Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct choice focuses on the concept of internal distress, which encompasses psychological and emotional states that arise from within an individual. This type of stressor directly affects a person's mental health and well-being, manifesting in feelings such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Internal distress is often tied to one's personal experiences, emotions, thought patterns, and can be influenced by various factors, including life events, trauma, or underlying mental health issues.

In contrast, transitional states, external factors, and social environments represent different domains that may influence a person's overall stress but do not specifically address the internal emotional landscape. Transitional states might refer to changes in life circumstances, external factors could include environmental pressures or events outside the individual’s control, and social environments pertain to the interactions with and conditions of the surrounding community or relationships. While these can certainly impact someone's mental state, they do not inherently encompass the internal emotional struggles that define internal distress.