Anxiety and Addiction Treatment at Crestone
Both addiction and anxiety are prevalent mental health disorders that significantly impact your overall well-being and quality of life. These conditions often co-occur, which can further complicate your life – unless both are treated simultaneously. [1]
Understanding the nature of addiction and anxiety – including their causes, symptoms, and treatment options – is crucial for addressing the challenges they present to individuals, families, and society as a whole.
- Anxiety is a natural response to stress characterized by worry, fear, or apprehension, with disorders like GAD, panic disorder, and phobias falling under its umbrella.
- Anxiety and substance use disorders (SUD) often co-occur, with individuals self-medicating anxiety symptoms using substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids.
- Substance abuse can exacerbate anxiety symptoms, disrupt brain chemistry, and increase vulnerability to anxiety disorders, leading to a complex relationship between the two.
- While drug abuse can induce temporary anxiety symptoms, it’s not always the sole cause of anxiety disorders; underlying factors such as genetics, trauma, and environmental influences also play significant roles.
- Treatments for comorbid anxiety and substance abuse include various modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies, art therapy, and yoga therapy, offering comprehensive support and healing.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress or perceived threats, characterized by feelings of worry, fear, or apprehension.[2] While occasional anxiety is a normal part of life (and can even be beneficial, helping you navigate challenging situations), excessive or persistent anxiety can significantly impair your daily functioning and overall well-being.
Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias, among others. These disorders involve excessive or irrational worry and fear that are disproportionate to the actual threat or situation.
Symptoms of anxiety can vary widely but often include physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and gastrointestinal distress, as well as psychological symptoms like racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.[4]
The causes of anxiety disorders are multifaceted and may include genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, environmental factors, and life experiences.[5] Traumatic events, chronic stress, and certain medical conditions can also contribute to the development of anxiety disorders.
How Anxiety and Addiction Can Interact
The relationship between anxiety and substance abuse is multifaceted, often characterized by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.[6] While anxiety disorders can predispose individuals to substance abuse as a form of self-medication, the misuse of drugs and alcohol can exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms and contribute to the development of new mental health challenges:[7]
Self-Medication:
People experiencing anxiety may turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with their symptoms. Substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids can temporarily alleviate feelings of worry or fear, providing a sense of relief and relaxation. However, this relief is often short-lived and can lead to a cycle of dependency and addiction.
Increased Vulnerability:
Substance abuse can increase vulnerability to anxiety disorders by disrupting brain chemistry and neural pathways involved in stress regulation and emotional processing. Chronic drug use can alter the functioning of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which play key roles in mood regulation.
Withdrawal Symptoms:
Abrupt cessation of drug use can trigger withdrawal symptoms that mimic or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. This can create a strong incentive for people to continue using drugs in order to avoid or alleviate withdrawal discomfort. For example, withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can lead to symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, tremors, and agitation, which closely resemble symptoms of anxiety.
Dual Diagnosis:
The co-occurrence of anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, known as dual diagnosis or comorbidity, is common. Those with anxiety disorders are significantly more likely to also have a substance use disorder, and vice versa. These co-occurring disorders can complicate diagnosis and addiction treatment, as both conditions may exacerbate each other and require integrated, comprehensive interventions.
Risk Factors:
Shared risk factors contribute to the overlap between anxiety and substance abuse, including genetic predispositions, early-life trauma, chronic stress, and environmental influences. Additionally, certain substances, such as stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, can induce symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks, further complicating the relationship between anxiety and drug abuse.
Dual Diagnosis Addiction
Does Drug Abuse Cause Anxiety?
Drug abuse can contribute to the development or exacerbation of anxiety symptoms, but it’s essential to recognize that causality in mental health disorders is often complex. While drug abuse can induce symptoms of anxiety, particularly during intoxication or withdrawal, it’s not always the sole cause of anxiety disorders.[8]
Certain substances, such as stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, can directly induce symptoms of anxiety, including increased heart rate, paranoia, and agitation. These effects are typically temporary and may subside once the drug’s effects wear off. However, chronic or heavy drug use can lead to persistent anxiety symptoms, as substance abuse disrupts brain chemistry and neural pathways involved in stress regulation and emotional processing.[9]
Additionally, drug abuse can exacerbate underlying anxiety disorders or trigger the onset of anxiety symptoms in individuals predisposed to these conditions. Chronic stress, trauma, and environmental factors associated with substance abuse can further contribute to anxiety symptoms, creating a complex and intertwined relationship between substance use and mental health.[10]
It’s also important to consider the two-way relationship between anxiety and drug abuse, where each can influence and reinforce the other over time. People with untreated anxiety disorders may turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of self-medication, seeking temporary relief from their symptoms. However, this coping strategy can ultimately worsen anxiety symptoms and lead to a cycle of dependency and addiction.
What Are the Treatments Available for Anxiety and Substance Abuse Issues?
If you or a loved one are grappling with the complexities of addiction and anxiety, various substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment programs and evidence-based modalities can provide you with enduring support and healing:
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety and Addiction
What are common substances abused by individuals with anxiety disorders?
People with anxiety disorders may abuse a variety of substances, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants, and cannabis. These substances are often used as a means of self-medication to alleviate anxiety symptoms temporarily.
What are some signs that substance abuse and anxiety may be co-occurring?
Signs that anxiety and substance abuse may be co-occurring include increased reliance on substances to cope with anxiety symptoms, neglect of responsibilities due to substance use, withdrawal from social activities, changes in mood or behavior, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using substances.
How does therapy address both anxiety and addiction simultaneously?
Therapy for co-occurring anxiety and addiction often involves integrated approaches that address both conditions simultaneously. Therapists may use evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and holistic interventions to help you develop coping skills, manage cravings, challenge negative thought patterns, and address underlying emotional issues contributing to both anxiety and addiction.
Can Xanax rehab help with co-occurring mental health disorders?
Family support can play a crucial role in the treatment of co-occurring anxiety and addiction by providing a supportive and understanding environment for people undergoing treatment. Families can offer encouragement, help with accountability, and participate in therapy sessions to learn how to best support their loved one’s recovery journey. Additionally, family therapy can address relationship dynamics, communication patterns, and family roles that may contribute to both anxiety and addiction issues.
Sources
[1] Smith, J. P., & Book, S. W. (2008). Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders: A Review. The Psychiatric Times, 25(10), 19–23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904966/ on June 3, 2024
[2] MedlinePlus. (2020, May 22). Anxiety. Medlineplus.gov; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html on June 3, 2024
[3] National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Anxiety Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health; National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders on June 3, 2024
[4] World Health Organization. (2023, September 27). Anxiety Disorders. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anxiety-disorders on June 3, 2024
[5] Mayo Clinic. (2018, May 4). Anxiety disorders. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961 on June 3, 2024
[6] Brady, K. T., Haynes, L. F., Hartwell, K. J., & Killeen, T. K. (2013). Substance Use Disorders and Anxiety: A Treatment Challenge for Social Workers. Social Work in Public Health, 28(3-4), 407–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2013.774675 on June 3, 2024
[7] National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, March). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health on June 3, 2024
[8] Back, S. E., & Brady, K. T. (2008). Anxiety Disorders with Comorbid Substance Use Disorders: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations. Psychiatric annals, 38(11), 724–729. https://doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20081101-01
[9] NIDA. (2020). Drugs and the Brain. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain on June 3, 2024
[10] Sinha, R. (2008). Chronic Stress, Drug Use, and Vulnerability to Addiction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1141(1), 105–130. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1441.030 on June 3, 2024
