Stress and Coping

Everyone experiences stress, but not everyone is able to respond to it in a healthy way.  Those who have not learned (and coping methods are learned behaviors) how to effectively manage stress without damaging their minds, bodies, or relationships put themselves at an increased risk for turning to substances or behaviors, which can, in turn, lead to addiction.

How Does the Body Respond to Stress?

On a chemical level, human stress response first starts in the brain with the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). CRF travels to the pituitary gland via the bloodstream and activates the release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), which catalyzes further release of multiple other hormones but especially of cortisol.  Cortisol functions as a type of “coping chemical;” as it disseminates throughout the body, it helps the body handle the stress.  However, if, by the time it returns to the brain, the stress has not been resolved (i.e., the stressor was intense or traumatic), the cortisol will not be enough to cancel the CRF release, which will continue to trigger the release of additional hormones.  From an evolutionary perspective, our body is preparing to either “fight back” or “run” from the threat.

How Does the Mind Respond to Stress?

Aside from our universal, instinctual response to stress that is catalyzed via hormone release, how each of us perceives stress and attempts to process it cognitively varies tremendously based on our age, intellect and educational background, learned behaviors, and general life experiences.  When faced with a stressor, we must evaluate our ability to resolve it with our available resources (finances, social support, etc.).  If we perceive ourselves as able to deal with it, then the stress will not likely inhibit our ability to function; however, if we cannot troubleshoot our way “out,” then we will either avoid/ignore the problem to be able to participate in everyday life or the stress will overcome our ability to function.

How Do People Cope With Stress?

Most people unconsciously replicate coping strategies that we internalized as children, which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who our childhood role models were.  For example, a child whose parents always responded to stress by passing blame, yelling, fighting, or other strong behaviors may learn to be avoidant or aggressive when confronted by stress.  By contrast, a child whose parents used exercise to cope will likely imitate this healthy way of dealing with stress as an adult.

What is the Relationship Between Stress and Substance or Behavioral Addictions?

Although the link between these phenomena is still being studied, researchers have observed that stress is highly correlated with relapse.  A recovering addict can often remain sober and even resist cravings when in situations that remind him or her of the past addiction – that is, of course, until they also must cope with a life stressor.  Interestingly, the stressors that commonly provoke relapse would often be perceived as mild by people who do not have problems with addiction. Scholars posit that addicts may be somehow more susceptible to stress, but they do not fully understand whether this vulnerability initially compels addicts to begin using substances to better manage stress on a daily basis or whether prolonged substance use somehow alters the body’s stress response.