HomeCircleSupport for your recovery journey
For families & partners Opens Call 000 and Call Lifeline 13 11 14.

Library › Guides

HALT

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. A pause, not a medical check.

A person on a park bench with a hand on their chest, next to a sandwich, a glass of water, a cushion and a phone.

HALT asks four ordinary questions. It does not diagnose you.

Hungry: when did you last eat? A simple meal can turn the volume down.

Angry: is something unnamed? You can tell a sponsor or write it down.

Lonely: who is one safe person, or one meeting, in the next day?

Tired: is this a sleep problem wearing a craving's coat? Rest counts.

Where this comes from

HALT comes from the recovery community, especially twelve-step groups. Nobody is sure who first said it. A 2025 paper on its history could not trace its first use, and it is often described as recovery folk wisdom.

Why it can help

Hunger, anger, loneliness and tiredness are ordinary states that make it harder to think clearly and easier to act on an urge. The check is quick, and the fixes are often simple: eat, name what is wrong, reach out, rest. A US counselling guide suggests it as a way to look after basic needs early. It is a self-check, not a diagnosis.

For any health concern, talk to your GP or a doctor. HomeCircle is support, not medical care.

Get help now

If you or someone else is in danger, call 000. Lifeline is there 24 hours.

More helplines on the Help page