Written by:

Lee Spinks

Last Updated:

September 30th, 2024

Stress and Addiction

Stress is ‘our body’s response to pressure.’ The things that cause this pressure can vary widely. We can be stressed by significant life events or by unexpected triggers. We can also be stressed when we feel that we have lost some control in some ways and are starting to feel overwhelmed by a mix of contributing factors. Our stresses exist in a melting pot. Things can gradually contribute over time, causing us a period of chronic distress. Other things cause us to be very stressed in the short term but may be resolved quickly. Just like how the things that cause us stress can differ, the way that stress colours our lives can be dependent on several factors.

No matter how we respond to stress, prolonged periods of pressure can lead us to breaking point. This can lead to feeling hopeless and low and turning to things like drinking, drugs and other maladaptive coping mechanisms to feel better. But this adds an additional risk – the risk of developing a comorbid addiction.

What is Stress?

Stress is a ‘state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.’ It would be rare to experience a completely stress-free life. We all, at some stage, have to tackle stressful situations.  The difficulty comes when the level of stress we are under feels like too much to bear. A 2017 survey suggested that 74% of adults in the UK felt ‘so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.’ This number ranged between specific demographics.

• 81% of women reported feeling so overwhelmed they were unable to cope
• 67% of men reported the same feeling
• 83% of 18–24-year-olds reported this overwhelm in comparison to
• 65% of those aged 55 and above

When we are feeling unwell, stress can lead us to act irrationally. This can increase our risk of engaging in problematic or harmful behaviours such as heavy drinking, binge eating, drug use or gambling.

The aforementioned study also looked at responses to stress, identifying that:

• 32% of adults had thought about suicide
• 16% of adults had self-harmed due to stress

This suggests a strong correlative link between high levels of stress and suicidal ideation or related harmful behaviour.

Stress vs Chronic Stress: What’s the Difference?

Many of the stresses in our lives come and go. We may be stressed about a job interview or a deadline, an upcoming event or public speaking. We can think of these types of pressure as forms of ‘acute stress.’ Chronic stress, however, is when we deal with a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.’ Chronic stress can have a range of causes, but it can lead to a range of specific health effects.

Short-term stress symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Fear
• Aggression or irritability
• Frustration
• Very low mood
• Headaches
• Feeling sick
• Indigestion
• Sweating
• Faster heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Appearing tearful
• Panic attacks

We might feel these things in the heat of a stressful situation. When we perceive stress for an extended period of time, that may be when our stress becomes chronic.

Long-term (chronic) stress symptoms are:

• Unexplained aches and pains
• Increased use of substances
• Struggling to sleep
• Feeling lethargic
• Eating more or less than usual
• Cravings for ‘unhealthy’ foods such as fast food
• Relying on caffeine or cigarettes
• Withdrawing socially
• Leaving the house less
• Difficulty concentrating
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Appearing to be emotionally ‘blunt’ or distant
• Sexual dysfunction
• Conflict in relationships
• Lower attainment at work or school
• Difficulty maintaining household responsibilities
• No longer feeling ‘like yourself’
• Memory issues
• Dissociation
• Weight gain
• Hypertension
• Migraines

What Causes Stress?

Chronic stress can be a result of a veritable collage of stressors. Common contributors to this include:

• Financial difficulties
• Tension in relationships
• Stress at work
• Working a very difficult, intense or dissatisfying job
• Long-term physical health concerns
• Deadlines and large milestones
• Caring responsibilities
• Social pressure
• Previous trauma, particularly stress in childhood

All of these experiences can lead us to feel trapped by our stress.

How to Manage Stress

Knowing how to reduce stress is invaluable for maintaining our mental health and wellness. Some of the ways you can manage stress and alleviate pressure in the short term include:

• Learn your stress ‘warning’ signs
• Check-in with yourself regularly
• Think about where you can make small, meaningful changes to your daily life
• Practice journaling
• Practice mindfulness
• Practise meditation
• Take breaks and use holidays
• Utilise your support network
• Eat a balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Reduce your use of caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol
• Practice sleep hygiene
• Be kind to yourself
• Implement a positive routine
• Access professional support when appropriate

Stress and Addiction: What Is the Link?

A previous study asserts that ‘stress is a well-known risk factor in the development of addiction and in addiction relapse vulnerability.’ This shows how stress can both lead to a new addiction beginning and a previous one rearing its head. Stress is linked to the mechanism of several of the key neurotransmitters in our body. Chronic drug or alcohol use may appear to ‘alleviate’ stress in the short-term as it can provide the illusion of rebalancing these neurotransmitters. In the long term, though, over-relying on addictive stimuli can deepen our current distress, throwing both our bodies and minds further out of balance.

What Addictions are Associated with Stress?

High stress is frequently associated with substance use disorders. This can range from dependency on sugar, caffeine and nicotine to reliance on both prescription and recreational drugs.

Individuals dealing with chronic stress may also become addicted to specific behaviours, finding temporary solace in a range of activities such as:

• Shopping
• Spending
• Gambling
• Internet surfing
• Social media
• Sex
• Porn
• Eating
• Work

Some studies have even suggested that the elevated levels of cortisol and other key chemicals in the body can lead to the development of a stress addiction, where individuals feel unable to thrive unless they are under immense pressure.

Stress and Addiction Treatment

It is important not to minimise the impact of stress. Stress can lead to dangerous physical and mental health consequences if left to build for too long. Paired with addiction, chronic stress can be a recipe for a decreased quality of life.

Getting Help for Stress

If you are struggling with symptoms of chronic stress, there are several places you can seek help. These include:

• friends and family
• a primary care clinician or psychiatrist
• a support group
• a mental health charity (such as Mind)
• a crisis line (such as Samaritans)
• a mental health treatment facility 
• a specialist rehab service 

Dealing with Addiction

Addiction thrives under stress. By cutting the stress circuit, you can begin to loosen the grasp of addiction. By seeking support with a specialist rehab service such as Oasis Bradford, you can take tangible steps to regain control.

Seek Help Today at Oasis Bradford

Addiction is a challenging path, but you don’t have to walk it alone. If you have a dual diagnosis, we can help you overcome your addiction. Contact us today to begin your recovery journey. At UKAT, we believe everyone deserves stable mental health and a substance-free future. Our expert team is here to support you in taking the first step.