Managing Stress in Addiction Recovery
We all have stress in our daily lives. But, for those battling addiction, that stress becomes a heavier burden to bear, one that needs to be controlled to remain sober. The links between stress and addiction1 are profound. Many studies point to people turning to drugs and alcohol to help them feel good and lower their stress. When dealing with stress in addiction recovery, it’s important to learn how to control it and to know why it’s important to do so.
Why is it Important to Manage Stress in Addiction Recovery?
Researchers have found2 that chronic drug use can affect pathways in the brain linked to how a person responds to stress. This makes them more prone to relapsing. Animal studies have also shown that stress can lead to relapses of highly addictive drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Learning to manage stress in addiction recovery is important because it teaches people healthier ways to cope rather than turning to their drug of choice. It also helps them realize what people and situations make them feel stressed, pushing them to use again.
Stress symptoms can present themselves in several different ways including:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Chest Pain
- Trouble Focusing
- Overeating/Undereating
Being able to recognize these symptoms is the first step to learning how to manage stress during recovery.
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5 Ways to Manage Stress in Addiction Recovery
When you feel yourself getting stressed, you need to find ways to diminish those feelings. Everyone will have different methods that work for them. Here are several things you can try when the stress gets too much to handle:
1. Exercise
Exercise is a great way to deal with stress because it helps to produce feel-good endorphins. Whether you like to run, hike, or take a fitness class, find the activity that you like best and make it part of your routine.
2. Avoid Stressful Situations & Breathe
When you find yourself in a stressful situation or are dealing with a stressful person, remove yourself and take a breath. Studies have shown3 that simply breathing can stimulate parts of the brain that create calmness.
3. Learn to Meditate
The benefits of meditation are well known to help reduce stress. Being mindful and quiet can also help to lower blood pressure and prevent illness.
4. Develop Healthy Habits
Simple things like eating right and getting enough sleep4 can do wonders to battle stress. Having too much caffeine and sugar in your diet can leave you jittery and unable to deal with what the world throws at you.
5. Find a New Hobby
Finding a new hobby can not only help you battle stress, but it can also help you meet new people. Being productive and keeping your mind occupied on activities you enjoy helps to keep your mind focused.
Try one or all of these methods to help manage stress while you’re going through recovery so that you can stay on your sober path.
Managing Stress at Clear Life Recovery
As an addiction treatment center in Costa Mesa, California, we have seen the effects that drug and alcohol abuse can have. Statistics show5 that the number of drug and alcohol overdoses in Orange County has increased by 82% over the past 20 years. At Clear Life Recovery, our mission is to prevent any more people from becoming part of that statistic.
At Clear Life Recovery, we help our patients manage stress as they recover from their addiction. Our programs teach the importance of nutrition and exercise while incorporating various types of therapy. Group and individual therapy sessions can help patients deal with stress as they get the support they need.
Teaching life skills, such as coping with stressful situations is another benefit of receiving treatment at Clear Life Recovery. By learning how to solve problems in healthy ways and setting realistic goals, patients learn how to deal with the stresses of daily life.
If you’re ready to begin your treatment program and learn how to manage stress during recovery, call us today or visit us online. Let Clear Life Recovery help you live the sober life you deserve.
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732004/
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-007-0050-6
3. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/21/deepak-chopra-5-science-backed-practices-to-help-you-manage-daily-stress.html
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
5. http://www.ochealthinfo.com/about/admin/pubs/od
