13 8 The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook
Drugs and Alcohol
Like food, anything else you put in your body will affect how you feel. Alcohol and drugs
often make a person feel temporarily happy, numb, excited, or just different. Naturally, these feel-
ings can lead to repeated use of these substances, especially after the temporary feelings have worn
off. However, the excessive use of alcohol, street drugs, or abused prescription drugs can lead to
many health complications, addiction problems, legal issues, financial difficulties, and relationship
problems.
For example, alcohol is a depressant that makes you feel tired, sluggish, and sad. Many people
don’t believe this because they say alcohol makes them feel more energized and social. However,
alcohol actually makes them feel less self-conscious, so they’re more willing to do or say things that
they normally wouldn’t. But with enough alcohol in anyone’s body, he or she will start to feel sad
and tired, and the less you weigh, the quicker the alcohol will start to take effect on your body
and feelings.
The use of street drugs and certain prescription drugs can have similar effects. Certain drugs,
such as cocaine and crack, can initially make a person feel “good” or “energized.” But after the
effects of the drug wear off, the person may also start to feel depressed, anxious, or paranoid. The
same is also true of many other street drugs, such as marijuana, methamphetamines, and heroin.
Certain prescription drugs can also make you feel depressed and anxious, so be sure to check with
the medical professional who prescribed them if you’re feeling any distressing side effects.
Nicotine from tobacco products and caffeine are also considered to be drugs, although they
are legal and very prominent in our society. Nicotine is a stimulant that activates a person’s muscles,
regardless of the fact that some people say that smoking makes them feel more relaxed. In these
cases, what the person is actually experiencing is a temporary sense of relief from his or her body,
which has been craving more nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that makes people
want to smoke more cigarettes, and that craving can make a person feel very irritated until he or
she smokes again.
Caffeine is also a stimulant that is found in coffee, tea, many sodas, sports drinks, and some
painkillers. If you drink too much caffeine, you will start to feel jittery, shaky, and irritated. You
can also become addicted to caffeine, and if you don’t get enough of it in your body after you’re
addicted, you can become irritated and possibly develop headaches and other physical symptoms.
With the regular use of alcohol, street drugs, and many prescription drugs, you may crave
more of the substance just to feel the same effect it once gave you or to feel “normal.” This is
called tolerance. If you notice you are having this experience with any substance, including pre-
scribed drugs, you should speak with a medical professional. You should also speak with a medical
professional if you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse and you want to stop. Withdrawal from
alcohol and some other drugs can be potentially dangerous.
In the space below, identify what the temporary rewards might be for your behavior and
identify possible long-term costs and dangers. Then record any thoughts you have about how your
own alcohol and drug use affects how you feel, and write at least two ways you can improve your
habits in order to feel better.