As a single mom and mature full-time college student, it's pretty accurate to say that on several occasions during both phases, I encountered moments of stress. I can also accurately say, from personal experience with an addiction, that there is a correlation between stress and addiction. The relationship between stress and addiction is intertwined as both factors influence each other. This is evident in the human physiological response to stress and maintenance of addiction, as well as in the changing pathways of the brain. Stressors such as work, family or school pressure can lead to an individual's ability to not cope as effectively as needed to manage stressful situations. If an individual 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 has been sought as a form of coping. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Dickinson, Lars and Oliver, “after acute stress… the habit system regains control. As a result, the response to drug-related cues increases significantly and so does the risk of relapse.” Therefore, individuals who use substances as a response to extreme stressors are more likely to use substances again to cope even with less extreme stressors. Dickenson et al (2011) also indicate that individuals who have previous difficulties in who use substances and experience stress are more susceptible to relapse. Adding a substance to the fight-or-flight response to stress seems counterintuitive, in the sense that the substance has the ability to increase the magnitude of the physiological response by creating a constant state of hyperawareness even. to less stressful events. A continuous state of hyperawareness can also consequently lead an individual to face difficulties with mental and physical health. Furthermore, depending on the substance, the individual may lose the ability to engage in the physiological response altogether. Subsequently, the individual would not be able to perceive when he or she is in danger and therefore would not be able to respond appropriately. As such, it is safe to say that stress perpetuates addiction, which in turn fuels further instances of stress. Csiernik confirms the link between stress and addiction. He writes that “addiction can be a state of dependence acquired over a long period of time by a predisposed person in an attempt to correct a chronic stressful condition in a conscious, deliberate, self-fulfilling, and selective manner.” Therefore, self-medication, for the individual who practices it, is seen and welcomed as a coping strategy. Self-medication is a physiological response to stress that affects the brain sections responsible for vital functions. For example, in college, you are more likely to experience higher rates of stress during midterm and end-of-semester exams. Therefore, a physiological response to stress can take the form of excessive sweating, memory fog, increased heart rate, and fatigue. Physiological responses can cause people to be unable to complete homework or write exams at all. The stress and pressures to succeed in post-secondary education can be overwhelming. A common occurrence for students is the need to combat physiological stressors with amphetamines such as Speed. The misconception regarding the drug, although it provides a long period of”..