Stress Doesn’t have to Break You: Learn to Manage Stress and Stay Focused

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Stress Doesn’t have to Break You: Learn to Manage Stress and Stay Focused

Let’s face it. Stress is everywhere. Work, family, finances, relationships, and even recovery can be stressful. Stress can feel overwhelming and produce feelings of anxiety or frustration. Stress does not have to overtake you. You can go through stressful times and come out victorious. Here are some simple strategies to start managing stress.

1- Know when to take a timeout. When bills, work, and other obligations start piling up, it’s difficult to stop what you are doing and take a break. Taking a break is exactly what you need to do. This doesn’t mean that you should stop focusing on your obligations, but times of great stress call for self care.

2- Learn when burn out is happening. You know yourself best. Watch out for signs that you are feeling overly stressed and burnt out. Signs of burnout include:

  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Apathy
  • Depression
  • Concentration problems
  • Fatigue
  • Negative attitude and thoughts
  • Cravings to use drugs or alcohol

If you begin noticing signs of burnout, it’s best to stop what you are doing and practice mindfulness and self care. Remember, you can’t give what you don’t have.

3- Be patient with yourself! Patience is critical to your recovery, as well as stress management. You can use self talk to help you get through stressful moments. Remind yourself that it’s ok to feel stressed, but how you handle stress is what makes you or breaks you. If you falter along the way, just get back up and keep moving along. Patience and kindness to yourself is a huge part of positive stress management.

4- Be diligent and stay connected with your recovery support system. Don’t isolate even if you feel like avoiding people. Stress can be a trigger for drug and alcohol relapse. When you feel overly stressed, continue following your plan.

  • Go to meetings
  • Spend time with your sponsor or mentor
  • Stay connected with sober and supportive friends

Stress is apart of life. You can’t escape stress, but you can handle your reactions towards it. Read a good book, watch a funny movie, eat a piece of chocolate cake. Reward yourself.

At The Kimberly Center, we care about your recovery. We understand that life can be stressful, but recovery is still possible. Contact us at 855-4-KCENTER to learn more about positive stress management. We are committed to helping you stop the cycle of addiction, one day at a time.

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