As a single mother and full-time adult college student, it is absolutely accurate to say that many times during each stage, I encountered moments of stress. I can also accurately say from my personal experience with addiction that there is a correlation between stress and addiction. The relationship between stress and addiction is closely linked in that the two factors influence each other. This is evident with respect to the physiological response to human stress and the maintenance of addiction as well as in changing pathways in the brain. Stressors such as pressure from work, family, or school can prevent an individual from coping as effectively as necessary to handle stressful situations. If a person is unable to adequately cope with daily stress, they are more likely to use substances in an attempt to mask the feelings associated with stress. This is especially true if, previously, substance use was sought as a form of coping. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay According to Dickinson, Lars, and Oliver, “After acute stress…the habit system regains control. As a result, reactivity to drug-related cues increases significantly, as does the risk of relapse. Therefore, people who use substances in response to extreme stressors are more likely to use substances again to cope with less extreme stressors. Dickenson et al (2011) also indicate that people who have had previous difficulties with substance use and who experience stress are more likely to relapse. Adding a substance to the fight or flight response to stress seems counterintuitive in that the substance has the ability to increase the magnitude of the physiological response, creating a constant state of hyperconsciousness even when of a less stressful event. An ongoing state of hyperawareness can also lead an individual to face mental and physical health difficulties. Additionally, depending on the substance, the individual may completely lose the ability to participate in the physiological response. Therefore, the individual would be unable to sense when they are in danger and would therefore be unable to react appropriately. As such, it is safe to say that stress perpetuates addiction, which in turn fuels other instances of stress. Csiernik confirms the link between stress and addiction. He writes: “Addiction may be a state of dependence acquired over a prolonged period by a predisposed person with the aim of correcting a chronic state of stress in a conscious, deliberate, satisfying and selective manner.” Therefore, self-medication, for the individual engaging in it, is considered and received as a coping strategy. Self-medication, a physiological response to stress, affects the sections of the brain responsible for vital functions. For example, in college, higher rates of stress are more likely to occur during midterms and end-of-semester exams. So, a physiological response to stress can take the form of excessive sweating, memory fog, increased heart rate, and fatigue. Physiological responses can prevent individuals from completing homework or taking exams. The stress and pressures of completing post-secondary education can be overwhelming. A common phenomenon among students is the need to combat stressors.