Co-occurring conditions are inherently intertwined. When anxiety and addiction coincide, they can influence each other in a way that makes it hard to treat just one or the other. Comprehensive treatment that addresses both substance abuse and mental health is crucial to lasting success.
At Del Arroyo Recovery Center in Southern California, we offer holistic dual diagnosis treatment to heal the entire person. Whether they’ve been self-medicating for mental illness or addiction to drugs has made their symptoms of anxiety worse, both issues have to be addressed for the best physical and mental health.
How Anxiety Disorders and Addiction Interact
Anxiety is an umbrella that covers various types of anxiety disorders, such as:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Various phobias
While everyone has some degree of stress and anxiety in their lives, anxiety disorders involve significant, persistent distress and anxious feelings that negatively affect their daily life.
Anxiety can manifest as:
- Racing or scattered thoughts
- Intense, illogical fear
- Constant worrying
- Social avoidance and isolation
- Physical symptoms (tremors, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate)
- Hair-trigger emotions
Substance use disorders involve a physical and mental dependence on drugs or alcohol. On its own, a substance abuse disorder can be a dangerous and debilitating disease. When combined with anxiety disorders, the cycle of addiction can be even harder to escape.
Examples of how anxiety and substance abuse may interact include:
- Drinking to relieve anxious feelings, eventually leading to an alcohol use disorder
- Anxiety can intensify distress, making drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms feel worse
- Negative substance effects may trigger anxiety disorder symptoms (higher risk factors for paranoia)
- A person previously unknown to have mental illness may develop a substance-induced anxiety disorder
- Combining medication for anxiety and alcohol can negate the medication’s effects or even pose risks
The Effects of Addiction with a Co-Occurring Disorder Impact Everyone
A person’s combined addiction and psychiatric disorder can also affect the people around them. In the case of anxiety, a mix of drug-seeking behavior, social isolation, high emotional sensitivity, and constant stress can damage relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and employers. It can be extremely painful for loved ones to watch multiple disorders wreak havoc.
Our Approach to Treatment for Anxiety and Addiction
At Del Arroyo Recovery Center, we take a comprehensive approach to rehab and anxiety treatment. We start with a full assessment of a person’s substance use patterns, their mental health, and the severity of their conditions. If there is a co-occurring disorder like anxiety, we craft a tailored dual diagnosis plan to address it.
What to Expect from Dual Diagnosis Treatment
At our Los Angeles-area facility, we use a variety of methods and therapies to treat mental illness and addiction, including:
- Individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Group counseling
- Development of healthy skills and coping strategies
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Peer support
- Relapse prevention education
- Family involvement and support
Medical Dual Diagnosis Anxiety Treatment
In addition to various talk therapy and coaching methods, we also address the physiological sides of addiction and anxiety.
This includes:
- Medication-assisted anxiety treatment (and safe detox)
- Prescription and management of appropriate anxiety medications
- Mindfulness and meditation techniques (calming the central nervous system)
- Regular exercise
- Proper nutrition
- Practicing healthy lifestyle habits
After Addiction and Anxiety Treatment
Treatment is just the beginning of the journey. We help individuals prepare for life after dual diagnosis rehab by identifying triggers and making contingency plans for avoiding high-risk situations. Del Arroyo alumni enjoy ongoing support and resources for sobriety and anxiety management.
Find Freedom With Addiction and Anxiety Treatment in Agoura Hills, CA
If you’re addicted and suffering from anxiety, whether it’s generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or another mental health disorder, our Agoura Hills anxiety counseling and rehab center can help. Our compassionate addiction specialists will walk you through every step so that you can heal your entire self and start living life in joy instead of fear.
Reach out to us today to learn more about dual diagnosis treatment at our relaxing facility near the Los Angeles coast.
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