How to Handle Stress While in Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Stress is a part of life. There are physical, emotional and mental stresses that enter everyone’s lives at different times. When someone is going through recovery for alcohol addiction, stress may be a difficult thing to overcome. For many in treatment, stress can be a trigger and may cause relapse. Learning to cope with normal and abnormal stressors in a healthy way can help you navigate recovery successfully.
Find a Support System
Whether you face a major life change such as the loss of a loved one or a significant change in your financial situation, or you simply have to deal with the normal stresses of everyday life such as traffic and the chaos created by little kids, learning to cope with stress can be essential to your recovery. Many people struggling with addiction admit that stress is a leading trigger. Many people suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder believe that alcohol can relieve stress. Unfortunately, alcohol may only mask your body’s response to stress. Finding a support system can be essential to helping you avoid triggers and prevent relapse.
Support systems can be loved ones such as close friends and family or a team of medical professionals and counselors. The community you surround yourself with can make or break your recovery efforts, particularly when you are faced with adverse situations. The people around you can help by offering guidance and support as well as simply being there to listen to your struggles. Stress management is crucial to your recovery from addiction and having the right team in place can help you stay on your path to sobriety.
Reducing Stress
In addition to putting in place a strong support system, you can learn to reduce your reaction to stress. A recent article in WebMD recommends the following 10 Tips to Manage Stress:
- Exercise
- Relax Your Muscles
- Deep Breathing
- Eat Well
- Slow Down
- Take a Break
- Make Time for Hobbies
- Talk About Your Problems
- Go Easy on Yourself
- Eliminate Your Triggers
Teaching your body to manage stress is not necessarily achieved overnight, but the more you work at it the better you will get. Learning to reduce your stressors will help your overall mental and physical health, keeping you on the road to recovery.