people of any age to feel unthreatened, build trust, let their guard down and communicate. We like them and – while designed to be used by mental health professionals – think friends and family can splurge to help loved ones, in treatment settings or outside of them.

4. Self-Reflection Cards

Sometimes people in recovery are unable to look critically at the factors that cause them to behave as they do. These cards can help in the process of developing person’s self-reflection. This means that your loved ones behavior may improve as a result.

Specifically, these types of cards are designed to help people in recovery explore their feelings along the process of healing. The aim of the self-reflection cards is also to educate and remind people in recovery about the following subjects:

  • recreation
  • relationships
  • self awareness
  • self-esteem

5. Recovery The Board Game

This board game was created by the famous comedian Mark Lundholm who believed in the healing power of humor and laughter. With a cheerful spirit, he created this game process to be humorous, happy and healing. This game involves cards, game pieces, and a comical game board.

Recovery The Board Game is used in many inpatient facilities and programs as an activity during people’s free time. Therefore, this can also be a great present for your loved one on his/hers road to addiction recovery.

2 ADDITIONAL GIFT TIPS

TIP 1: You don’t have to limit your gift ideas only to the ones suggested on our list. However, it is highly recommended that you buy gifts that DO NOT contribute to the recoverer’s use of drugs or alcohol.

TIP 2: Do not forget that along with the card games gifts another way to show care, love and support are essential to the healing process. In fact, your presence and engagement are invaluable. Addiction experts advise friends and family members to visit support groups for loved ones of addicts. In group meetings you can learn when your support may be harming the addict’s recovery and will take on more positive ways of interaction.

Questions about card games in recovery

Have you ever given a gift of cards or board games to a dear person in recovery? Did you receive a truly useful present during your recovery journey and would like to share some ideas with others? Feel free to post your questions and feedback in the section below. We appreciate your input and will try to respond personally and promptly to all legitimate inquiries.

About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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