Most of the time, we do not think too much about air. Our bodies naturally breathe in and breathe out without requiring our attention. The air is there, we need the air, and our respiratory system just takes care of things on our behalf.
It might also be said that most of the time, we do not think too much about stress. It just naturally arrives from various situations without requiring attention. The stress is there, we take on the stress, and our bodies and brains just try to accommodate it for us.
It is important to remember, however, that air and stress are not at all alike. We obviously need air to keep living—a fact we become acutely aware of any time it becomes difficult to breathe. Stress, on the other hand (setting aside eustress or what is sometimes called “good stress”), makes your day-to-day life more difficult as it disrupts your overall well-being.
And if you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, stress can be particularly problematic as too much of it puts your sobriety at risk. That is something that is definitely worth paying attention to—and it helps to have some strategies in mind for reducing your stress levels. In addition to turning down your stress, those strategies also reduce the risk of a relapse that might occur if you turn back to drugs or alcohol to manage the stressful feelings you are experiencing.
Let’s take a look at a few good options for reducing stress.
Take a Stress Inventory—And Then Take Action
As we have noted, people do not always do a good job of identifying the causes of stress in their lives. We suggest spending a couple of days really paying attention to the moments you are feeling stressed to see if you can identify what is causing that stress and how you might address it.
For example, you might find that you feel stressed each time you go to the grocery store or fill your car up with gas because you do not have a strong sense of your financial position. Or you might find that you are stressed out each morning as you rush around trying to find your keys or your wallet or your phone or your shoes—or all of the above. Or you might discover that a certain person, even one you think of as a friend, always seems to leave you feeling more rather than less stressed when you interact with them.
Okay, now you have an inventory. The next step is to take action. You might decide to make a budget, or you might commit to tidying up a mess. You might take steps to lessen the amount of time you spend with the person who stresses you out (even ending the relationship if it seems to pose a danger to your recovery).
The process of thinking through your stressors makes it more likely that you can find ways to lessen their impact in your life.
Do Something—Or Several Somethings—For Yourself
Far too many of us are so busy all of that time that we have largely forgotten how to rest, relax, and recharge. We go and we go and we go, and then we doomscroll or argue on social media or what have you. That combination of extreme busyness and unhelpful downtime just causes stress levels to rise—and threatens your sobriety.
So we advise taking relaxation seriously, searching out activities that bring you joy, and putting time to enjoy them in your calendar—ideally on each and every day.
For example, maybe reading a good mystery novel before bed as part of a wind-down routine would help you let go of the stress of the day (as long as the puzzle at the heart of the book doesn’t stress you out!). Maybe you would enjoy learning how to be a more versatile and creative cook. Maybe a regular exercise program would improve your physical and mental health while also reducing your overall stress levels. Maybe getting together with friends to enjoy arts, sports, or both in your community is just what you need to feel recharged and inspired.
The options are many, and the rewards that come with finding something that helps you truly relax are real. More relaxation means a better quality of life. It also means you are more likely to maintain your hard-won sobriety over time.
Don’t Get Stressed Out When It Comes to Getting Sober
At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas—we help people reclaim their sobriety and their life. From medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program to a continuum of care that provides ongoing support, we rely on evidence, experience, expertise, and empathy to ensure that you can start your recovery journey with energy, excitement, and resolve.
Few things in life are more stressful than a substance use disorder. At Bel Aire Recovery Center, we are ready to help you give up drugs or alcohol so you can focus on building a better, less stressful future for yourself and your loved ones.
