The Undiagnosed Epidemic of Stress Addiction
April - Stress Awareness Month
The Hidden High: Our Collective Dependence on Stress
April marks Stress Awareness Month, and it’s time we confront a pervasive but often overlooked addiction affecting millions: stress addiction. Unlike widely recognized dependencies like drugs, sex, gambling, or work, stress addiction quietly permeates our lives, masquerading as a necessity for success and productivity.
WHY DO WE CRAVE STRESS?
The addiction to stress is complex. It's not just about the adrenaline rush or the thrill of the high-stakes challenge; it's about how society, workplace cultures, and even our belief systems have glorified being 'busy' and 'under pressure. This constant alertness can make us feel vital, meaningful, and needed, giving us a warped sense of purpose.
ENABLING STRESS: A SYSTEMIC ISSUE
Structurally, we’ve built economies and corporate environments that thrive on urgency and demand relentless productivity. Spiritually, there's a misguided belief that suffering and struggle are inherently virtuous. Physically, our bodies get hooked on the adrenaline and cortisol released during stress, mistaking these survival hormones for energy boosts. Psychologically, there’s a perpetual reinforcement loop - stress is normalized, and not being stressed is often perceived as a sign of boredom, laziness, or lack of ambition.
THE GREATER EPIDEMIC: STRESS VS. OTHER ADDICTIONS
Labeling stress as an addiction is controversial. It's an uncomfortable revelation, as acknowledging it would mean challenging the foundations of modern societal and economic structures. Like other addictions, stress addiction doesn’t just affect the individual; it has a domino effect on organizations, families, and society at large.
DENIAL: THE FIRST HURDLE
For many, denial is the first response. "I'm not stressed; I'm just busy." “I have a lot on my plate, and I have to get things done.” “Everyone is stressed; what are you going to do?” These are common refrains. Let’s look closer: how can you recognize stress? It's the chronic overachiever brushing off health issues, the leadership that glorifies long hours, or the women who feel guilty about resting and continue to juggle multiple roles, believing this is the only way to succeed. For many, it looks like success.
THE UNDERLYING COST
The cost of stress addiction is monumental. For individuals, it leads to burnout, health issues, and diminished quality of life. Organizations face reduced productivity, high turnover, and a toxic work culture. Families suffer from a lack of quality time and increased conflict. In my years as a pastor, I was often called to the bedside of the dying and to care for their grieving families. There were multiple causes of death, and even though I never saw a death certificate that stated the cause of death: stress, I am confident that many of the causes that were listed on death certificates have their roots in stress, and death became a symptom.
TOWARD RECOVERY: 12 STEPS FOR STRESS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS
In the spirit of creating a healthier approach to managing stress, I propose a 12-step Program inspired by the traditional format used by Alcoholics Anonymous:
Acknowledgment: Admitting powerlessness over the addiction to stress. In other words, you cannot recover in isolation.
Belief: Believing that a grounded life, free of constant stress, is possible.
Decision: Deciding to become aware of stress-inducing habits.
Inventory: Conducting a moral and personal inventory to understand stress triggers.
Admission: Admit to oneself and others the exact nature of your stress.
Readiness: Being entirely ready to remove stressors little by little from our lives.
Humility: Humbly asking for help to overcome the addiction to stress.
Reflection: List all persons you have harmed with your stressed behaviors and be willing to make amends.
Amends: Making direct amends wherever possible in word and behavior.
Continued Inventory: Continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when you fall back into stress addiction.
Spiritual Awakening: Seeking through meditation or reflection to improve your conscious contact with your inner self, striving for a more grounded life.
Service: Carrying the message of stress recovery to others and practicing these principles in all your affairs.
Addressing stress addiction requires a fundamental shift in your personal, professional, and societal values. It starts with awareness, continues with individual and collective action, and thrives on a supportive community. This Stress Awareness Month, let's challenge the status quo and begin a journey toward a more grounded, healthy way of living and working.
