The Key to De-stressing Without Turning to Alcohol

You are not alone in your struggle to find a way to cope with stressful situations. Drinking alcohol is common but also problematic. This article explores healthy and effective ways to reduce the stress that don’t involve drinking.

Find Your Stress Triggers

To reduce stress, pinpoint the triggers or causes of your stress. You may find that you experience more stress in certain places or with certain people. Perhaps, certain days of the week trigger you more than others. Take time to explore these possibilities and see if anything in your control could be causing the problem. Once you’ve determined the causes of your stress, try to eliminate or minimize them healthily. For example, this approach can range from taking time alone to talking things over with a trusted person. Furthermore, our list below highlights everyday stressors, corresponding stress-relievers, and coping tools to help you deal with stress.

Managing the Stress of Family Life

Even the best parents or family members experience stress. Everyday stressors include financial issues, marital problems, parenting difficulties, and self-care. Here are some effective strategies to reduce stress:

• Spend quality time with family members to improve communication and camaraderie.
• Create a budget together with your partner.
• Improve communication with active listening and compassion.
• Hire a babysitter or ask a family friend or member to watch the children so you can take time for yourself.
• Create an emergency fund for inevitable problems like car repairs or illnesses.
• Have regular weekly dates with your partner or friends. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. Consider a picnic at the park.
• Focus on gratitude and capturing happy memories.

Resolving Work Stress: A Prevalent Stressor

Work-related stress affects many adults. You may find yourself overwhelmed by the demands of your job or conflicts with co-workers. By finding new ways to deal with stress, you can reduce tension without turning to alcohol. Instead, consider taking a walk outside or in the nearest park; getting some fresh air; stretching at your desk; doing some deep breathing exercises; or calling a friend, family member, or co-worker to chat for a few minutes. Other steps you can take to reduce stress include:

• Look for a job: Finding a new job is an excellent way to change your environment and take some weight off your shoulders. However, if you’re not currently looking for a new position, why not start the process now?
• Communicate your concerns: If you are dissatisfied with your work environment, you may ask your manager for feedback. Your manager may not be aware of any problems you may have and will be happy to address them if given the opportunity. You can also take some time out of your day to evaluate the things that are making you feel frustrated and see what you can do to improve these situations.
• Prioritize your tasks: Try making a to-do list if you feel a little overwhelmed by your workload. Prioritize your list based on what needs to be done first and what can wait until later. You can also delegate specific tasks to other people.

Managing Financial Stress

Financial stress often arises because of overspending, unexpected expenses, and other economic problems. Start with a budget and keep track of your costs to ease your financial stress. Create a list of your fixed monthly expenses: utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, groceries, and other necessities. Check your income versus your spending habits to ensure you have enough money after these expenses are covered. Then find ways to reduce unnecessary spending to decrease the stress you feel because of your finances.

Stress of Relationships

Friendship and love are excellent sources of joy, but they can also cause stress. You can actively try listening to avoid escalating conflicts or practicing self-compassion when things aren’t going well.

Physical or Mental Health Stressors

Health-related issues such as chronic illness or pain can lead to feelings of sadness or anger that may cause stress levels to rise quickly. By practicing the following tips, you can help reduce your stress and improve your overall well-being:

• Try group therapy – When faced with a medical condition, managing it—and your life—may seem impossible. To address the resulting stress effectively, seek support from others in the same boat. Group therapy provides the chance to talk openly with people who share your feelings and concerns. The process helps put things into perspective and makes them seem more manageable. And by sharing your problems with others, you can see that they aren’t as big as they may seem.
• Take up a new hobby – This is one of the most popular methods for reducing stress. Taking up a new hobby will help you feel fulfilled in life, positively affecting your mental and physical health.
• Mindfulness meditation – Mindfulness meditation is becoming increasingly popular as it has been proven to lower anxiety, depression, and pain levels. Increasing your mindfulness level will help you remain present instead of anticipating the worst.
• Acupuncture – Acupuncture, a Chinese-based alternative therapy, involves placing tiny needles at specific points around the body to restore balance within the body’s energy system. Eastern cultures have used this therapy for centuries due to its effectiveness in helping people manage their general physical and mental stress levels.
• Exercise – Exercise has many benefits, like releasing endorphins that contribute to feelings of euphoria, which can improve your mood and health.
• Exploring your creative side – If you’re feeling stressed from mental or physical illness, consider activating your creativity to relax your mind and body. This could mean painting a picture, writing in a journal, or coloring a picture. These activities can put your mind at ease. Make sure you reserve time for creative outlets to keep yourself happy and healthy.

Managing stress is no simple task. When you can identify the source, it increases your ability to effectively deal with it. Finding a healthy outlet for your emotions is something that anyone can work on. If you’re taking steps to cope with stress, keep pushing forward–you are not alone in your fight against stress! Choose a stress-reliever that works best for you. Start slow, and try implementing one strategy a week until you’ve found at least three methods that work for you. We hope that you feel more encouraged by these tips! Participants at Restoration Recovery in Auburn, California, can find therapeutic support and access to holistic treatment options, such as art, yoga, meditation, and outdoor activities to relieve their stress. You or your loved one can recover from substance use disorders with us. To learn more about our program and how we can help you, give us a call at (888) 290-0925.