We all have those times in our lifetime when shit happens. Equally, as I have written in the past some aspects of life are meant to elicit a stress type response and one shouldn't always look to drug their way out. From Best Man Speeches to asking'the one' to marry you. These do not require xanax of coke.
Now I also know a bunch of fella s local to me who talk about stress. Yet they do recreational drugs and ignore the come down and it's really quite normal reaction which can feel like stress. Carry on getting high at weekends and feeling like you don't wanna leave the house on Monday... but don't call that stress,.
Then, there's patterns of behavior. If, when stressed, you follow the feeling of wanting to stay in bed and not leave the house then, guess what, that lack of fresh air, meeting people and other distractions wont help you like it can. If you drink cos of lack of access to your kids then guess what... you're gonna be that drunk guy who never sees his kids.
Now it is entirely possible to hit the gym and gain even with some stressors and anxiety in your life. Heck, I'd argue the endorphins (a feel good hormone) from hitting the gym will help. That sense of well-being and the reinforcement that will come from a new PB and looking good can only be of benefit.
Obviously it's not ideal to have these issues. I have seen that the very biggest and strongest men are, almost without exception (I can think of a handful), chilled as fu*k. Any stress they might have is used to fuel workouts. And yes, of course, levels of test are likely to be higher in naturals.
We have seen a few times on the forums that those with serious anxiety and or mental health issues have not always done well on anything except moderate doses of gear. Also gear doesn't turn those with zero issues into examples of roid rage cases but it will exaggerate issues if you DO have them. In some (typically low levels - although within normal ranges) test can be a feel good hormone.