Could you be addicted to stress?

Work stress, family stress, financial stress, relationship stress. There isn’t a day that goes by where someone isn’t talking about how stressed out they are. It’s almost become a badge of honour that is worn with pride as people dash from one chaotic life situation to the next.

Some stress is good, and it plays an essential part in our lives. It motivates us, and enables us to get things done, and it would be completely unrealistic to eliminate all stress.  Stress addiction, however, is a “thing” and the consequences can be fatal as it pushes our bodies into a state of serious disease. There are, however, steps you can take if you find yourself suffering.

Let’s take a look at what stress addiction is…

Addiction is a chronic disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences. 
American Society of of Addiction Medicine

People who struggle with addictions want to alter their internal state and are looking for something outside of themselves in order to do this, as opposed to looking for relief inside of themselves to make the feeling go away. Stress addiction can be defined as a recurring pattern of seeking out situations or behaving in ways that increase stress, even when you’re aware of the mental and physical health consequences, and can’t seem to stop.

When we’re stressed, we send our body into fight or flight mode where the heart and respiratory rate increases exponentially to fuel a rapid response to danger. This served us brilliantly in primitive times as we fled to avoid being eaten by a wild animal.

Our body, however, does not know the difference between running from said wild animal, or experiencing work stress, as it responds in exactly the same way, perceiving a threat in the external environment. As you get angry, fearful, or sad, you turn on exactly the same system sending your body completely out of balance. 

The hormones of stress produce 1,200 chemicals that last for 90 seconds to two minutes. So if we put a stop to the feeling that causes stress, we can let the chemicals pass. If we are not able to do this, we’re addicted to those chemicals.   

How stress addiction shows up in daily life

The chemicals of stress are highly addictive and when people live in a state of stress, they use the problems and conditions in their life to reaffirm the addiction to that emotion as they receive a rush of adrenaline. 

We are able to turn on the stress response through our thoughts alone, so our thoughts can literally make us sick. If someone is addicted to the thoughts that make them sick, change then becomes really hard as people cling to those thoughts as it makes them feel something. 

Those who are addicted to stress are often drawn to drama and subconsciously seek it out. They may feel bored unless they’re under stress. Other obvious signs are engaging in behaviours that may have unwanted consequences e.g. overeating, turning to alcohol or drugs or continuing to stay in stressful situations despite experiencing physical health symptoms. They may try tools to relax, such as meditation, but find it impossible as their mind and body is addicted to constantly being on the go and doesn’t like being in stillness. 

Why is stress addiction so unbelievably bad? 

The long term effects of the hormones of stress push the genetic buttons and create disease in the body. 

We are not designed to continuously live in emergency mode and be able to function, and the only route out is through disease. Your body will literally talk to you through illness if you don’t listen to it. Over time the adrenalin released by stress hormones creates a continued state of vigilance. This may appear to be harmless in your 40’s or 50’s but it sets you up for disaster in later life. 

“When your immune system is weakened through stress, you are more prone to diseases such as cancer. It also ups your risk for digestive problems and depression”
Anil K. Sood, M.D., professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson.

Stress can kill as it can to lead to damage to the heart and cause cardiovascular problems, breathing difficulties and high blood pressure.

How to tell if you’re suffering

Look for tell-tale symptoms such as: Digestive issues like IBS, new food allergies, experiencing physical pains (e.g., back or neck pain), fatigue, high blood pressure, insomnia, a change in appetite, anxiety, irritability, depression, withdrawal, and a compromised immune system.

What to do if you’re suffering 

Pause

Take a step back and look at your life vision. Are you truly living in alignment with your values? If not, identify what really needs to change in your life for you to live, and therefore feel differently. 

Practice mindfulness

Although challenging, learning to become present is an absolute game changer and meditation with continued practice has been scientifically proven to restore inner balance (homeostasis) allowing the mind and body to rest, promote positive thinking, and reduce the physical and emotional responses of stress.

Prioritise self care

This is different for everyone. For some it’s walks in nature, running and hot baths. For others it’s going out dancing and connecting with close friends. Identify what self care looks like to YOU and incorporate as much as possible into your life.

Talk it out

Communicating our true feelings, as opposed to burying them is key and we’ll often find instant relief from doing this alone. 

Get a hold of your thoughts

Understand how your thoughts and behaviours are maintaining this state. If you keep responding with the same thoughts, they generate the same emotions, and you’ll continue to make the same choices and get the same results. So a great place to start is by changing your thoughts. If your thoughts can make you sick, they can also make you well. 

If you’d like to hear more about the mental health coaching grounded in neuroplasticity that we offer at MindVibes, please DM me or drop an email to nicola@mindvibesglobal.com