Anxiety isn’t the same as fear. It focuses on the possible adverse outcomes of a situation, which causes mental distress. This condition can also contribute to every addiction. However, did you know that there are different types of anxiety disorders?
When an Inappropriate Fight-or-Flight Response Takes Over
Fear is an appropriate response if there’s a real threat. In this situation, your fight-or-flight response helps you survive. However, when you’re dealing with one of the different types of anxiety disorders, this response is out of control. In fact, it can lead to many unpleasant feelings and experiences.
You feel tired a lot. You may also experience gastrointestinal upset and abdominal pain. Some people suffer from recurring headaches. Your breathing and heart rates increase.
Why the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders Contribute to Substance Abuse Problems
Anxiety disorders are challenging to live with. Examples include phobias, panic attacks, social anxiety, and PTSD. These conditions have a variety of origins. What they all have in common is the discomfort they cause to the sufferer.
A person would do anything to make the distress stop. Some reach for alcohol or other drugs to numb the feelings. The substances take the edge off. It feels like they give you a bit of a break.
However, that’s a false sense of security. In reality, your body will adjust to the chemicals, build a tolerance, and cause you to use more. Before long, you develop a physical as well as psychological dependence. You’re now dealing with an addiction as well as anxiety.
Overcoming Both Conditions in Rehab
When you discuss your situation with an addiction treatment specialist, you learn that you qualify for dual diagnosis treatment. This term refers to the presence of addiction as well as a psychiatric disorder, which is the anxiety.
Therapeutic approaches your counselor might suggest include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you replace dysfunctional patterns with useful ones
- Anxiety treatment for young adults during one-on-one counseling sessions
- Group therapy that combines process focus with addiction education
- Dialectical behavior therapy, which provides you with the tools you need to regulate your emotional responses
- Family counseling that encourages loved ones to heal and become your relapse prevention support network
When you’re struggling with a co-occurring disorder, it’s a good idea to consider an Orange County residential addiction treatment center. You live at the center, where help is available around the clock. Moreover, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the therapeutic environment. You may find that your anxiety responds well to the life skills that you learn and practice there.
If you’re struggling with one of the different types of anxiety disorders as well as an addiction, there’s help. You don’t have to keep suffering and wishing that things were different. Find mental health and addiction treatment programs in California today.