Anxiety Disorders & Addiction
Although you may think of anxiety as being just one simple (and distressing) feeling, in reality it is very complex.
“Anxiety disorders” is an umbrella name that covers several specific
problems. Each different kind of anxiety disorder has particular
symptoms, and when coupled with substance or alcohol addiction makes
improvement difficult without special dual diagnoses treatment.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
- Panic Disorder (PD) - a condition of experiencing frequent sensations of
fear and apprehension, along with physiological symptoms such as
shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness
- Obsessive Disorder - a condition when a thought stays in your mind most
of the time, and feels impossible to stop thinking about or controlling
- Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - a condition of avoiding social
situations because you feel fearful or uncomfortable, and this
avoidance affects your daily activities and relationships
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - a condition where you are anxious, nervous or worried for months at a time
- Specific Phobias - a condition where you have a strong fear of a specific
object or situation, even though you know your fear seems out of
proportion to reality
Anxiety disorders are often co-occurring (present at the same time)
with addictions. Treating just one side of the problem leads to
frustration and failure. If you attend drug rehab or get your drinking
under control, but don’t get treatment for underlying anxiety, you may
soon find yourself tempted back into addictive behaviors.
This is where we can help provide the singular and specialized treatment that you need.
Dual Diagnosis treatment for your addiction, and other underlying
anxiety problems, is crucial in rehabilitation and recovery. We want to
help you get back on the road to a satisfying and healthy lifestyle.
Family members of dual diagnosis patients may also be experiencing
anxiety. Desperately wanting to help your family or significant other
gain control over their addiction, and co-occurring problems can be
stressful.
We can help you, too, as we assist your loved one.
Contact us. Let’s find the unique solution for the unique person that you are.
Common Disorders Co-occurring with Addiction
Other Resources on Co-occurring & Dual Diagnosed Disorders