How do we learn to cope with every little obstacle life throws at us on a daily basis in early recovery? How do we try to stop the matchsticks from turning into mountains? How does time in treatment prepare us for dealing with these everyday irritations? Yes, this week we’re talking about ‘the matchsticks’, how they can pile up if we don’t deal with them and how we train ourselves to catch them as they come. Simple problems can rapidly become huge issues if we are not suitably vigilant. We cite numerous examples and suggest strategies for dealing with them.