Stress Management: What You Should Know About Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs..When You Are Feeling Stressed

Is alcohol, tobacco and another drug one of your tools to help calm things down?

Rethink…are you helping or increasing your stress?

STRESSED OUT?

Office of Health Education and Promotion, Health ServicesUniversity of New Hampshirewww.unh.edu/health-servicesFacebook/Twitter: UNHHealth

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FACT:Nicotine is a stimulant. Instead of calming you down it is

actually speeding up bodily functions.

Sometimes when people are dependant on nicotine, smoking or

chewing does seem to calm them down, but really the feelings of

stress are being caused by withdrawal. As nicotine leaves the body,

withdrawal kicks in, increasing stress and anxiety. Then the person

uses nicotine products to relax. It seems that nicotine helped but

really the feelings of withdrawal are subsided for the time being.

Unfortunately, those feelings will be back and the person will need

more nicotine.

I feel clamer when I smoke or chew

tobacco.

Nocotine can also impact ….

sleep patterns, which can increasestress.

and

immune systems which can increase aperson’s chances of getting sick.

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FACT:

Some drugs affect the brain the same way stress does. Long-term drug use makes the users more sensitive to everyday stress than non-

users.

I know misuing drugs may be harmful but it really does seem

to relieve stress.

FACT:There are several reasons why using drugs to handle

stress can lead to problems.

1. Drugs can often have the reverse effect than expected, therefore increasing stress levels.

2. Drugs can affect sleep and eating patterns which can actually increase overall stress.

3. Stress can put people at risk for substance abuse, especially if using drugs to off set the stress.

I use drugs occassionally when I am stressed out – it is not like I

use all the time. How bad can that be?

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FACT:Alcohol relaxes people due to its depressant qualities.

Women and men can have 1 – 2 drinks, per day and not be negatively impacted physically by that amount.

Some may actually see a health benefit.

But when people drink over these quantities, they risk a variety of impairment problems and unwanted

consequences and also increase their stress levels.

I fi nd having a few drinks relaxing.

About High-Risk DrinkingOne night of high-risk drinking may make the stress seem better in

the moment, but the causes of stress will remain and may be worse the next day.

High-risk drinking cancause physical stress to the body. It can take up to 72 hours for the body to repair itself from a night of high-risk drinking. In the meantime, the causes of stress may continue.

About High-Risk DrinkingDrinking may help you fall asleep but it willdisrupt impairsleep which can increase stress the next day.

High- risk drinking can decrease the immune system, making it

more likely that you will get sick.

Research has shown that when one is experiencing highly stressful events (a death, sickness, breakup) this can influence their use of alcohol. When alcohol is used in these situations the more likely it may be that people will develop patterns of drinking that can be

difficult to change later on.

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FACT:Stress can help you deal with tough situations. It can

also be used as a motivator to finish projects, a paper, or study for an exam.

Stress can also be associated with positive changes such as starting school, a new job or deciding to

study abroad.

All stress is bad for you.

Build Your Stress ToolboxLearn how to manage stress and leave alcohol,

tobacco and other drugs out!

o Take a napo Listen to relaxing musico Call a friendo Get out and move! Ride a bike, go for a walk, hit the gym…o Draw, color or do a craft that you find relaxingo Read a booko Take a batho Get a massage at Health Services (862-3823)o Learn stress management techniques with a Wellness

Educator/Counselor at Health Services (862-3823)o Or use any other tool you find relaxing and that will put you in

the right frame of mind to tackle your next task.

The Office of Health Education and Promotion, HealthServices offers the following services to help you managestress:

- Stress management education/counseling- Alcohol, tobacco and other drug education/counseling- Individual and group meditation sessions- Biofeedback- Massage therapy - Check out books, videos and CDs on a variety of wellness topics from the Resource Library - And more…!

(603) 862-3823www.unh.edu/health-services

Resources at UNH