Written by:

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

February 14th, 2025

Stress & Addiction

What is stress?

Stress is a natural and necessary response that helps us navigate challenges in life. It’s the body’s way of alerting us to potential dangers or important tasks, preparing us to act quickly and efficiently.

In many ways, stress can be incredibly useful as it motivates us to meet deadlines, avoid risks and stay alert in difficult situations. However, when stress becomes overwhelming or persists for too long, it can start to impact both our mental and physical health negatively.

At that point, it stops being helpful and becomes something that drains us, making it harder to function. Recognising when stress is becoming too much is key to maintaining balance in life.

What causes stress?

Stress can be triggered by a variety of situations, whether big or small and how we perceive or react to them. Understanding the reasons why stress occurs can help us better manage it and prevent it from affecting our mental and physical health. Here are some common reasons stress occurs:

Work pressures: Deadlines, long hours, and high expectations at work can make anyone feel overwhelmed.
Financial concerns: Money problems, debt or the fear of not being able to meet financial obligations can be a significant source of stress.
Relationship issues: Conflict or miscommunication with family, friends or partners can create emotional tension and stress.
Health problems: Dealing with a personal illness or a loved one’s health challenges can cause physical and emotional strain.
Life changes: Big transitions like moving to a new city, starting a new job, or having a baby can be exciting but also stressful due to the uncertainty they bring.
Daily hassles: Small, everyday challenges like traffic, long queues or losing something important can build up and lead to stress over time.

The different types of stress

Did you know there are different kinds of stress? If you’re going to identify bad stress in your life, you need to know what you’re looking for because stress isn’t always harmful. In fact, some stress can even be beneficial.

Let’s take a closer look at the various types:

Acute stress

Acute stress is the most common type of stress we encounter. It’s usually triggered by a sudden situation, like slamming on your brakes to avoid a car accident or preparing for a job interview. In small doses, acute stress can keep you alert and focused, but too much of it, especially if experienced frequently, can start to wear you down. It’s intense but short-lived, so the body recovers quickly once the stressor has passed.

Chronic stress

Then there’s chronic stress, which is a little trickier. This type of stress hangs around for a long time, like financial problems or an unhappy marriage. It’s the kind that builds slowly over months or even years, creating a constant state of tension that can seriously affect your mental and physical health. The body never gets a proper break, which is why chronic stress can lead to serious issues like heart disease or depression.

Episodic acute stress

Episodic acute stress falls somewhere in between. Imagine someone whose life feels like one crisis after another. Perhaps they need to arrive on time, are juggling multiple tasks or are constantly overwhelmed. This type of stress happens in waves, coming back frequently enough to leave you feeling frazzled but not consistently present, like chronic stress.

People who experience episodic acute stress often feel like they’re stuck in a loop of chaos, where one problem quickly follows another.

Eustress

On the flip side, not all stress is negative. Eustress is known as “positive stress.” It’s the type of stress that pushes you to grow and succeed. Think of the excitement before your wedding day or the adrenaline rush when you’re about to tackle a new challenge at work. Eustress can motivate and energise you, giving you that extra boost to meet a goal or seize an opportunity. Unlike other types of stress, eustress feels good, and it leaves you feeling fulfilled rather than drained.

Note: While there are other forms of stress, these are some of the most common types of stress that people experience.

When does stress become an issue?

We all experience stress, but it’s important to recognise when it may overwhelm you. Here are a few questions to gently ask yourself:

Do you often feel like you’re struggling to cope with everyday tasks?
Are you dealing with frequent headaches, muscle tension or other physical discomforts?
Is it harder for you to focus or make decisions lately?
Have your sleep patterns changed drastically? Whether you’re sleeping too much or too little?
Do you find yourself feeling more irritable, anxious or experiencing frequent mood swings?
Have you noticed changes in your appetite or weight without having changed your diet?

If any of these questions hit home, stress may be affecting your well-being more than you realise. Over time, bad stress can take a significant toll on both your physical and mental health, and it can lead to behaviours you might not expect.

Is there a link between stress and addiction?

Stress and addiction can be seen as a classic chicken-and-egg situation: which comes first? In some cases, stress may lead to addiction, while in others, addiction may be the source of stress. By understanding both possibilities, you can begin to recognise the signs of both stress and addiction in your life.

Stress can cause addiction when someone turns to substances as a way to cope. For instance, after a tough day at work, someone might rely on alcohol to unwind. Over time, this casual habit can turn into dependency as the person begins to associate stress relief with drinking.

On the flip side, addiction often brings its own set of stresses. A person struggling with a substance might find that maintaining their habit leads to financial difficulties, strained relationships or a constant fear of being judged. This creates a vicious cycle where stress leads to more use, and substance use worsens the stress.

In both cases, recognising the pattern is key. Whether you’re using substances to escape stress or feeling the strain of maintaining an addiction, it’s important to address both issues together to break the cycle.

How are stress and addiction treated at Liberty House?

At Liberty House, we understand that stress and addiction often come together, so we take care to treat both at the same time. Through Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), we help you manage stress and addiction by focusing on mindfulness and emotional balance. Alongside DBT, we offer both group and individual therapy to create a sense of community and provide one-on-one support, helping people uncover the root causes of their struggles.

We also use holistic therapies like yoga and meditation to nurture physical and emotional well-being, offering calm and relief.

Our care doesn’t stop after treatment as we provide aftercare services to ensure ongoing support, helping people handle stress and stay on track with their recovery journey.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know if you are struggling with stress?

You may be struggling with stress if you often feel overwhelmed, anxious or irritable. Physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue or muscle tension, along with trouble concentrating or sleeping, are also common signs that stress may be affecting your well-being.

How to help someone dealing with stress?

Supporting someone with stress involves being a good listener, offering empathy and suggesting helpful relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness or exercise.

What causes stress?

Stress is caused by various factors, including work demands, financial problems, relationship conflicts, health issues or significant life changes. Environmental stressors, such as noise or crowded spaces, can also contribute to feeling stressed over time.