Anxiety and addiction have a circular relationship that can be hard to separate. You may develop anxiety from using drugs and alcohol, or you may self-medicate your anxiety with drugs and alcohol. It can be hard to tell which came first – the anxiety or the addiction. Even the researchers don’t know.
While research has shown a strong connection between anxiety and addiction, it doesn’t indicate whether the anxiety or the addiction is first. In the end, the key is to face up and get treatment for both. At Laguna View Detox, we understand the relationship between anxiety and addiction. We are here to help you discover how anxiety and addiction are impacting your life.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety may be the feeling of dread you have when you are about to walk into a job interview or the uneasiness you feel when facing a conflict with a loved one. Sometimes you can feel anxious without genuinely knowing the reason why. Anxiety can even be good in some cases. For example, the anxiety you experience before a big project or event might help you stay motivated to do the work. Whatever the cause, anxiety shows up as emotions and even as physical symptoms. You may feel fear, dread, and uneasiness. You may also feel restless, tense, begin sweating, feel like your heart is racing, and more. While everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives, there is a difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders. With anxiety disorders, the anxiety doesn’t go away.
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), panic disorders, and phobias. Those experiencing a generalized anxiety disorder will often have worries about day-to-day life that become excessive and may occur as often as daily. Those with panic disorders will experience sudden panic attacks, repeated periods of intense fear when there is no danger. Finally, those with phobias have an intense fear of someone or something that likely doesn’t pose a threat to them. Some common phobias include spiders, a fear of heights, a fear of small spaces, and social settings. Whatever the anxiety disorder is, it is essential to note that a mental health professional can assist you with working your way through the anxiety in various ways.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a painful and tragic disease. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a treatable, chronic medical disease that involves interactions among the brain, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. Those who suffer from addiction will use substances or engage in behaviors in a compulsive way to the exclusion of many, if not all, other aspects of their lives.
Addiction results in individuals continuing to use drugs and alcohol regardless of the increasingly negative consequences. A disease of mind, body, and spirit, addiction results in a state of isolation. Many who suffer from addiction have anxiety or other mental health disorders that have led to or increased their substance use. Breaking free from addiction is a challenging yet worthy endeavor. By seeking treatment for your addiction, you may discover that you have an existing anxiety or other mental health disorder. In treating your anxiety, you may find it easier to build a life in recovery.
How Laguna View Detox Can Help With Anxiety and Addiction
At Laguna View Detox, you will get round-the-clock care for your addiction and anxiety. We are one of the leading private drug rehab centers in Orange County. We provide luxurious, inpatient rehab treatment in one of the most beautiful areas in California. Our staff includes some of the best in the industry, and we’ll create a holistic treatment plan tailored to you. We understand the interplay between mental health and addiction and are here to help/ We will care for you while you safely detox and then guide you through inpatient treatment and aftercare. So contact us today and let us help you break free from addiction!