"Stress is not simply a source of discomfort. It is also a signal meant to help you adapt, shift gears, and choose a different course when life changes."
"Alcohol can interfere with that process, not only in the moment but over time, in ways that affect relapse and long‑term recovery."
"The brain has two small regions, the central amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, together called the extended amygdala, which act as the brain's early warning system."
Stress activates brain regions that signal for flexible decision-making through a messenger called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). Alcohol dampens this stress-to-flexibility circuit, impairing the ability to adapt to stress. This interference can lead to a reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism, ultimately affecting long-term recovery and increasing the risk of relapse. The central amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are involved in this process, linking stress responses to addiction and habit control.
Read at Psychology Today
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