Every person in the world deals with stress. After all, stress can be difficult to avoid; it can come from even a slight change and cause a negative impact on you. Learning how to adapt to stress to alter the outcome takes conscious effort. Stress is not always a bad thing; it is a normal part of life. Regardless of whether stress manifests negatively or positively, how you respond to your stressful moments can make all the difference for your mindset. Dealing with stress in treatment can either serve you on your path or hinder you from your ultimate goals. Identifying how to respond accordingly through actions and reactions will help you in treatment.
Intentionally acting versus reacting is all part of the stress response. How you interpret the experience can either relax you or lead to further stress. Some people react off of impulse without considering the option of responding intentionally. This impulse essentially acts along the lines of your brain working in fight or flight mode. Your brain has a trigger for stress response that is attached to your nervous system. This trigger in your body can either panic you or relax you.
For example, a primitive man requires a stress response when face-to-face with an aggressive wolf. The man can either choose to gather the energy to fight the wolf or run away. How the primitive man decides to respond determines how he interprets and influences the experience. Now, say the primitive man responds with fear and runs away. This is an impulsive reaction where his fear overtook other rational thoughts. On the other hand, if the primitive man responds by facing the wolf and fighting it, he is choosing to intentionally act instead of impulsively reacting.
The power between acting intentionally and reacting is influential in your life. Many people let their reactions have more power rather than choosing to intentionally act according to each situation. Reaction is an instinctive part of your nature based on your emotions.
In the example of the primitive man who reacted by running away, he let his emotions have more power than his rational analysis of the situation. However, if the primitive man fought the wolf, he addresses the situation proactively. He faces his fear instead of letting his emotions run the situation. He acted intentionally.
Now, in today’s society, there are customs put into place to keep you from fighting and running away. However, there are coping mechanisms to help train you to react with intentional actions as opposed to impulsive reactions. Learning how to choose between the two allows you to put the control back into your own hands, helping you handle each situation more efficiently.
Since impulsive reactions are usually based on emotion, in most cases, they can’t solve everything. Learning how to break the habit of following impulsive reactions provides you with a stronger sense of control. You can step back and consider alternative outcomes. This goes far in the recovery process because you learn to slow down your mind and react with intention.
Essentially, you learn to counteract impulsive behavior with constructive behavior. As you go through the recovery process, you will find challenges of stress all around you. You are going to be tested on various levels, and you’re going to have to choose between impulsively reacting or intentionally acting. Your decisions make all the difference. They set the ground rules for your recovery. Impulsive reactions can happen within mere seconds, usually with no conscious thought or deliberation for the outcome of the situation.
Impulsive reactions are expected; they are in our human nature. However, if you choose to substitute your impulsive reactions with intentional actions, your outcomes are likely to change.
Since everything in life revolves around responses, training yourself to respond with a shift in perspective can de-escalate stressful situations. You can achieve higher success by choosing to influence the situation with your responses. Recovery helps you gain insights into yourself and your brain.
During the recovery process, you learn more about yourself, your situations, and your responses. You can take control of your life by focusing on your actions and eliminating impulsive reactions. You may find you are more prepared for unexpected life events. Life is tough to control, but acting with intention can help you manage it a little better.
In recovery, many people struggle with recognizing the potential damages of impulsive reactions. At NorthStar Transitions, we teach and train you how to take the best course of action with reason, cooperation, and compassion to best respond to each situation. We understand that there is a choice of response in every situation that presents itself. While you are teaching yourself to be mindful, observe how you react and respond to different situations. We want you to be prepared for potential triggers. The recovery process is a lifelong journey, and by using the right stress-reducing skills, you can achieve greatness. Our professionals teach you how to be mindfully present. You can assess the limits between the triggers and the boundaries, gaining more control of your recovery. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction and needs more information on how to recognize response reactions, reach out to us or call us at (303) 558-6400.
