Anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction to stressful situations. Unfortunately, for millions of American adults with an anxiety disorder, their reaction to it is often so paralyzing that it begins to interfere with their life. It can affect their job, relationships, and everyday responsibilities. To calm the side effects of anxiety, some turn to alcohol or drugs to find relief. However, what starts as a simple solution can quickly slip into dependency. Dependency can slip into addiction.
If you have been self-medicating an anxiety disorder, contact Vertava Health at 844.470.0410 today. Our anxiety treatment center can help you find healthier ways to cope with anxiety.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Most people experience a normal amount of anxiety during stressful events. But for those with an anxiety disorder, the feelings are much more intense. Those suffering from the effects of an anxiety disorder cannot stop the side effects from disrupting their life. Some different types of anxiety disorders include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – Nightmares or flashbacks that typically develop after a traumatic event
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder – A series of compulsive behaviors driven by unreasonable fears or obsessions
- Panic disorder –A recurring instance of overwhelming and uncontrollable panic
- Generalized anxiety disorder – A continuous and overwhelming sense of dread that won’t go away
- Social anxiety disorder –An unmanageable fear of interacting with others
Anxiety is a broad term that covers a wide variety of symptoms and conditions.
Self-Medicating an Anxiety Disorder
Those that do not seek professional help for anxiety will often turn to a substance to cope. People may try to self-medicate symptoms, such as:
- Inability to relax
- Consistent fear
- Insomnia
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Restlessness
If one drink or one pill can make the crippling side effects of anxiety disappear, they can often seem like the most simplistic and effective form of treatment. However, using substances as a means to cope with anxiety can lead to addiction.
Self-medicating anxiety rarely helps in the long run. That’s why it is important to seek professional help from an anxiety treatment center, such as Vertava Health. We can provide you with the tools needed to cope with your disorder in a healthier way.
Treating a Co-Occurring Disorder: Addiction and Anxiety
When addiction and anxiety begin working simultaneously, the two conditions will feed off each other and create a destructive cycle. But both addiction and anxiety are completely treatable. In severe cases of anxiety and addiction, a dual diagnosis treatment center can help. Here, patients will receive a unique blend of treatment options that will work together to address the root of anxiety and addiction. The most important thing to remember when treating a co-occurring disorder is that the cycle must be broken. This starts by identifying the root cause of the addiction or anxiety. Once the underlying trigger has been identified, it can be treated to break the negative behavioral patterns of substance use.
Dual diagnosis can help people self-medicating anxiety in the following ways:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – A form of therapy focused on helping people recognize and address the negative thought patterns that lead to anxiety or addiction
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – This type of therapy focuses on helping patients develop coping strategies that can be used in moments when anxiety is particularly intense
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – This type of treatment utilizes a combination of medication and therapy to help patients manage the physical symptoms of addiction
- Group therapy – Meeting with other people who are going through similar struggles can not only provide support but can also offer opportunities for insight and understanding that might not be available in individual sessions.
If you or someone you love has been self-medicating an anxiety disorder, the team at Vertava Health can help.
Find Relief for Anxiety at Vertava Health
We are dedicated to helping people break the negative cycle of addiction and find healthier ways to cope with their conditions. Contact us today at 844.470.0410 to begin your journey toward a healthy and happy life.
