Written by:

Danny Smith

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Sharad Haridas – MRCPsych

Last Updated:

December 2nd, 2024

Stress and Addiction

‘Stress’ comes from the Latin word ‘strictus’ meaning ‘drawn’ or ‘tight.’ When we feel stressed, we can often feel this tightness in our bodies. Stress can feel like being in limbo – experiencing a period of discomfort for a prolonged period that leaves us waiting for something bad to happen. At some point in our lives, we will all experience stress symptoms in some shape or form. On some level, stress is a part of the human experience. But this does not mean that living with intense stress for extended periods is normal. Stress can have a very negative impact on us, clouding both our bodies and our minds. Stress can also lead to secondary difficulties or dual diagnosis, such as stress-induced depression, anxiety, insomnia or an addiction.

For many people, addiction begins to build when they start seeking out ways to cope in difficult situations. Whilst engaging with drink, drugs, or specific behaviours can act as a salve to start with, addictions themselves are far from self-soothing. An addiction can act to strengthen the hold stress has on us, ultimately leading to a deepening sense of overwhelm. This makes it essential to identify the slippery slope of stress. Knowing what stress looks like and how to combat it can be useful in maintaining mental health. But what happens if our stress has tipped into the territory of addiction? What support is available for chronic stress and addiction, and what does this look like?

Stress and addiction

What is stress?

According to the World Health Organisation, stress

‘Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.’

By this definition, we can understand stress as an unfortunate but normal component of our lives. However, The difficulty with stress is in how we act in its presence. The way that we manage stressful situations is often referred to as our ‘coping mechanisms.’ Some coping mechanisms are healthy ways to deal with the complications that arise from different situations. Other coping mechanisms, however, can worsen our stress. This is because some stress management methods are ‘maladaptive,’ meaning that they can cause us greater harm in the long run.

Stress can be caused by many different things. Some events or changes believed to cause a considerable amount of stress include:

• Financial issues
• Relationship dissolution
• Academic or professional pressure
• Big deadlines or tests
• Health concerns
• Caring responsibilities
• Death of a loved one
• Becoming a new parent

Signs of stress

Stress is both a physiological and a psychological response – it stimulates our bodies as well as our brains. In the short term, stress may feel or look like this:

• Tightness in the chest
• Stomach upset
• Rashes or skin complaints
• Tiredness
• Change in appetite
• Worsening physical health
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Social withdrawal
• Memory issues
• ‘Short fuse’

After a while, if the stressful situation does not seem to be improving, the toll of the sustained physiological arousal that occurs in high stress can begin to cause health issues. These include:

• Change in weight
• Difficulty sleeping
• Reduced immunity
• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of stroke
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Digestive difficulties
• Aches and pains

What is an addiction?

An addiction occurs when an individual develops a chemical or behavioural dependency on a specific thing. It’s possible to become addicted to substances (such as alcohol or heroin) or behaviours (such as shopping or binge eating).

Addiction symptoms

By nature, addictions have negative impacts on our lives. An addiction is present when, even though engagement with a particular thing is harming us, we do not feel that we have the power to stop it. This can lead to:

• Obsession or fixation
• Cravings
• Reduced physical health
• Insomnia
• Social withdrawal
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Social difficulties
• Professional complications
• Financial troubles

What is the relationship between stress and addiction?

Addiction and stress often go hand in hand. This is often due to ‘maladaptive coping.’ A development of maladaptive coping is often a reaction to uncontrollable or ‘chronic’ stress – stress that occurs over a long period and often begins to wear us down. When we are in this headspace, we often feel the need to do anything we can to alleviate our sense of discomfort. The issue with this is that we can chase short-term release despite knowing the impact of longer-term consequences. This repeated turning to maladaptive behaviours – such as heavy drinking, binge drinking or drug use – can quickly spiral into an addiction.

Stress and alcohol addiction

Lots of people may drink more than usual when they are going through a difficult period. One study found that the frequency of ‘heavy drinking’ (drinking more than 4-5 drinks at a time) increased by:

• 24% with every additional stress reported by men
• And 13% with every additional stress reported by women

Stress and drug addiction

High levels of distress are linked with an increased risk of drug abuse. Many people turn to specific drugs as a ‘one-off’ to manage difficult symptoms. However, this can consolidate an association between drugs and relief, leading to a reliance on drugs as a method of stress management.

Stress and addiction treatment

If you are dealing with chronic stress and addiction, the best option is often to access specialist rehab support. This can blend psychotherapies, medical interventions, mindfulness and lifestyle-based treatment.

Seek Help

Here at Banbury Lodge, we can help you to take the steps towards an addiction-free future.  Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation with our team. We are here to lend a listening, non-judgmental ear and guide you through potential options for specialist, holistic addiction and mental health support. We are available to talk you through the bespoke rehab packages we offer to help identify the most appropriate treatment for your needs.

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