It’s no secret that women lead stressful lives. Issues with work, responsibilities, relationships, and so many other areas lead to stress.

There are also external pressures. The Internet and social media can be useful tools. But they can also be sources of negativity. People frequently insult each other on different sites. Other people compare themselves to the images on social media and judge themselves negatively. The simple act of surfing the Internet can add its own stress to women’s lives.

To cope with all these sources of stress, some women turn to alcohol and drugs. Of course, adding alcohol and drugs to the mix usually increases, not decreases, their stress.

Along with dealing with their growing addictions, women still feel the need to meet their obligations—the responsibilities they handle on a day-to-basis. They also often feel the need to fulfill what society expects of them.

Because of these expectations, many women struggle in silence with their addictions. They don’t want to disappoint others, even though they are hurting themselves most of all.

Ending the silence is a good first step to address such expectations and addiction. Here’s where the Internet can help again. A casual search on the Internet can help women find other women who have defied expectations—and lived to talk about it.

Women can also find treatment on the Internet. There are even rehab centers and treatment centers that just relate to women. Such help allows women to address particular sources of stress and develop ways to handle them.

If we talk about a problem, we expose it. It can help us connect with others. After all, life can be hard enough. We shouldn’t have to face it alone.