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Stress, Drugs, & Alcohol. Survey. write down all forms of alcohol and drugs that you can think of now write down all forms of stress relievers beside alcohol and drugs which list is longer? this should make everyone aware of the need to be educated about alcohol & drugs and stress & anxiety.
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Survey • write down all forms of alcohol and drugs that you can think of • now write down all forms of stress relievers beside alcohol and drugs • which list is longer? • this should make everyone aware of the need to be educated about alcohol & drugs and stress & anxiety
How stress influences unhealthy behaviors • Research and population surveys show that persons under stress, particularly chronic stress, tend to exhibit unhealthy behaviors • People under stress drink more alcohol, smoke more, and eat less nutritious food • The amount of substance abuse in response to stress is directly related to the severity of the life stressors and the lack of social support
Common Scenarios of the misuse of alcohol & drugs that increase stress • Drinking before a test day • neg. effects: hangover, lack of concentration, oversleeping • Escalated arguments with friends, significant others, family, and random bystanders • neg. effects: over-exaggeration, irrationality, physical confrontations • Impaired decision making skills • neg. effects: unwanted sexual encounters, drunk driving, binge eating • Skipping class / work, missing obligations • neg. effects: being fired, falling behind, disappointing others
Masking stress with alcohol & drugs is NOT the answer • Do not sabotage yourself • Downward spiral: leads to further depression • one may engage in behaviors that they will regret the next day • Feelings after a night of substance abuse • fatigue, lack of patience, hangover, health issues (ex. dehydration) • FACT: Approximately 14 million Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism
Prescription drugs and stress • Who it effects • Effects of abuse • impairments in thinking • feeling • actions • Drugs most likely abused • sedative-hypnotic • opiod • pain killers
cont. • Withdrawals • sedative-hypnotic • opiods • pain killers • Treatment
Related responses to specific drugs • Alcohol • has depressive properties • acute alcohol withdrawal may induce an anxiety disorder • various degrees of anxiety ranging from panic to generalized anxiety can last for 3-12 months after cessation of drinking • Cocaine and psychostimulants • may produce manifestations of anxiety • more commonly used drugs such as caffeine and nicotine also produce anxiety symptoms
cont. • Cannibis • anxiety usually occurs at high doses • effects include anxiety, the fear of losing control or going crazy, depersonalization, and derealization • symptoms can be experienced by individuals with no preexisting psychopathology as well as those that have a history of erratic or maladaptive behavior • episodes usually occur in individuals with preexisting anxiety about drug use, especially novice users or in experienced users who have taken more than there usual dose. • PCP and Other Hallucinogens • may acutely produce anxiety and panic depending on individual • in some patients, low level symptoms such as depersonalization and derealization may persist beyond the acute intoxication
Healthy Alternatives to drugs & alcohol • Sports • ex. yoga, pilates, going to the gym, exercising outdoors • Meditation • Getting a massage, pampering yourself • Laughing, socializing • Aromatherapy • and?