Which lifestyle guideline supports resilience by avoiding harmful substances?

• A. Use alcohol or drugs to cope with stress
• B. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and drugs
• C. Rely on illegal substances
• D. Complete avoidance of all leisure activities

Answer: (B)

Healthy coping strategies that build resilience focus on protecting your mental and physical functioning. Using alcohol or drugs to handle stress gives only temporary relief and tends to worsen sleep, mood, and judgment, which makes it harder to recover from stress over time. By avoiding excessive use of alcohol and drugs, you preserve clarity, energy, and the ability to engage in helpful activities like seeking support, exercising, getting enough sleep, and maintaining social connections. In high-stress healthcare settings, keeping these substances in check supports sustained performance and well-being. So the guideline that best supports resilience is avoiding excessive use of alcohol and drugs.