Even if we recognize this, it’s easy to revert to what we know will temporarily heal the pain or soothe the negative emotion that may be overwhelming us. Ongoing alcohol use, especially when used to handle stress, can also escalate to alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder. Over time, your body becomes dependent on the regular introduction of alcohol and needs it alcohol rehab to function. This also causes physical health effects over time, such as dehydration, poor nutrition, or liver damage. Negative mental health effects are common as well, with depression and anxiety setting in the longer you lean on alcohol to cope. When you are dealing with stress, anxiety, or other mental health issues, it can be tempting to turn to self-medication as a quick fix.

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• For example, when we see curated social media timelines of people who seemingly have their whole life together, we feel we should approach life in the same way.
• Continue reading to learn why using alcohol as a coping mechanism is dangerous.
• Surrounding yourself with friends and family can help you relieve stress and avoid alcohol dependence.
• When faced with traumatic situations, the “fight or flight” glands in our brain (otherwise known as the hypothalamus and the amygdala) trigger a natural and protective response.

Drinking is an attempt to escape, but you can’t escape the realities of life for long. And when the alcohol wears off, you are less equipped to deal with life’s realities because you’re sicker. Many women use alcohol as a coping mechanism for the big and small challenges of alcohol as a coping mechanism life instead of learning to manage stress.

Coping Strategies for Alcohol Cravings: Tools for Your Recovery Journey

With treatment options including personalized therapy, medication to stop drinking, and group support, we provide you with the support you need at the time you need it. Self-medicating can lead to addiction, physical health problems, and a host of other issues. But the good news is that it’s possible to break the cycle and learn healthier ways to cope. In this article, we’ll explore some strategies for stopping self-medication and getting your life back on track. Whether you’re dealing with a mild problem or a full-blown addiction, these tips can help you take the first steps towards recovery. One of the best ways to deal with unhealthy coping mechanisms for trauma is this.

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This article references possible sources of trauma and may lead to your identifying with these triggers. Our trauma informed therapists are ready to support you in addressing these fully to reduce long term emotional distress. When faced with triggers that used to lead you to alcohol, find healthier ways to manage them. For example, if work-related stress is an issue, consider talking to your supervisor about potential solutions or implementing time management techniques. But she checked herself when she caught herself saying, “I need a drink.” The idea of “need” terrified her because she had alcoholics in her family and didn’t want to become one. She gave up alcohol for a month and felt more in control, confident she didn’t “need a drink” and wasn’t automatically turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Coping Skills for Alcoholics or Problem Drinkers

Exercise, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and even journaling can all help you manage stress effectively. When we have a seemingly “quick fix,” it can deter us from finding real, healthier, long-lasting solutions. If you’re struggling with alcohol, and delay cutting back or quitting, you’re also often delaying finding solutions to the underlying problems. Those problems remain, waiting to rear their head whenever you stop drinking. Even if we don’t consider ourselves a person who abuses alcohol, we may sometimes find ourselves overindulging. While there are numerous reasons, oftentimes overdrinking is a sign we’re using alcohol as a crutch for something.

These symptoms can be debilitating, affecting nearly every aspect of their lives. At Crest View Recovery Center, we will help you reach the height of sobriety. We combine our education and expertise with our empathy to provide the highest quality addiction treatment in this region. Research shows that giving back to others can improve your mood and take the focus off your struggles. You may find that by helping others, your stress levels and desire to drink will drastically decrease.

Let’s Take the Next Steps Together

One of the most effective ways of addressing alcohol dependence and abuse that arises from using alcohol as a coping mechanism is to develop other effective coping mechanisms. Rather than simply resolving to “stop drinking,” which removes one coping skill without replacing it with another, it is important to have other skills in place. After all, you were drinking for a reason, so it’s important to address that reason and find other ways to meet the need it filled.