It is not realistic to think that all stress can be removed from anyone's life. And it's important to understand that not all stress is bad. To much stress though, causes distress, and in the past may have been one of the reasons to drink or use drugs. To much stress may also affect our psychiatric illness in negative ways, so part of being in dual recovery is learning healthy ways to manage stress. It pays to identify the way stress manifests itself in your life, the things in your life that cause stress, and constructive ways to release stress and relax.
Many people spend a lot of energy worrying about things that they have no control over.
Sometimes they expect results faster then is realistic or demand to much from themselves or others. The slogans and The Serenity Prayer can help us sort out what is really important, what is practical, and what is realistic. Once we gain perspective on all the things that are bothering us, we often find we can simply discard part of our load of stress and worry. Many individuals in dual recovery practice various relaxation techniques on a regular basis. One common way to reduce stress is to simply sit, breath gently but deeply, and not think, for five minutes.