Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Stress?Alcohol’s Effects on StressCauses of StressCopingStress and Alcoholism Recovery

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Stress?

Alcohol’s Effects on Stress

Causes of Stress

Coping

Stress and Alcoholism Recovery

Life can be full ofstress. Situations arise in everyday life that cause sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, and excitement. Many people who experience stressful situations turn to alcohol to cope with that stress. The problem with that is alcohol itself can cause stress on the body’s physiological balance.

Researchers have found that alcohol takes a psychological and physiological toll on the body and may actually compound the effects of stress.

Drinking alcohol may seem to provide some relief in the short term, but as stressful events continue long-term,heavy alcohol consumptioncan lead to medical and psychological problems and increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorders.

Physiologically, stress is defined as anything that challenges the body to function in its usual fashion. Injury, illness, or exposure to extreme temperatures can cause stress to the body. Grieving, depression, fear, and even sexual activity can cause psychological stress.

When the body experiences stress, or even perceived stress, it mobilizes a variety of physiological and behavioral changes via the nervous and endocrine systems to achieve a goal of maintaining homeostasis and coping with stress.

The body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis system works hard to maintain a delicate physiological balance, but when alcohol is added to the mixture, it puts the body at even greater risk for harm.

Alcohol causeshigher amounts of cortisolto be released altering the brain’s chemistry and resetting what the body considers “normal.“Alcoholshifts the hormonal balanceand changes the way the body perceives stress and changes how it responds to stress.

Studies have found that cortisol interacts with the brain’s reward or pleasure systems, which can contribute toalcohol’s reinforcing effects—forcing people to consume greater amounts to achieve the same effect over time. Cortisol also can promote habit-based learning, increasing the risk of becoming a habitual drinker and increasing the risk of relapse.

Additionally, researchers have linked cortisol to the development of metabolic disorders and to the development of psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Alcohol prevents the body from returning to its initial hormonal balance point, forcing it to set a new point of physiological functioning. This is calledallostasis.The establishment of a new balance point puts wear and tear on the body and increases the risk of serious diseases, including alcoholism.

Studies have found these factors of how stress relates to alcohol use:

Researchers have identified four main categories for causes of stress:

General-Life Stressors

Some examples of general life stressors include major changes like moving, starting a new job, or getting married or divorced. Illness, a death in the family, or problems at home or work can also be significant causes of stress.

Drinkingtoo much alcoholcan cause some general life stress, such as losing a job, causing relationship problems, or causing legal problems.

Catastrophic Events

Studies have found that alcohol consumption increases within 12 months following a major disaster, either man-made or natural. Some studies have found that alcohol use disorders increased after catastrophic events like September 11, Hurricane Katrina, or the Oklahoma City bombing.

However, other studies have found that catastrophe-induced increases in alcohol consumption tend to wane after a year and other studies have found no increases inalcoholismfollowing major disasters.

Childhood Stress

Maltreatment during childhood—emotional, sexual, or physical abuse or neglect—can have long-lasting effects, resulting in a significant percentage of all adult psychopathology.

Abuse during childhood increases the risk for alcohol use disorders in both adolescence and in adulthood. This is particularly true for children who grow up in alcoholic homes, researchers report.

Ethnic Minority Stress

Stress resulting from a person’s minority status can range from mild to severe and can be emotional or physical. Stressors can range from being overlooked for promotion on the job to experiencing a violent hate crime, for example.

Determining how much minority-related stress is linked to increased alcohol consumption has been difficult for researchers to determine due to other risk factors among minority groups—such as drinking patterns and differences in alcohol metabolism.

Does Living With Racism Cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

When the body experiences stress, it quickly shifts its normal metabolic processes into high gear, relying on the intricate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis system to change the levels of hormonal messengers throughout the body.

The HPA axis system targets specific organs to prepare the body to either fight the stress factor or to flee from it—the body’sfight-or-flight response.

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress. Someone who is resilient is able to adapt to the psychological and physiological factors involved in the body’s stress response.

Research has found that people who have a positive, optimistic outlook and have good problem-solving and coping skills tend to deal with stress effectively.

People who exhibit impulsivity, novelty seeking, negative emotions, and anxiety—traits also linked to an increased risk for substance use disorders—have difficulty dealing with stress.

People who do not handle stress well and are therefore at risk for developing alcohol use disorders include:

Stress can continue to have an effect even after someone stops drinking. The HPA axis, the system that deals with stress response, has been traced to symptoms ofalcohol withdrawal.

Many newly sober people begin drinking again to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal. Therefore researchers are trying to develop medications that will return balance to the body’s stress-response system toalleviate alcohol withdrawal symptomsand help prevent relapse in recovering alcoholics.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anthenelli RM.Overview: Stress and alcohol use disorders revisited.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):386–390.Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.Ramsay DS, Woods SC.Clarifying the roles of homeostasis and allostasis in physiological regulation.Psychol Rev. 2014;121(2):225–247. doi:10.1037/a0035942Badrick E, Bobak M, Britton A, Kirschbaum C, Marmot M, Kumari M.The relationship between alcohol consumption and cortisol secretion in an aging cohort.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(3):750–757. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0737Penninx BWJH, Lange SMM.Metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients: Overview, mechanisms, and implications.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):63–73.Koob GF.Alcoholism: Allostasis and beyond.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(2):232–243. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000057122.36127.C2National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Alert. The link between stress and alcohol.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Hasin DS.Stressful life experiences, alcohol consumption, and alcohol use disorders: The epidemiologic evidence for four main types of stressors.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011;218(1):1–17. doi:10.1007/s00213-011-2236-1Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol: Epidemiologic evidence.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391–400.Afifi TO, Enns MW, Cox BJ, Asmundson GJ, Stein MB, Sareen J.Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(5):946–952. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.120253Obasi EM, Shirtcliff EA, Brody GH, et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption, perceived stress, and CRHR1 genotype on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rural African Americans.Front Psychol. 2015;6:832. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832Bezdek K, Telzer E.Have No Fear, the Brain is Here! How Your Brain Responds to Stress.Front. Young Minds. 2017;5:71. doi:10.3389/frym.2017.00071Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480Conversano C, Rotondo A, Lensi E, Della Vista O, Arpone F, Reda MA.Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2010;6:25–29. doi:10.2174/1745017901006010025Yang P, Tao R, He C, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhang X.The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:303. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00303Becker HC.Effects of alcohol dependence and withdrawal on stress responsiveness and alcohol consumption.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):448–458.Additional ReadingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Alcohol and Stress.” Alcohol Alert April 1996.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “The Link Between Stress and Alcohol.” Alcohol Alert.

16 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anthenelli RM.Overview: Stress and alcohol use disorders revisited.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):386–390.Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.Ramsay DS, Woods SC.Clarifying the roles of homeostasis and allostasis in physiological regulation.Psychol Rev. 2014;121(2):225–247. doi:10.1037/a0035942Badrick E, Bobak M, Britton A, Kirschbaum C, Marmot M, Kumari M.The relationship between alcohol consumption and cortisol secretion in an aging cohort.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(3):750–757. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0737Penninx BWJH, Lange SMM.Metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients: Overview, mechanisms, and implications.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):63–73.Koob GF.Alcoholism: Allostasis and beyond.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(2):232–243. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000057122.36127.C2National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Alert. The link between stress and alcohol.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Hasin DS.Stressful life experiences, alcohol consumption, and alcohol use disorders: The epidemiologic evidence for four main types of stressors.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011;218(1):1–17. doi:10.1007/s00213-011-2236-1Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol: Epidemiologic evidence.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391–400.Afifi TO, Enns MW, Cox BJ, Asmundson GJ, Stein MB, Sareen J.Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(5):946–952. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.120253Obasi EM, Shirtcliff EA, Brody GH, et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption, perceived stress, and CRHR1 genotype on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rural African Americans.Front Psychol. 2015;6:832. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832Bezdek K, Telzer E.Have No Fear, the Brain is Here! How Your Brain Responds to Stress.Front. Young Minds. 2017;5:71. doi:10.3389/frym.2017.00071Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480Conversano C, Rotondo A, Lensi E, Della Vista O, Arpone F, Reda MA.Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2010;6:25–29. doi:10.2174/1745017901006010025Yang P, Tao R, He C, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhang X.The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:303. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00303Becker HC.Effects of alcohol dependence and withdrawal on stress responsiveness and alcohol consumption.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):448–458.Additional ReadingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Alcohol and Stress.” Alcohol Alert April 1996.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “The Link Between Stress and Alcohol.” Alcohol Alert.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Anthenelli RM.Overview: Stress and alcohol use disorders revisited.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):386–390.Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.Ramsay DS, Woods SC.Clarifying the roles of homeostasis and allostasis in physiological regulation.Psychol Rev. 2014;121(2):225–247. doi:10.1037/a0035942Badrick E, Bobak M, Britton A, Kirschbaum C, Marmot M, Kumari M.The relationship between alcohol consumption and cortisol secretion in an aging cohort.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(3):750–757. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0737Penninx BWJH, Lange SMM.Metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients: Overview, mechanisms, and implications.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):63–73.Koob GF.Alcoholism: Allostasis and beyond.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(2):232–243. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000057122.36127.C2National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Alert. The link between stress and alcohol.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Hasin DS.Stressful life experiences, alcohol consumption, and alcohol use disorders: The epidemiologic evidence for four main types of stressors.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011;218(1):1–17. doi:10.1007/s00213-011-2236-1Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol: Epidemiologic evidence.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391–400.Afifi TO, Enns MW, Cox BJ, Asmundson GJ, Stein MB, Sareen J.Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(5):946–952. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.120253Obasi EM, Shirtcliff EA, Brody GH, et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption, perceived stress, and CRHR1 genotype on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rural African Americans.Front Psychol. 2015;6:832. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832Bezdek K, Telzer E.Have No Fear, the Brain is Here! How Your Brain Responds to Stress.Front. Young Minds. 2017;5:71. doi:10.3389/frym.2017.00071Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480Conversano C, Rotondo A, Lensi E, Della Vista O, Arpone F, Reda MA.Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2010;6:25–29. doi:10.2174/1745017901006010025Yang P, Tao R, He C, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhang X.The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:303. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00303Becker HC.Effects of alcohol dependence and withdrawal on stress responsiveness and alcohol consumption.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):448–458.

Anthenelli RM.Overview: Stress and alcohol use disorders revisited.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):386–390.

Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.

Ramsay DS, Woods SC.Clarifying the roles of homeostasis and allostasis in physiological regulation.Psychol Rev. 2014;121(2):225–247. doi:10.1037/a0035942

Badrick E, Bobak M, Britton A, Kirschbaum C, Marmot M, Kumari M.The relationship between alcohol consumption and cortisol secretion in an aging cohort.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(3):750–757. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0737

Penninx BWJH, Lange SMM.Metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients: Overview, mechanisms, and implications.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):63–73.

Koob GF.Alcoholism: Allostasis and beyond.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27(2):232–243. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000057122.36127.C2

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Alert. The link between stress and alcohol.

Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Hasin DS.Stressful life experiences, alcohol consumption, and alcohol use disorders: The epidemiologic evidence for four main types of stressors.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011;218(1):1–17. doi:10.1007/s00213-011-2236-1

Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol: Epidemiologic evidence.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391–400.

Afifi TO, Enns MW, Cox BJ, Asmundson GJ, Stein MB, Sareen J.Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(5):946–952. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.120253

Obasi EM, Shirtcliff EA, Brody GH, et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption, perceived stress, and CRHR1 genotype on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rural African Americans.Front Psychol. 2015;6:832. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832

Bezdek K, Telzer E.Have No Fear, the Brain is Here! How Your Brain Responds to Stress.Front. Young Minds. 2017;5:71. doi:10.3389/frym.2017.00071

Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480

Conversano C, Rotondo A, Lensi E, Della Vista O, Arpone F, Reda MA.Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2010;6:25–29. doi:10.2174/1745017901006010025

Yang P, Tao R, He C, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhang X.The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:303. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00303

Becker HC.Effects of alcohol dependence and withdrawal on stress responsiveness and alcohol consumption.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):448–458.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Alcohol and Stress.” Alcohol Alert April 1996.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “The Link Between Stress and Alcohol.” Alcohol Alert.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Alcohol and Stress.” Alcohol Alert April 1996.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “The Link Between Stress and Alcohol.” Alcohol Alert.

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