好色先生TV视频

Written by UAGC Staff

Whether enjoying a drink at home after a long day, regular happy hours with co-workers, celebrations with peers, or living any lifestyle that includes substance use, understanding how they can negatively impact our communication and relationships is important if we choose to use. Being a student at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) also adds a layer, where education is an additional responsibility competing with existing priorities at work and at home. Oviatt and colleagues (2017) found that work-school conflict and chronic stress among working college students were associated with increased substance use, depressive symptoms, and poorer physical health outcomes. So, let鈥檚 spend some time considering how alcohol and drug use impacts communication patterns and relationship stability, particularly for adult online students managing multiple roles and responsibilities.

To make this more personal, consider who UAGC students are. As you may already know through your enrollment and engaging in discussions with peers, the UAGC student population is incredibly diverse. With that said, there are also some shared characteristics across the student community. Many students are over the age of 30, working professionals or transitioning careers, and who also identify as parents or caregivers. Not surprisingly, students also share navigating financial concerns, limited time, being overwhelmed with the number of roles they are expected to fill, and feeling more isolated due to remote learning and work environments. For many learners, this ongoing strain can contribute to burnout and substance use as a coping mechanism.

For anyone wondering why someone might use alcohol or drugs, there are also some common findings. According to stress and coping theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), people respond to stress through appraising the situation and which coping strategy will either manage the problem or the response. Aligned with these findings, Oviatt et al. (2017), found increased stress from balancing work and school responsibilities was also associated with higher rates of unhealthy coping behaviors, including substance use. So, it鈥檚 not a surprise that academic and work stress can lead towards using to manage the feelings resulting from stress. With classes and work being completed online and from the comfort of our current locations, use while working and studying has been increasingly adopted in some spaces as a 鈥渨ine and work鈥� or 鈥渨ine and homework鈥� culture. And for some, its personal interest, or pressures from our various settings, whether work or social. In the end, it鈥檚 often a combination of these factors and more.

Keeping in mind who UAGC students are and why someone may choose to use in general, let鈥檚 talk about how alcohol or drug use can impact romantic relationships. In romantic relationships, use can impact how we communicate, our emotional availability, and lead to different priorities between partners. Increased irritability, avoiding interactions or difficult conversations related to relationship health, and escalation of conflict while using are all signs of communication breakdown that can be created or exacerbated by use. We may also see time dedicated to access or use over engagement with partners, broken promises or missed commitments, and financial strain resulting from use. In a romantic relationship, these experiences can be devastating and have lasting consequences on our connection with a partner and shared trust.

Looking at parenting and family relationships, the potential impact of alcohol and drug use remains. In addition to impacting our connection, reliability, and overall presence with family as it can with a romantic partner, parents are models for their children and other family members. Varma et al. (2024) found that during and after the pandemic, adults managing responsibilities including parenting and caregiving reported increased stress and greater reliance on coping behaviors, including substance use. Our actions tell others what is acceptable, what is not, and also helps them understand what to expect from us. When we use substances, say to help us feel comfortable communicating our feelings or to recover from stress, we teach those around us that this is an effective and acceptable behavior. Depending on the degree of use and the substance, our ability to respond to stress and communicate in healthy ways can become impaired, leaving us less able to be a contributing member within our family relationships, and leaving others to carry even larger loads. 

When it comes to our professional relationships, whether in our academic or employment settings, navigating substance use can be tricky. As was noted at the start, happy hours and celebrations are common across these settings. So, what can the negative impact of using look like in terms of academics and employment? It might be missing deadlines, being seen as a less reliable team member, or a decline in performance at school or work. Like with our romantic and family relationships, use may also lead to less engagement or withdrawing to avoid uncomfortable interactions. For employment specifically, we may feel unspoken expectations about participation, and a sense of missing opportunities for progress if we don鈥檛 participate fully. But these events can also be a recipe for remorse. We鈥檝e all heard stories about work events where boundaries were blurred, mistakes were made, and consequences were real. From oversharing and unprofessional communication to sexual assault and criminal activity, it鈥檚 an unfortunately common occurrence where what was supposed to be a casual time with other professionals results in damaged reputations, job loss, or worse. 

As we look at the ways substance use can impact communication and our relationships, we鈥檙e talking about a cycle. Stress contributes to use, use impacts our communication, communication breakdowns result in increased stress, and so on. But this isn鈥檛 the only option. And this is not an article arguing for abstinence. As we work towards balance and avoiding negative consequences if choosing to use, let鈥檚 make sure we鈥檝e considered the potentials and packed our toolbox with every item we might need, including healthy alternatives to using alcohol or drugs. 

If choosing to use, consider your why, and take time to understand how it impacts you. Set limits, stick to them, and check in with yourself if those limits are hard to keep. Have strategies planned to prevent use from exceeding your limit, seek support from others in settings that can be difficult to navigate without using, and hold yourself accountable. 

To manage stress stemming from a busy schedule and a lengthy to do list, consider blocking time and sticking to it. Use methods like Kanban or Pomodoro to track progress and manage tasks visually. Build regular habits with exercise, whatever this looks like for you, to reap the rewards both mentally and physically. For those of us who tend to worry the most, use mindfulness, breathing exercises, and practice grounding to remain in the moment and work with rather than against those intrusive thoughts. And of course, access mental health resources such as warm lines or licensed counselors for immediate and ongoing support. 

When it comes to communication, whether at work or at home, work on being clear with needs, taking time to consider other鈥檚 experience, and set meaningful boundaries. Being open and assertive can be hard for many of us, but a kind and clear no to engage in an activity that doesn鈥檛 support our wellbeing and may in fact increase our likelihood of using is a skill worth developing. Similarly, schedule check-ins with those we care about, and take time to both understand and be understood. Shatila (2024) emphasized that stronger social support and connectedness improve persistence, resilience, and overall wellbeing for adult online learners.

Equally as important as having healthy alternatives to using and building protective factors is knowing when to seek help. If work or academic performance is slipping, if partners, friends, and family are expressing concern, if we鈥檙e experiencing financial, employment, or legal consequences, or when we notice the need to use, and to use more to achieve the desired outcome, it may be time. And support is available! Connect with a UAGC Student Advocate to process what you鈥檙e feeling and explore treatment options. Utilize Employee Assistance Program resources through your employment. Or reach out to a hotline as a first step. Support is there and ready to meet you where you鈥檙e at.

It's probably obvious by now, but there is a clear connection between our work, school, and our relationships as online students. Substance use, while appealing at times, is often a compounding factor for stress and other challenges rather than the relief we hope for. Taking care of ourselves requires honesty, communication, boundaries, and support. Take your health and wellbeing seriously and know that no matter what your level of use is, you are a part of the UAGC community and there are people ready to support your success.