Do you ever feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety? It can be challenging to manage these feelings on your own, especially if you are struggling with a substance use disorder. In this blog post, we will discuss coping skills that can help you deal with anxiety and stress in a healthy way. These skills can be helpful for anyone, but they are especially important for people who are recovering from a substance use disorder (SUD).
First, it is essential to understand what stress and anxiety are.
Stress is a feeling of being overburdened or overwhelmed. It can be caused by events in your life such as work, school, or family problems. Anxiety is a feeling of fear or worry that can range from mild or severe. Events in your life can cause it, but it can also be caused by thoughts or feelings.
Both stress and anxiety can affect your mood, behavior, and physical health.
For example, they can make it difficult to sleep, eat, and concentrate. Stress and anxiety can also cause headaches, muscle tension, and chest pain. If left untreated, stress and anxiety can lead to more severe problems such as depression, substance abuse, and even suicide.
The good news is that there are healthy coping skills that you can use to help yourself deal with stress and anxiety in a more effective way. These coping skills include:
- Learn to relax your body. Take deep breaths or go for a walk when you feel anxious or stressed out.
- Talk to someone about your feelings. Venting to a friend or family member can help you feel better and more relaxed.
- Challenge your thoughts. When you start to worry, ask yourself whether the thought is realistic or not.
- Set goals and priorities. Don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, figure out what is important to you and focus on those things first.
- Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly.
The coping skills listed above are an excellent place to start when dealing with stress or anxiety in your life.
However, if you find that these coping skills do not work for you or your feelings continue to bother you, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can help you find better ways to deal with stress and anxiety in your life. When it comes time for your next appointment with a therapist, make sure that they know about any new medications or treatment plans that have been prescribed for you by other healthcare providers. It’s important to tell them this information so that they can help coordinate care between all parties involved in your recovery process. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. You are not alone.
Call today!
We are ready to help your family begin its journey to recovery. Please call anytime at 866-856-0801 .
Contact us for more information about how Windhaven House can help you achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. Call 866-856-0801 or send us a message now.
