David Stuart

Chemsex weekly email check-ins

How to check in with me weekly by email

Respond to following questions (copy & paste these questions & your responses into an email to me.)

1 Did you achieve your goals re chems use in the last 7 days?

2. How did you experience & manage your cravings in the last 7 days? What worked, what didn’t?

3. Do you plan to use chems in the coming seven days?

• If Yes; what boundaries are in place? (Eg how long your session will last, what you will do, what you won’t, etc.) (see harm reduction info)
• If No; How confident are you to accomplish this goal (scale 1= not confident; 10= very confident)
• If No; How important to you is it to accomplish this goal (scale 1= not important; 10= very important)

4. What is it keeping you motivated to accomplish this goal?

5. What are the most vulnerable moments/times in the coming 7 days? When should you be expecting the strongest cravings? What could go ‘wrong’ with your plan?

• After work Fridays
• Weekday mornings
• Sat late afternoon (no plans)
• Bed time weekdays, can’t sleep
• Travelling home after work
• Sat night, alone
• Sat night
• dinner/drinks with friends
• Sunday mornings, breakfast time
• Sunday mid morning, no plans
• Sunday afternoon, bored
• Sunday late afternoon, after a busy day
• Late night Sat, can’t sleep

See a video playlist on these topics

6. What are your triggers? What sets off cravings for you? (Tick all that apply; or see video suggestions)

• When I’m alone
• After drinking alone
• When out drinking with friends
• After clubbing
• When playing online/on Apps – no specific plans
• When returning to London from a trip
• After a fight with a friend/family member/partner
• When I feel lonely & miss intimacy
• When I feel bored
• When I feel stressed and anxious
• When I feel horny
• When I feel depressed
• When I feel angry at myself, someone else, or at life.
• When I get unexpected correspondence/an invitation to party
• Returning home alone after a night out
• Returning home to partner after a night out
• After an unsatisfactory sex encounter
• After being rejected online
• Whenever I feel like celebrating
• Whenever I feel I deserve a reward for “being good”

See a video playlist on these topics

7. What can you do differently next time you feel a craving or trigger? (Tick all that apply; or see video suggestions)

• Leave the room/place I’m in
• Call a friend/supportive person
• Clean the house/do gardening
• Write a letter/journal note to yourself
• Record a video message to yourself on your phone, to remind yourself of consequences
• Go to gym/do exercise
• Cook a favourite meal
• Practice meditation/mindfulness
• Watch a favourite (distracting) film or box-set
• Have a (distracting) activity ready for just these moments; make a list of these
• Get offline/close the App/
• Take a deep breath; smile.
• Turn off any pornography
• Masturbate (quickly) Then occupy yourself off line
• Continue breathing. Take in your surroundings
• Take a shower
• Tell someone how I’m feeling
• Change the mood/music/lighting/temperature
• Go to the local shop. Buy chocolate. Ask shopkeeper how his day was
• Put favourite music in your ears. Go for a walk
• Be with people who care/value you
• Take a deep breath: smile. Continue breathing. Take in your surroundings
• Call a friend/supportive person
• Create a list of things you want to do this week
• Think about what you’ll be doing two days from now – if you use, if you don’t.
• Watch a YouTube playlist that helps you deal with cravings
• Change your emotional state somehow. Be creative.

See a video playlist on these topics

Copy & paste these questions and your responses into an email to me)