Anxiety is a term that encompasses a wide array of conditions and symptoms. Affecting millions of people around the world, it is both a cause and result of addiction. But how exactly do anxiety and addiction go together, and how can Georgia Addiction Treatment Center help you?
What Is Anxiety?
Most people understand the concept of anxiety. But the extent of its implications in everyday life surprises many people. How anxiety and addiction are connected is complex. But of course, recovery from dual diagnosis is possible.
But for that to happen, it’s crucial to understand the full scope of what anxiety means when it comes to substance abuse. For the most part, you probably understand anxiety as feeling worried or fearful without apparent reasons why.
As a medical diagnosis, anxiety is an umbrella term that encompasses various mental health conditions. These different disorders cause the sufferers to worry or stress excessively. However, that isn’t the key takeaway of anxiety.
Instead, it’s the fact that anxiety disorders have debilitating symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms can get to the point that daily life is affected. What’s worse is the person suffering from anxiety feels powerless. They are unable to control or prevent the symptoms from taking hold.
The signs of anxiety differ based on various factors. However, general symptoms include:
- Feeling on edge, nervous or irritable
- Increased heart rate or tachycardia
- Having a sense of fear or panic
- Feeling tired or weak
- Difficulties in sleeping
- Poor concentration
- Trembling or rapid breathing
It is typical for people to experience anxiousness, but if it hinders one’s ability to function effectively throughout their day, they may be struggling with an anxiety disorder. Having an anxiety disorder disrupts a significant part of your life, including your social, familial, professional, and academic obligations.
Types of Anxiety
Anxiety comes in many forms. The most common is generalized anxiety disorder, but there are other types. Knowing them helps in finding the right approach to treatment. Among the most common types of anxiety disorders are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- Specific phobias, such as claustrophobia or acrophobia
Addiction Derives from Anxiety
How does anxiety cause addiction? For one, alcohol or drugs serve as an escape for when a person is struggling with anxiety.
People with anxiety disorder tend to self-medicate, using substances to mitigate the symptoms. Other times, you can chalk it up to impulsivity. If anxiety is part of an individual’s personality, they may be prone to doing things spontaneously, such as using substances.
Here’s the thing – if your addiction is due to anxiety, it presents a unique challenge in terms of treatment. You don’t just need to remove the toxins from your body. You also need to face your anxiety. Otherwise, you will likely end up relapsing.
Treat Anxiety and Addiction Together at Georgia Addiction Treatment Center
It’s meaningless to undergo a substance addiction treatment if you don’t treat anxiety as well. If this underlying cause remains, the reason behind addiction stays as well. It means you still have the motivations that drove you to misuse drugs or alcohol. Thus, it is likely to happen again.
Of course, it’s not an easy task to treat anxiety and addiction. Treating dual diagnosis disorders can be tough. Your addiction behaviors cause neurobiological changes that need careful treatment.
In terms of treating both addiction and anxiety, the best rehab centers have carefully crafted plans to deal with both issues. Among the various treatments and approaches that they employ are cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, individual and family therapy, and others.
Do you want to know more about anxiety and addiction? What treatments are available for dual diagnosis? You can find out more by calling the Georgia Addiction Treatment Center at [Direct] today to schedule your appointment!
