By: AndreaBergman
Today, stress is all around us. From pressure at work, to caring for a family, and everything that falls in between, all of us experience stressful situations from time to time. But while some of us can experience the stress and move on, others experience stress differently and reach for harmful substances to help them cope. By learning how to manage your stress in a healthier way, you are able to break free from the dangerous cycle of using drugs and alcohol as stress management.
Emotional Signs of Stress
When you begin addiction treatment programs, you participate in several therapy modalities to discuss your addiction, set goals, and learn helpful skills. One topic you might discuss is the signs you might show when stressed. Knowing these signs is helpful because you have a better insight on when you choose to abuse drugs or alcohol. Knowing your stress signs means you can utilize healthier coping skills in order to keep yourself healthy.
Common emotional signs of stress include the following:
- Anxiety or depression- You might experience feelings of uneasiness, anxiousness, sadness, and hopelessness.
- Restlessness or irritability- Stress can cause you to feel unsettled and become easily irritated, which can lead to lashing out at others.
- Changes in sleep patterns- Stress can make you sleep too often or be unable to fall asleep.
- Constant worrying- You can begin to worry consistently without being able to stop.
- Problems with focus- Staying on task and focused on what’s in front of you can be hard when you’re experiencing stress.
- Making poor decisions- Stress can lead to you making poor decisions, like reaching for harmful substances in order to cope.
When you begin to show these signs, it’s time to learn how to manage your stress without needing harmful substances. As you use drugs and alcohol to manage your stress, you put yourself at risk for dependence and addiction.
Stress Management Tips
Instead of turning to harmful substances to manage these symptoms, consider learning how to manage your stress in healthier ways. Some tips include the following:
- Exercise- Getting outside to go on a walk or run can help you to release the stress of your day. Exercise also helps to release endorphins, which can help give your mood a boost.
- Create a nighttime routine- Instead of staying plugged in at all hours of the night, consider creating a nighttime routine to help you relax at the end of a long day. This not only helps you to wind down, but it also helps you create a healthier sleep schedule.
- Practice meditation- Meditation can help you to calm and focus your mind, which can help you manage your stress.
- Avoid harmful substances- Avoid using drugs and alcohol that change the chemical balances in your brain and cause more stress once their initial effects wear off.
Addiction Treatment at Lakeview Health
If you’ve been using drugs and alcohol to manage your stress and now find yourself struggling with addiction, it’s time to turn to professionals for help. Lakeview Health is here to provide you with the addiction treatment programs you need to recover from addiction. Alongside these programs, we also teach our clients how to manage their stress in healthier ways. As we teach life skills, coping skills, and stress management techniques, we give our clients the tools they need to succeed after treatment.
Therapies and programs that we provide for recovery include the following:
- Residential addiction treatment program
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
- Aftercare program
- Alumni program
- Individual therapy program
- Group therapy program
When you’re ready to recover, contact Lakeview Health at [Direct].
Lakeview Health strives to keep our clients and staff safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about new guidelines and updates today.
We currently accept Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. We do not currently accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Florida Blue.
