Counter-Productive

Some people attempt to manage their stress through negative behaviors, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, or disordered eating. However, these behaviors lead to an increase in long-term cumulative stress and can cause negative health effects.

Smoking

Alcohol or Other Drugs

Disordered Eating

Using alcohol or drugs might make you forget about stressors and problems temporarily. However, consuming alcohol or drugs do not actually reduce or eliminate the stressor. Binge drinking or drug use can influence your sleep patterns and productivity, which can lead to more stress. Using these substances to address your problems can result in substance abuse.

Many people smoke cigarettes to relax, but tobacco and the nicotine that cigarettes contain actually stimulate and produce responses similar to the fight or flight response. Also, nicotine is an addictive substance that has serious long-term effects. Smoking can play a role in causing many diseases, such as increasing the risk of lung cancer and other types of cancer, heart disease, and preventable death. Moreover, tobacco and smoking use are very costly habits.

Even though disordered eating patterns do not meet the clinical definition of eating disorders, these are not healthy eating patterns and can potentially develop into eating disorders. Some examples of these disordered eating patterns are overeating or under-eating. Binge eating, overeating, or using “comfort foods” to address your stress can lead to excess weight gain and health problems. Also, skipping meals will result in lack of energy and nutrients, affecting how well you can focus and deal with your stress. Additionally, decreased blood glucose levels can reduce the ability to cope with stress.