HALT Check-in

HALT

HALT stands for hungry, angry, lonely and tired, four states that make a craving, or any bad decision, more likely. Recovery groups teach it as a quick check: when something feels wrong, halt, and ask which of the four it is.

Each has a plain answer. Eat something. Talk the anger through with someone. Call someone. Rest.

Lonely in Akron

The acronym came decades later, but AA's own story starts with one of the four. In May 1935, Bill Wilson was alone in Akron, Ohio, after a business deal fell through. As AA tells it, he stood in the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel, with its bar in view, and instead of going in he looked for another alcoholic to talk to. The calls he made from the lobby led him to Dr. Bob Smith, and the two of them went on to found Alcoholics Anonymous.

How the module works

Four rows on the daily page, Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired, each with five circles from one to five. Fill them in at the same time each day, or whenever a day turns hard.

Over a week, the pattern shows which of the four comes up most, and that is the one to plan for.

A note

Memari is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or any twelve-step fellowship. This module is a page to write on, not a program. Your sponsor and your group are the people to work your recovery with.