Dependent Stressors and Addiction

Both mental health and substance abuse disorders are chronic, incurable conditions that require lifelong management. There are different types of stressors, including ones that you can and can’t control. Dependent stressors, which are caused by your actions or behaviors, are a formidable barrier to recovery.

Everybody deals with stress. Unfortunately, stress can become difficult to cope with when you are suffering from mental health or substance abuse disorder. Stress creates negative emotions and can worsen symptoms of underlying mental health disorders. Stress is also one of the most common, and dangerous, triggers during rehab on the beach.

When you struggle with a mental health or substance abuse disorder, you can feel overwhelmed, frustrated and isolated. During substance abuse and mental health disorders, uncontrolled symptoms can cause you to avoid others and weaken your social supports.

What are Independent and Dependent Stressors?

Independent and dependent stressors are the two main categories of stressors. Stressors are thoughts, feelings or actions that cause symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Severe stress can become crippling and limit your ability to control your life. Examples of dependent stressors can include:

• Relationship problems
• Poor job performance
• Disappointing test results
• Isolating and avoiding friends, family members, and loved ones
• Arguing or fighting with others
• Increased conflicts

Independent stressors are things that are outside of your control, such as actions by other people. While you can’t control how other people speak or interact with you, you can control how you choose to respond to those actions.

For people struggling with substance abuse or mental health disorder, coping with how other people treat them can be difficult. Overwhelming emotions or thoughts can likewise make it hard to manage your behaviors and respond appropriately to stressors. Dependent stressors and addiction are linked because self-medicating with drugs and alcohol is a common negative coping skill employed in response to troubling or overwhelming emotions like depression or anxiety.

What Treatment Offers

During substance abuse treatment, you will learn how to identify and change negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You will also receive guidance and education about how to properly handle and cope with dependent stressors. Rehab on the beach can provide you with a calm and supportive environment to begin recovery.

You can choose to complete an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. Both treatment options provide a combination of evidence-based and holistic treatments. Evidence-based treatments include things like medication assisted therapy and cognitive and dialectic behavioral therapy. Individual counseling helps you construct your recovery goals and identify your barriers to abstinence. During treatment, you will also work with your treatment team to compose a detailed and effective aftercare plan, which can include following up with outpatient care.

Finding Help Today

If you are struggling with a substance abuse problem or addiction, triggers like dependent stressors can make it difficult to recover without the help of a treatment program. Reaching out for help at 866.605.0532 is the first step of your recovery journey. Proper treatment ensures you have the tools, support, and guidance to live a life free from the bonds of addiction.