Alcoholism, Stress and Relapse

Alcoholism, stress and relapse constitute a large part of what we deal with in treatment. Stress plays a prominent and complex role in alcoholism from beginning to end. Many drinkers who became alcoholics realized when they first started drinking that alcohol eases stress, although that was only one of the early benefits of drinking alcohol and not the cause. As the alcoholism progressed, there were many times the alcoholic was under stress and relieved the stress by drinking, thus reinforcing the idea that alcohol cures stress. The consequences of alcoholism also cause stress, so the stress/drinking cycle increases and the alcoholic is cued to drink when there is stress — the alcoholic’s entire life becomes stressful because of the consequences of alcoholism — plus alcoholism begins to stop working like it did in the beginning, and the alcoholic is either numb from drinking or stressed out.

The world is stressful and we can’t avoid stress. Some stress is good — it challenges us and causes us to act and find solutions that can create good results that lead to progress. In treatment, the alcoholic must learn to deal with stress, to learn the difference between good stress and bad stress. There are many things a person can do to prevent unnecessary stress. There are also ways to turn stress into something positive. The problem is that the alcoholic’s brain has been wired to automatically drink alcohol when there is stress, so in recovery stress becomes a relapse trigger that seems automatic to the person in recovery.

The recovering alcoholic has to learn to stop when stressed out and do something different, something other than drinking. This is from Recovery.org:

One of the ways in which many drug and alcohol treatment programs accomplish this [stress relief] is by encouraging patients to develop constructive hobbies and activities that do not involve substance abuse. Many patients struggle when they first leave an addiction rehab and recovery center because they are thrust back into situations and social circles that they associate with substance abuse. By cultivating activities that do not involve substance abuse, you will have an improved chance at avoiding such temptations.

For this to be successful, patients must be able to identify high-risk situations that could lead to stress and/or relapse prior to leaving recovery. An experienced team at a drug and alcohol recovery center will be able to assist you in identifying such situations so you will be more prepared to avoid them or cope with them in the future.

Exercise is often an important way to relieve stress as well as cope with challenging situations. In many addiction treatment facilities, exercise and nutrition are promoted to help patients learn how to handle negative emotions while also improving their overall health and well-being.

Group and individual counseling or therapy can also prove to be advantageous for individuals who find they have difficulty handling stressful situations. By speaking with other people who are battling the same issues, you may be able to identify new coping techniques as well as experience less stress by simply talking over your problems.

Recovery alcoholics can lead a normal life, but first they must learn how to live with alcohol.