Tommy Recovery Coaching

Understanding the Link between Stress & Addiction

In February 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study outlining the demographics and characteristics of young Americans who abuse substances such as alcohol and drugs. The study indicated more than 2 million teenagers across the U.S. engage in patterns of substance abuse at least once per month, with cannabis use being most common, followed by binge drinking. An interesting section of the study deals with motivation. The most commonly reported reason for turning to liquor and psychoactive substances was stress relief. Half of the adolescents surveyed by CDC researchers indicated they prefer getting intoxicated by themselves to avoid external stress.

The Stress-Coping Model of Addiction

People in American society tend to discuss substance abuse within the construct of a moral model that has a misguided core belief. This model suggests addicts fall into chemical dependence because they’re weak and they relapse because they lack the willpower to stay sober. This outdated misconception has been replaced by the biopsychosocial model, which argues that coping with stress is a main driver in initiating and exacerbating addictions. 

The findings of the aforementioned CDC study underscore this model. Needless to say, getting drunk or high to deal with stress is risky because it often results in a one-way ticket to psychological addiction, which can later turn into chemical dependency for alcoholics and opiate users. 

Stress as a Major Risk Factor for Addiction

In the biopsychosocial model of addiction, stress is one of the main factors driving addiction. Beyond coping with the negative emotional effects of stress, other factors include cognitive impairment. 

If we consider all the anxieties caused by the multiple sources of stress in modern life, the result is a negative loop of chronic despair. Although this loop isn’t as severe as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can negatively impact cognitive function, thus making it difficult to make rational decisions or resist impulses. To a great extent, this explains the recent trend of more Americans retaining the services of sober lifestyle coaches, such as those who offer Carlsbad recovery coaching. In many cases, stress is what makes sobriety more difficult to attain.

The Effects of Stress on Brain Chemistry

When we take away the pleasurable effects of most psychoactive substances, we’re left with nothing but raw stress. The neurochemical toll of substance abuse causes changes in reward pathways and increased sensitivity to addictive substances. This is how chemical dependence develops for people who frequently abuse liquor, opiates, and painkillers.

Stress Management in Addiction Recovery

In both recovery and sober lifestyle coaching, stress management becomes a priority. Many addicts and alcoholics don’t realize stress, anxiety, and depression took them over the edge. Many others fail to understand stress is the biggest obstacle during their journey to recovery. 

In 2017, actor Ben Affleck attended the Oscars award ceremony in the company of a sober coach. He later explained in interviews that he belatedly understood his limitations with stress management. Acceptance is an important aspect of sobriety, particularly concerning what you can do to avoid and handle stress.

For strength-based support with Carlsbad addiction recovery, you can rely on the trained recovery coaches at Sober Lifestyle Coaching. Our mission is to offer our clients maximum recovery support, especially in the first fragile days or weeks of early recovery. If you’re looking for extra addiction recovery support, we’ll work with you to put together a game plan to keep you safe and sober as you accomplish your goals. Give us a call today.