Facing the Root Causes of Addiction: Anxiety

Categories: Articles
Anxiety and Addiction

By Cristina Utti MA,MFA

Anxiety is part of human nature. Thousands of years ago, the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism was a means of survival. Humans faced real threats of attack every day, and those who could respond the quickest were more likely to survive. The chemicals in the brain change when a dangerous situation is detected. These signals then manifest physically, causing the heart to race, pupils to dilate, and muscles to tense. Fear, anxiety, and emotional discomfort are normal feelings that every human being experiences. Sometimes, these feelings can be overwhelming. It is when fearfulness or anxiety limit the ability to function in daily life that there may be an underlying anxiety disorder.

Below is a list of common physical symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Sweating
  • Stomach problems
  • Insomnia
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness or feeling light-headed
  • Flashbacks
  • Muscle aches
  • Heart palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Feelings of doom or hopelessness

According to The National Institute on Mental Health, about 31% of adults in the United States experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Many individuals who suffer from anxiety disorders may experience some or all of these symptoms for extended periods of time and use substances to self-medicate. Initially, it may feel as though the substance is working, as the symptoms are temporarily decreased. But using substances to ease discomfort only masks the problem for a short period of time; once the substance wears off, the individual is left feeling even worse. Anxiety and addiction go hand in hand, each feeding off of the other, leading to a vicious cycle.

Below is a list of substances that make anxiety worse:

Some common anxiety disorders that can lead to addiction are:

  • PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – This condition can occur when an individual has been through a highly stressful situation physically and/or emotionally. Experiencing combat, sexual abuse, the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, and other traumatic events can cause PTSD.
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder – This disorder is characterized by having severe worry over common everyday events.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder – Everyone may experience some anxiety when placed in an unfamiliar social situation. People with this disorder may experience symptoms of panic at the mere thought of an uncomfortable social situation.
  • Panic Disorder – Panic disorder is typified by severe attacks of dread and fear, causing the individual to feel as though they are under constant pressure.
  • Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder – People with OCD use rituals to get rid of uncomfortable thoughts, often leading to an endless cycle.

Mental illness can worsen over time. According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, people with high anxiety are two to three times more likely to abuse substances when compared to individuals who do not suffer with anxiety issues. Dual diagnosis is vital for most individuals seeking drug and/or alcohol abuse treatment, but it can be tricky to discern. Depression and anxiety that individuals feel while detoxing may simply be a manifestation of the drugs getting washed out of the body. Anxiety can occur in someone getting off of drugs simply because they need to change their coping mechanisms, which can be scary. Or, it can work the other way around: the individual seeking treatment initially began using substances as a way to feel better due to an anxiety disorder. Either way, it is imperative to get to the root of the addiction problem.

Contact us today at 800.218.6727 and let our skilled professionals walk you through the steps that lead to recovery.