Dual-diagnosis care
Stress and Addiction
Some stress is part of life. When it lingers long after the trigger is gone, it damages the body and opens the door to substance use.
About this condition
Stress and addiction
Stress is a normal response — a surge of alertness that helps us handle a job interview or steer a car across an icy road. The trouble starts when the discomfort persists after the event is over, or when the trigger never goes away. Chronic stress changes how the body and mind work.
Addictive substances can feel like really good, temporary solutions to stress: a few drinks calm a speeding heart; pills blunt a racing mind. But when you are sober again, the problems are still waiting. Treatment goes after the roots of the stress and the substance use together, so you can do more than cope with the pain — you can work to overcome it.
Stress and addiction treatment is part of the dual-diagnosis programming at Ambrosia’s South Florida centers, combining therapy, medication where needed, and skills that hold up after treatment ends.
What ongoing stress does to the body
When the brain senses danger, the Mayo Clinic notes, it signals the body to release two hormones: adrenaline, which raises heart rate and blood pressure, and cortisol, which increases blood sugar and slows digestion. That chemistry is useful in the moment. When it persists, it raises the risk of real illness — and research from Carnegie Mellon University suggests long-term stress also suppresses the body’s ability to regulate inflammation.
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Insomnia
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
How stress and addiction are linked
Chronic stress changes the way the mind works, and some of those shifts make drugs and alcohol more powerful. Stressful events in childhood — trauma, abandonment — are linked to lower self-control in adulthood, which raises the risk of dangerous substance use. Someone without that history might have one drink after a tough day; someone carrying it might finish the bottle.
Ongoing stress in adulthood also alters brain chemistry in ways that erode self-control. A person under extreme stress has a harder time making good decisions consistently, and that can lead to experimentation and continued dangerous use.
Therapy for stress and addiction
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the main tools for overcoming both chronic stress and addiction. CBT goals typically cover four areas:
- Behavior — using less often and building healthier habits like exercise
- Thoughts — replacing negative self-talk with reminders of your accomplishments
- Coping — identifying stress triggers and changing the ones you can
- Feelings — easing overwhelming stress back down to basic tension
Skills that ease stress
Alongside therapy, and medication for specific symptoms when needed, self-care is part of the plan. The American Psychological Association points to a few skills worth building — and support groups add more ideas, plus the company of people fighting the same fight.
Strong relationships
Talk with family and friends about your thoughts and fears, and put distance between yourself and people who feed your anxiety.
Anger management
A quick reaction under intense stress can make things worse. Walking away helps you de-escalate first.
Relaxation skills
Exercise and meditation calm the body and brain. A therapist can teach you how and when to lean on them.
Healthy sleep habits
Rest helps the body heal from the damage of stress. A consistent schedule and a bedroom set up for sleep go a long way.
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.