Stress is everywhere. It’s likely part of your everyday life.
Some research shows that 30 to 50% of the population experienced significant psychological stress on a routine basis. It’s not just in the US either, but globally. There are plenty of things to worry about, including political strife, economic conditions, health and well-being, and overall safety. For some, it’s a day-to-day battle.
Stress is a normal and healthy emotion. It’s a good way for your brain to sharpen its focus for minute instances of high-risk events, giving you the ability to fight or flee. However, stress that becomes chronic is debilitating, both physically and mentally. It can also create the need to turn to substances for relief.
Why Stress Creates a Higher Risk for Addictive Behaviors
Stress is uncomfortable in all forms. Cortisol (the stress hormone) is an inflammation-causing chemical racing through your body, taxing your brain’s function, causing your heart to race, and making you feel tense. The problem is, many people deal with stress that’s not quickly resolved. That means that feeling just keeps going.
This creates incredible limitations on day-to-day life, and it may put you at risk for complications to your overall well-being. And that’s where the use of alcohol and other substances comes into play. Why? There are several reasons:
- It provides temporary relief of symptoms. Substances can help to calm the central nervous system, especially alcohol. You may seek it out as a way to reduce your constant stress symptoms.
- Maladaptive cycle is another factor. Many people rely on substances as a coping strategy, and that simply reinforces the association between that substance and relief. Over time, your body and brain believe that substances are the only way to alleviate stress.
- Worsening stress amplifies the process. This cycle is only likely to worsen. As substance use disorder (SUD) develops, it leads to more complications and added stress in your daily life. Financial turmoil, health-related complications, and relationship problems worsen.
This constant cycle only reinforces your need to continue to use substances to find relief from stress. Yet, instead of actually helping, it just worsens, and you quickly suffer from incredible complications, including the risk of overdose and SUD development.
What Do You Do When Stress Is Causing Addiction?
Breaking this cycle is challenging. Your brain isn’t wired to work in that way. It wants to seek out whatever will provide relief from stress, and substances are filling that void right now. Yet, as your health worsens and your well-being continues to decline, you may be ready to make serious changes.
That’s where professional therapy and treatment can help. At Iron Bridge Recovery Center, you receive an individual, comprehensive assessment of your health and mental well-being. We look at factors such as the underlying causes of your stress and SUD. Then, we build a plan that addresses what you are facing effectively. This typically includes:
SUD Detox
The first step for many people is detox. The process removes the toxins from your body brought in by those substances and starts a reset of your brain. At a treatment center like ours, we can provide you with medications to manage side effects and address any medical complications that arise along the way.
Individual Therapy
During individual therapy, your therapist will help you navigate your stress. We work with you on several elements that may help you navigate stressful environments.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the ways you’ll learn how to recognize negative thought processes and change them to avoid poor behaviors. That means addressing the stress you feel more effectively, so you don’t feel the need to use substances.
- Mindfulness therapy aims to help you become more aware of what you are thinking and what reality is. Often, the things a person stresses about are not actually accurate or realistic risks. By learning to recognize this, you can build a stronger future without substances.
- Stress management strategies can help you build confidence and coping mechanisms. This allows you to gain more control over what you face daily. You’ll learn strategies that help you manage stress meaningfully and effectively.
In addition to individual therapy, you may benefit from group therapy, experiential therapy, and holistic care. We work closely with you to create a plan to address each one of these and other areas.
Discuss Your Needs with Our Team and Find Stress Relief
Stress can certainly be uncomfortable, and it can often be a trigger for serious substance use disorders. With the guidance of our treatment team, you can better manage addiction and stress. Contact Iron Bridge Recovery Center now for addiction treatment in Chester, VA.
