Stress can be something that you can manage. However, there are unhealthy ways to cope with it. Among them are drugs and alcohol. This guide will discuss the dangerous impact stress can have on your physical and mental well being.
This will apply to when you may be relying on drugs and alcohol to ‘destress’. If you use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with stress, it may lead to addiction. If you need help as soon as possible, find out more about how Gallus Detox can help over here.
Learn about the danger of stress and find out the alternate ways to deal with it. Let’s dive right in and talk more about what these impacts are.
Addictions can be formed easily
The truth is that drugs and alcohol are not acceptable substitutes for stress relief. Since there is no specific timeline on how long addictions can form, it can be quick or drawn out over time. If you are stressed more often than not, relying on drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism may lead to developing an addiction faster than usual.
That’s why it is important to consider other options so it does not damage your physical and mental well-being. Can you bring your stress levels down? You can and we’ll explain how later on.
Stress can cause strokes and heart attacks
Stress can be harmful to your body. Especially when it involves your heart. The more stressed you are, the more likely you can suffer a stroke or a heart attack. Both of these are considered fatal.
That’s why you’ll want to take the best care of yourself as possible. Watch your blood pressure as it can be high enough to trigger hypertension, which is a condition that can increase those stroke and heart attack risks.
It’s up to you to find ways to deal with stress. Drugs will speed up the negative health issues that can be associated by stress. Not only that, you also risk more health factors that are associated with drugs such as potential mental health issues.
Drug misuse can lead to mental illness
No drug is directly responsible for developing a mental illness. However, the misuse of certain drugs like cocaine can cause psychosis. Repeated instances can and will lead to the potential development of mental illnesses.
If you have a mental disorder that pre-exists an addiction, the symptoms you may deal with on a regular basis may intensify. This can also lead to an increase of suicidal thoughts and actions. You owe it to yourself to preserve and protect your mental well-being.
Because drugs can cause you to develop depression. It can get to the point where you may depend on other drugs to keep you in a good mood. Don’t let that be the one thing you can do.
Stress can also damage relationships
Needless to say, stress can lead you to take it out on other people. You may engage in arguments or even sudden outbursts with someone who is important to you. This can damage relationships almost to the point where you may not be speaking to anyone.
This is one more reason why you should handle stress in a better, more positive way. Drugs can alter your mind. You may not know what you’re doing or be aware of the behavior that you’re exhibiting.
If you are feeling stressed, the last thing you want to do is take it out on someone that doesn’t deserve it. Instead, you want to isolate yourself and do something else. This can include taking a walk outside or doing something while you’re alone.
As long as it doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol, everything should be fine. To note, it should also be a healthy stress buster. This way, you’ll know exactly what to do if you are having those stressful days.
You may gain weight as a result of stress
When you are stressed, your brain will release a hormone known as cortisol. It happens to be the hormone that may lead to weight gain. If you gain weight, you run into the risk of various health problems.
Even stress eating can speed up this process. If you are overweight or even obese, you will run into various health risks. These include but are not limited to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and other health issues.
Stress can cause you to gain weight over time. And this will lead to a whole slew of problems that you don’t want. If you notice any weight gain due to stress, it is important to consider exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.
You should also consider stopping the idea of stress eating. This can lead to what might be a food addiction. While not as potent as a drug addiction, it can lead to long-term health effects.
Get the help you need if you can
If you have developed an addiction due to stress, it is important to get the help you need as soon as possible. It may be a challenge at first, but making the decision to get help will save your life. Your body may have undergone damage due to the amounts of stress you went through.
Drugs and alcohol may or may not have sped things up. Not to mention, you’re already looking at higher risks of various health problems. The sooner you get the help you need, the better.
Final Thoughts
Stress can be taken care of in healthy ways. You can do yoga, spend time outdoors, or even learn how to meditate among other things. It is not a healthy idea to use drugs or alcohol as a way to handle stress.
