It might sound strange, but over the last 10 years, more and more experts have come to the conclusion that some of the most stressed people are actually creating much of the stress for themselves because they actually thrive on it. As humans, we can become hooked on that stressed feeling without even realizing it’s happening, some stress can be good for us, but too much stress can be detrimental to our overall health.

How can we become hooked on stress? Well, when you’re stressed your body releases certain chemicals, such as adrenaline which allows you to kick your body into a more productive mode. Short term, this can be a great solution. Life will always happen and occasionally a project for work, school, family will slip to the last minute and this is your bodies way of coping. However, if you find that you’re constantly creating this feeling for yourself, this could be an issue.

Praise is another way we can become hooked on stress. When we’re constantly praised for the fact that we take on every task, even at last minute or when the odds are against us, we can find ourselves continuing to take on these type of stressful projects for the image it allows us to share with others. This constant stress however begins to take a toll on us in a variety of aspects from overall health, to less sleep, to less time with our families (which for most people, is actually a stress reliever). By tying our self-worth to completing these tasks we create a perpetual, stressful cycle.

So how do you change your stress addict ways? Break the cycle. Learn to say no when you’re already carrying stress. Start projects earlier and use time management to do it piece by piece around other important aspects of your life rather than instead of them. Make time each day to do something that relieves stress, whether that’s chatting on the phone to a loved one or friend, playing a game of squash, relaxing with your favourite television show or reading the newspaper. Find an activity that allows you to relax and recognize that the stress you’ve become hooked on, doesn’t need to control your life and your health.