4 Ways a Dual Diagnosis Program Can Help You Overcome Anxiety and Addiction
Anxiety disorders make up some of the most common mental health conditions. More people struggle with anxiety disorders than any other type of mental illness. In fact, more than 19% of U.S. adults experience some form of anxiety on a regular basis.[1]
Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) can significantly impair your ability to function in day-to-day life. Your symptoms may be so bothersome that you turn to drugs or alcohol to cope.
Nearly 20% of Americans who struggle with anxiety also have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. At the same time, nearly 20% of people who struggle with substance abuse also struggle with anxiety.[2]
While these two conditions often exist at the same time, they can be treated at the same time, too. A dual diagnosis treatment program can provide integrated therapies that help you overcome anxiety and addiction simultaneously.
Here are four ways a dual diagnosis rehab center can help.
1. Addiction Treatment Shows You You’re Not Alone
Anxiety can come from a variety of different sources. However, when you struggle with addiction, your anxiety is made worse because you are worried about hiding your addiction from others, making enough money to sustain your drug habit, balancing your responsibilities with your addiction, and a host of other chaotic problems that stem from your addiction.
Dealing with this chaos can make you feel very lonely. It can make you feel as though there is no hope for a better future. Feelings like these can make your anxiety even worse.
Whether you have a generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder, a dual diagnosis treatment center can show you that you are not alone.
During rehab, you will participate in various small group therapy sessions where you will connect with other like-minded individuals. You will meet people who understand what you are going through. You will also get introduced to people that have been able to stay sober.
This companionship can help restore your sense of hope and reduce any anxieties you may have about your current condition.
2. Dual Diagnosis Treatment Addresses Both Anxiety and Addiction Simultaneously
Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders share many common characteristics. They both have similar risk factors and root causes. They can also exacerbate symptoms of one another when they exist at the same time.
The good news is that the similarities between anxiety disorders and substance use disorders make it realistic to treat both conditions simultaneously. Dual diagnosis treatment programs combine evidence-based addiction treatments with mental health counseling to help you address and treat both conditions together.
Dual diagnosis rehab teaches you how to manage your anxiety without drugs and alcohol. It also shows you how simply staying sober can greatly improve your ability to cope with anxiety in an effective way.
3. You Get to Address The Underlying Causes of Your Anxiety and Addiction
Anxiety and substance abuse have a complex relationship. However, in many cases, both conditions are caused by similar root causes. Common root causes of both anxiety and addiction include:
- History of trauma – Experiencing one or more traumatic events, particularly in childhood, can increase your risk for developing PTSD, anxiety disorders, and addiction.
- Family history – Having a parent with one or more mental health conditions can make you more susceptible to those conditions, yourself.
- Chronic stress – Overexposure to stress can increase the risk of anxiety disorders or substance abuse.
- Other co-occurring mental illnesses – Someone with depression, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or any other mental illness is more likely to experience anxiety or use drugs and alcohol to cope.
By addressing the root cause of your struggles, you can fully begin to heal. Using behavioral therapies like CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing, you can successfully overcome both anxiety and addiction.
4. Learn Healthy and Practical Coping Skills
Perhaps the most important part of overcoming a co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorder is developing healthy, practical coping skills. During treatment, a major focus will be on learning new ways to cope with symptoms of anxiety while also avoiding relapse.
Coping skills you may begin to use include:
- Talking with a support group
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Yoga or exercise
- Breathing exercises
- Grounding exercises
When you are able to cope with stressful situations, your anxiety will stop having so much power over you and your life.
Find Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Anxiety and Addiction Today
Here at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment, our programs have a success rate that is above the national average because we provide each and every patient with the individualized, dual diagnosis care they require to make a complete recovery.
Our dual diagnosis treatment program is fully equipped with the psychiatric and medical services you need to heal from your past, accept the present, and conquer the future.
If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health and addiction, the support you need is just a phone call away. Call now to speak with one of our dedicated admissions coordinators for a free, confidential assessment.
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