Stress Management Therapy: Uses in Addiction and PTSD Treatment
People who are struggling with stress sometimes turn to substance use as a way of coping, which can backfire by worsening mental health symptoms, increasing the risk of substance use disorders, and contributing to relapse.1
Learning how to manage stress and develop healthier coping skills with effective stress therapy is an important part of treatment for co-occurring addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What is Stress Management Therapy?
Stress management therapy may refer to any form of therapy used to help people manage stress so that they can better function and handle their daily lives effectively.2,3
Engaging in stress therapy can have a preventative effect, mitigate stress for those who are currently dealing with excessive amounts of stress, and benefit those coping with PTSD and co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs).3,4
Addiction treatment for co-occurring PTSD and SUD also often includes stress management therapy as a way of mitigating the distressing symptoms of PTSD with healthy coping strategies instead of substance use.3,5,6
Types of Therapies That Focus on Stress Management
Addiction and post-traumatic stress treatment may involve various types of therapies designed to target stress, which can include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people identify and change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that can contribute to their symptoms.3,7 Trauma-focused CBT may involve imaginal exposure to the traumatic event as a way of helping people reprocess their experience and develop feelings of safety.7
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which involves helping people with PTSD, addiction, or co-occurring disorders cultivate mindful awareness of the present moment and observe and reduce their reactions to stress by implementing techniques such as meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness.8
- Solution-focused therapy, which focuses on improving relationships and social and living conditions as a means to decrease substance use and other symptoms.9
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a form of CBT designed to increase psychological flexibility through various “cognitive defusion techniques.”6,8
- Prolonged exposure (PE), which helps patients gradually approach their traumatic experiences so they can eventually integrate them and view them as not dangerous.5,6
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), which can help patients process and integrate traumatic experiences, thereby lessening their intensity and helping them better cope with severe distress and the symptoms of PTSD.5,6
- Inquiry-based stress reduction, which involves questioning whether the stressful cognitions that lead to suffering are factual. This helps patients adopt a less judgmental outlook and regulate their stress levels.8
Common Signs of Stress
Signs of stress aren’t always obvious to someone experiencing it or to those around them. However, there are various physical, mental, emotional, and other symptoms that people may observe in themselves or a loved one that could suggest they are facing difficulties, such as:2,10
- Problems with concentration.
- Irritability.
- Headaches or bodily aches and pains.
- Loss of appetite.
- Sleep difficulties.
- Worsened symptoms of mental health conditions.
- Poor functioning at work or school.
- Increased substance use.
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships.3
- Excessive worry.
- Tension.
- High blood pressure.
If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing excessive stress or trauma, or think you may be at risk of relapse, please call our free, confidential helpline at any time of day or night. Our knowledgeable Veterans specialists at American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help you understand effective treatment options that are right for your needs.
The Importance of Stress Management in Addiction & PTSD Treatment
Effectively managing stress is a crucial aspect of any successful treatment plan for addiction and PTSD. Stress can serve as a trigger for substance use, and when left unmanaged, it can significantly contribute to relapse and the progression of addiction.11,12
Symptoms of PTSD, like intrusive thoughts and memories, flashbacks, and nightmares, can lead some people to turn to substance use as a means of coping, which increases their risk of developing an addiction and the severity of their substance use disorder.12
Research also indicates that both trauma and substance use can negatively alter brain functioning in a variety of similar ways.
Traumatic and chronic stress can heighten cravings for substances, affect one’s motivation and learning capabilities, and reduce one’s ability to control impulses. Addiction can exacerbate stress symptoms while affecting many of the same processes as severe and chronic stress. This is why researchers believe stress increases vulnerability to relapse, and one of the reasons why addressing stress is essential for effective treatment and recovery. 12
A comprehensive treatment plan for PTSD and co-occurring addiction that teaches stress management and coping strategies can help people navigate their way through their conditions so they can recover and regain a sense of control over their lives.12 Integrated treatment provides a thorough, individualized approach to treating both disorders simultaneously.12
Does The VA Cover Stress Management Therapy?
The VA’s healthcare plan covers treatment for mental health conditions like PTSD and addiction. Coverage for certain treatments or therapies may depend on the priority group you are assigned to and your eligibility.14,15,16,17
If you’re a Veteran who wants to use VA coverage for mental health or addiction treatment, apply or confirm your enrollment with the VA’s healthcare program.13,14 Then, you’ll likely need to make an appointment with a primary care physician for a mental health consult before treatment will be prescribed.
Veteran Liaisons at American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help you check your VA healthcare enrollment status and make an appointment for a mental health consult.
Please call us at to connect to an admissions navigator to learn more about your specific coverage for co-occurring disorder treatment.
Our Veteran Team Can Help You Get Care
If you’re stressed and don’t know how to cope, you should know that help is available. Members of our Veteran team, many of whom are either Veterans themselves, Veteran spouses, or have otherwise worked closely with Veterans for years, can help you understand how to navigate the VA system, answer insurance- and treatment-related questions, and help you get started on the path to recovery today.
Please call us any time of day or night at —there is always hope, and we are standing by to assist you.