Identifying Stress During Stress Awareness Month

Each April marks Stress Awareness Month, highlighting the destructive potential of stress that can accumulate and the unique ways in which stress can manifest in each individual. No two people will necessarily experience stress in the same way, nor will they have the same practices for processing and overcoming its effects. However, being cognizant of the various forms of stress, how it can affect each individual, and working to establish healthy outlets to relinquish stress is paramount, whether a person is navigating their recovery from mental health disorders and substance use disorder (SUD), or is continuing to manage their own personal and professional life. 

Each individual will experience stress differently. However, it always involves a certain level of discomfort, fear, or worry, based on present perceived dangers or adversity. These feelings of fear can be related to any number of different things. For some, stress may be prevalent when meeting new people, due to a perceived worry of being judged, disliked, or doing something embarrassing. Others may experience stress as a result of workplace factors, from concern about how bosses may act in a toxic work environment or if an individual is not sure that they are going to be able to accomplish a certain task within a certain timeframe. 

However, stress in and of itself is not necessarily always bad. Rather, if an individual is experiencing a healthy level of stress about a certain task or responsibility, the stress can bring heightened focus or help an individual avoid potentially dangerous situations. On the other hand, not all stress is necessarily positive. Some people may find that such feelings of stress, worry, fear, and more can be debilitating and may need professional help to process and overcome these feelings for a healthier daily life. 

Each individual will have their own journey with stress. Just because it isn’t something stressor for oneself doesn’t mean that it can be fundamentally stressful and debilitating for another. This is especially prevalent for those in recovery from SUD, who may be meeting new and unexpected challenges in the development of their sober lives. 

Stress can come from anywhere. Identifying the unique sources of stress for each individual is the first step toward better understanding and addressing its effects. A few common areas to begin identifying stress include: 

This is not an exhaustive list of all the possible stresses that can be prevalent in daily life. However, looking into these areas can help an individual begin to explore the various sources of stress and how they may impact their feelings, ideas, and lifestyles. Using strategies like journaling, mindfulness practices after certain regular activities in daily life, and talking with supports can help each individual identify how these areas may bring unnecessary stress.

Stress has many effects on an individual, from physical to emotional. Some of the physical effects of stress include:

These physical effects are often accompanied by other emotional impacts, from feelings of depression and anxiety to increased feelings of irritability, angry outbursts, burnout, and much more. However, for some, the effects of stress can be wholly debilitating. Professional help may be necessary to address and overcome the effects of stress in daily life. 

For many, stress is tied to identifiable triggers or aspects of a person’s day. However, others may continue to experience this stress even long after the stressor itself has subsided. Continuing to stress about work after the day is done, or worrying about long-past events, can easily populate a person’s mind. Without strategies to process stress, an individual may turn to other more self-destructive outlets to push down these pervasive feelings of stress. 

For some, the stress and anxiety around potentially engaging in social situations can bring social withdrawal. Others may turn to addictive substances to quell persistent and intense feelings of stress. Feeling as if the use of drugs or alcohol is necessary to placate these feelings can quickly develop into SUD. Further, professional treatment is often necessary to address not just the use of drugs or alcohol but also the stress that informs their use. 

For those continuing their own recovery from SUD, stress can be a commonplace part of life as they navigate not just the traditional stresses present, but also prevalent urges and cravings. Continued engagement in residential or outpatient rehab centers in Hawaii, working with supports, and discussing the constant changes throughout the transition to a new and sober lifestyle can ensure that each person is always able to identify new sources of stress throughout their continued recovery and sobriety. 

Stress is a normal experience, and each person will have their own best way of coping with its effects. However, some may benefit from professional treatment to overcome the effects of stress, and we at Hawaii Island Recovery are here to help. Our effective rehab centers in Hawaii are committed to helping you identify, understand, and overcome the effects of stress by exploring a number of proven therapies and the spiritual advantages prevalent across the Hawaiian islands. Our comprehensive approach to stress can help you manage the use of drugs, alcohol, or other self-destructive coping strategies to create a healthy life. For more information on how we can help you, call us today at (866) 390-5070.