Stress and anxiety are significant drivers of substance abuse. But what’s the difference between stress and anxiety, and how does each impact the development of addictive behaviors? A new study paper highlights the discovery of important distinctions between stress and anxiety, and reveals that anxiety may be the stronger catalyst for drug or alcohol problems.…
Our minds can greatly help or hinder our ability to cope with stress. And it turns out that managing stress well relies heavily on the way we think when we’re under pressure. The wrong thoughts — what psychologists call “thought distortions,” or errors in how we mentally process reality — can increase stress levels and…
Around one in five Americans experience extreme stress, and stress has been closely linked to addiction in a multitude of studies. Stress Awareness Month aims to shine the spotlight on stress, to help us all think about ways to reduce our stress and, in the process, to help us move away from poor coping mechanisms…
The work is punishing, the pressure extreme, and a replacement is always waiting in the wings. Is it any wonder athletes and substance abuse seem to go hand in hand? Drugs and alcohol are often used as a way to ignore pain, increase focus, boost energy, reduce stress, pump up before a game and unwind…
The time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s can be an especially stressful time for those in recovery, particularly those who are newly sober. But you don’t have to shut yourself off from life and become a hermit for three months for fear of falling into relapse. There are safe and sober alternatives. Knowing the five…
We live in a culture that moves at hyper-speed and constantly pushes us to our limits. Nevertheless, our performances as employees, wives, mothers, homemakers and community members are expected to be impeccable, and if we should somehow fail to meet these high standards, we may feel as if we are being judged and condemned by…
Under favorable circumstances, most people will do their best to think logically and make good decisions. However, life frequently produces circumstances that are far from favorable, and the impact of adverse conditions can significantly degrade the quality of the decision-making process. In a study published in 2009 in the journal Psychological Science, a team of…
For some, the burden of caregiving can seem unbearable – whether you’re caring for an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s or parenting a child with cerebral palsy. It is, without question, a challenging way to live: attending to your loved one’s personal hygiene, going back and forth to doctor’s appointments, preparing meals and ensuring he or…
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses in the United States. Nearly 40 million American adults have some form of an anxiety disorder and most of those are women. Why women suffer more with anxiety is not fully understood. Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and…
Negative emotions are emotional states that tend to limit your personal perspective, decrease your ability to think rationally and increase your overall level of mental unease or distress. Current evidence indicates that negative emotional responses to stressful situations can significantly increase your risks for eventually developing a diagnosable case of the serious mental health disorder…
