Lets Talk About StressLets Talk About Stress
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu and Marissa talk about how stress fuels relapse, how cortisol affects the body and mind, and how chronic stress can stem from family, work and daily pressures. They share personal stories and offer practical tools like exercise, better sleep, diet changes and communication to help manage stress in recovery.
47:32•10 Feb 2020
Lets Talk About Stress: Why It Fuels Relapse and How to Break the Cycle
Episode Overview
- Stress is described as a leading cause of relapse, and the body reacts similarly to both positive and negative stress.
- Chronic cortisol release can contribute to anxiety, depression, gut issues, heart problems, sleep disturbance, weight changes and frequent illness.
- Identifying stressors, making lifestyle changes (exercise, diet, sleep, relaxation) and reducing negative thinking are presented as key steps.
- Communication, humour, social support and a healthy “tribe” are highlighted as essential for managing stress and protecting sobriety.
- Self-worth and setting boundaries, including leaving unhealthy work or relationships, are framed as crucial to lowering stress and staying in recovery.
“Stress is a big component to relapse… your body can't tell the difference between positive stress or negative stress. At the end of the day, stress is stress, right?”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This conversation on Addict II Athlete zeroes in on one of the biggest ones: stress.
Coach Blu Robinson and Athletic Director Marissa Robinson break down why stress doesn’t just feel awful – it can be “the number one cause of relapse” – and why your body “can’t tell the difference between positive stress or negative stress.” You’ll hear how stress runs like a golden thread through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and how long-term cortisol overload can show up as stomach issues, heart problems, sleep troubles, weight gain, low mood and constant illness.
Blu shares personal stories from a chaotic childhood and from recent work stress that left him suddenly gaining weight, snapping at family and realising, “I’m worth more than that.” Marissa adds practical context, linking high cortisol to anxiety, depression and gut problems, and pointing out how everyday stress can quietly become chronic. The pair keep things real and surprisingly light, swapping stories about jobs gone wrong, broken pipes, and the classic “boiling frog” problem of stress creeping up slowly.
They also talk about Dr Robert Sapolsky’s baboon research to show how toxic hierarchies pass stress down the ladder – and how a kinder “tribe” can literally change stress levels over generations. For anyone in recovery – or supporting someone who is – this conversation spells out simple, realistic tools: exercise (even just a walk), sleep hygiene, better food choices, breathing and meditation, laughter, planning, identifying stressors and, above all, talking.
Communication, support and self‑respect come through as essential parts of staying sober in a stressful world. If stress has been nudging you toward old habits, could it be time to change your environment, build your team, and ask what you’re truly worth?
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