As I delve deeper into the topic of stress, I am astonished at how I can relate to just about every aspect of what I am studying. For instance, two studies from Science daily; “How stress influences disease: Study reveals inflammation as the culprit” (Cohen, 2012) which speaks of the how the body loses the ability to regulate inflammation and the effects on the body. Secondly, “Stress changes how people make decisions” (Mather, 2012) discusses decision making under stress. Both of these studies hit home for me. Within these studies, I can identify certain areas of my health that connect to the effects of stress and the destructive nature of stress.
Concerning Sheldon Cohen’s analysis on chronic psychological stress on inflammation and the …show more content…
As I read this study, Mara Mather described how stress plays a role in an addict’s behavior. She explained how addicts have a harder time controlling their urges under stress and "The compulsion to get that reward comes stronger, and they're less able to resist it." (Mather, 2012). How I relate this to my recovery is through the decision making I have made throughout my recovery. As I look back, I can understand that some of the decisions I made under stress were in-line with this study. Typically involving impulsive purchases, such as automobiles or high price items. In the many years I have been sober one of the common denominators of addiction is impulsiveness. In those stressful times, my impulsive purchases gave me that feeling of relief. Choosing to look at the positive aspects of the purchase versus thinking of the consequences of the purchase. However, I have never relapsed from an impulsive decision under stress. I believe addicts do suffer from varying degrees of chronic stress. For instance, I as a recovering addict have a disease of the mind and body. If I do not continue to participate in my recovery; go to meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, call my sponsor and help others there is a possibility of relapse. All these by themselves are not particularly stressful, but add that to my already busy schedule there is an element of chronic
Concerning Sheldon Cohen’s analysis on chronic psychological stress on inflammation and the …show more content…
As I read this study, Mara Mather described how stress plays a role in an addict’s behavior. She explained how addicts have a harder time controlling their urges under stress and "The compulsion to get that reward comes stronger, and they're less able to resist it." (Mather, 2012). How I relate this to my recovery is through the decision making I have made throughout my recovery. As I look back, I can understand that some of the decisions I made under stress were in-line with this study. Typically involving impulsive purchases, such as automobiles or high price items. In the many years I have been sober one of the common denominators of addiction is impulsiveness. In those stressful times, my impulsive purchases gave me that feeling of relief. Choosing to look at the positive aspects of the purchase versus thinking of the consequences of the purchase. However, I have never relapsed from an impulsive decision under stress. I believe addicts do suffer from varying degrees of chronic stress. For instance, I as a recovering addict have a disease of the mind and body. If I do not continue to participate in my recovery; go to meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, call my sponsor and help others there is a possibility of relapse. All these by themselves are not particularly stressful, but add that to my already busy schedule there is an element of chronic