Struggling with anxiety disorders can lead to a drug abuse problem. Many people don’t get a diagnosis for anxiety. They believe that they don’t fit in with others but wish that they could. Due to the constant strain, the step to self-medicating behaviors is small.
What Do Anxiety Disorders Feel Like?
Steps to Recovery therapists frequently work with people who don’t realize that they struggle with anxiety. What makes it challenging to recognize anxiety disorders is the wealth of symptoms. Case in point is an obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is a form of anxiety. You engage in repetitive activities.
People might drive to work only to turn around to ensure that they turned off the stove. This happens to everyone every so often. However, when you do so frequently, you might be struggling with the condition. These types of thoughts pop into your head repeatedly.
Social anxiety makes you feel uncomfortable around others. Therefore, you try to avoid crowds, public speaking, and most social situations. You shop at night, sit in the back of a public venue, or avoid going out altogether. Because the condition overwhelms you, it’s difficult to function at a job.
Post-traumatic stress is one of the anxiety disorders that’s becoming more common. You experienced trauma but haven’t resolved the situation. Unwelcome thoughts, memories, and feelings crop up intermittently.
Without Treatment, You May Fall Victim to Substance Abuse
Ideally, you seek out anxiety treatment, receive a diagnosis, and undergo clinical care. However, this doesn’t happen very often. You believe that something’s wrong with you, and there’s no fixing it. But the thoughts, feelings, fears, and general discomfort make it difficult to function.
At this juncture, many people reach for a drug or alcohol. At Steps to Recovery, we refer to this as medicating yourself. Nervous system depressants help you to shut off an overactive mind. You numb yourself.
For a few hours, the anxiety disorders and their symptoms don’t get through to you. You can sleep and might zone out in front of the TV. You like this rest from the condition. This feeling reinforces drug abuse.
How Rehab with Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder Treatment Works for You
The dual diagnosis of drug abuse and anxiety calls for a different approach to recovery. People who don’t struggle with the mental health challenge will do well with standard addiction care. In contrast, you need a more specialized approach. At Steps to Recovery, program participants undergo treatments such as:
- Dialectical behavior therapy, which assists with the ability to regulate emotional responses in stressful situations
- Cognitive behavioral treatment for the recognition of negative patterns that you want to overcome
- Family counseling that helps loved ones and friends to understand what you’re struggling with
- Group therapy sessions that emphasize coping skills development for interpersonal interactions
- Relapse prevention training as a means of fortifying yourself against the temptation to use again when you feel stress
Customization of your care is the primary concern during intake. An advisor works with you to discover your needs. Because so many people don’t have a formal anxiety diagnosis, it’s vital to factor in the possibility of treatment. Experts typically conduct an extensive assessment. Therefore, you receive the type of care that you need right from the start.
Don’t Put Off Getting the Help You Need
If you don’t do anything, your anxiety disorders worsen and continue to contribute to substance abuse. This isn’t something that you can overcome by sheer willpower alone. The Pennsylvania addiction recovery services that Steps to Recovery provide offer you a chance at recovery. Call 267.719.8528 today to talk with a specialist.