The Connection Between Anxiety and Addiction

Occasional anxiety is normal part of life, however, if you or a loved one suffers from an anxiety disorder, you know how it can take control of and interfere with everyday life.

There are six major types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder (anxiety attacks), phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, many people turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the symptoms and end up suffering from anxiety and addiction.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Attacks?

The symptoms of anxiety can differ from person to person based on their lifestyle and the amount of stress that are enduring. However, there are many common symptoms of anxiety.

The most common symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks include:

• Nervousness
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• “Racing” heart
• Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
• Feeling sweaty or having chills
• Chest pains
• Breathing difficulties
• Feeling a loss of control

Coping With Anxiety and Addiction

People who have anxiety disorders often turn to drugs or alcohol as self-treatment to cope and soothe themselves. Substance abuse becomes a perceived escape, which can lead to addiction.

If you or a loved one have turned to drugs to deal with anxiety and are now addicted, The Raleigh House can help you. We offer a therapeutic treatment program where clients experience their emotions in a safe container while learning healthy coping skills to increase stress tolerance for improve mood regulation. The Raleigh House helps clients achieve a higher level of adaptive functioning and works to prevent substance abuse relapse.

Features of our drug treatment program include:

• Multiple levels of care – enables clients to heal at their own pace
• High staff-to-client ratio – clients receive greater care and attention
• Strong recovery community –frequent one-on-one therapy and group therapy within a strong cultural and social environment
• Structured Recreation – yoga, boxing, rock climbing, swimming and hiking
• Experiential work – expressive art therapy, trauma release therapy, and cooking lessons
• Work with medical and social detox centers – will transfer to and from if necessary
• Amino acid therapy – can regulate discomfort and cravings during and after the recovery process

Contact The Raleigh House for Anxiety and Addiction Treatment

Anxiety and addiction often co-exist, but still they can be difficult to understand if you or your loved one is dealing with them without professional help. To learn more about the different types of anxiety disorders and the importance of selecting a residential treatment center that can accommodate co-occurring conditions, visit our blog post on the topic. If you or a loved one are suffering from an anxiety and drug abuse, call The Raleigh House today at 720-891-4657 or contact us online to learn how our treatment programs can help you or someone you love get better.