Anxiety and Addiction - What Works, What Doesn't

Fear, and the fear of fear, is a very potent motivator. Feeling continually or occasionally severely anxious creates a motivation to preempt this very unpleasant experienced anxiety.

Many anxiety patients discover that certain drugs and or alcohol create a temporary easement of experienced anxiety symptoms, and since anxiety is so unpleasant, most patients will try anything that seems to work to feel better, even if only for a little while.

Once an anxiety patient discovers self medication through intoxicants, the risk of addiction skyrockets. Patients increase their consumption as a way to minimize the anxiety, and as the after effects of most drugs and alcohol can temporarily increase anxiety, with consumption there is a corresponding need for even greater consumption - a quick and downward spiral into addiction.

The anxiety patient becomes trapped in a cycle of self medication, even as the medication throws ever more fuel onto the fires of anxiety.

Additionally, although certain psychiatric medications do work against symptoms of anxiety, none work with the immediacy of intoxicating substances. Also, none of these psychiatric medications works very well when the patient also abuses drugs or alcohol.

Anxiety patients suffering through severe symptoms of the disorder will do just about anything to alleviate the pain (suicide is a real risk) and it's quite understandable why many turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to self medicate their condition. Unfortunately, illicit drugs and alcohol always make the problem worse over time, and too often also end up causing an addiction, further complicating an already difficult mental health challenge.

Drugs and alcohol are never an effective way to manage an anxiety disorder.

Eliminating substance abuse helps a lot to alleviate the severity of anxiety, and so in most cases addiction is tackled as the primary treatment need. An anxiety patient with addiction issues can benefit from traditional forms of addiction therapies, but they must be treated for their anxiety concurrently.

Ignoring either of the problems in a treatment matrix almost guarantees eventual failure. The intake assessment prior to treatment should be comprehensive and ideally should include family and other health professionals involved in the patient's care. For best results, an individualized treatment plan needs to be formulated taking into account the relative severity of both the addiction and the anxiety; and since withdrawal off of drugs or alcohol can induce increased anxiety, pharmacological treatment at the onset is almost always necessary (If only to keep the patient in treatment past the initial very tough days).

In addition to traditional therapies for addiction, there are certain therapies for anxiety that are often incorporated.

Exposure therapy

Certain forms of anxiety, particularly phobias or other manifestations caused by a know stimuli; can be treated through a variation on exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, the patient is gradually and increasingly exposed to the source of their anxiety in a controlled and safe environment, with the ultimate goal of the therapy that the patient learn new and effective coping strategies to deal with the anxiety provoking stimuli.

Imagery therapy is a variation on exposure therapy where patients are trained to use positive imagery and other relaxation and breathing techniques to learn effective anxiety management strategies.

Anti Anxiety Medication

Many patients find symptoms relief through anti anxiety medications, medications that do not tend to work well when taken concurrently with illicit drugs or alcohol.

Anxiety and depression share a similar neural expression and so it's not surprising that certain anti depressant medications show great efficacy in the treatment of anxiety. SSRI's are the most commonly used, although older medications such as tri cyclic anti depressants also work. In some cases, anti psychotic medications are used to reduce ruminant and obsessive thought patterns, and a medication original targeted at high blood pressure, Propranolol, has also shown great symptoms efficacy. Sedatives such as benzodiazepines can reduce anxiety, but due to the real risk of addiction, they are not a great choice for lengthy treatment.

Medications can work wonders, especially when the anxiety patient gives these medications the time to do their job, and does not hamper their effectiveness through the abuse of intoxicants.

Diet and Exercise

Exercise alone certainly won’t alleviate severe clinical anxiety, but the natural high of prolonged and vigorous exercise can only help to reduce the depths of anxiety when done in concert with other forms of therapy.

Additionally, certain dietary changes can also reduce anxiety expression. A reduction in caffeine always helps, as caffeine stimulates the brain and can create anxiety on its own. Also, maintaining a diet low in sugar and simple carbohydrates can reduce blood sugar fluctuations that can provoke anxiety.

Anxiety and Addiction Treatment Works

Although we can readily understand the allure of drugs and alcohol that reduce scary and unpleasant symptoms of anxiety, self medication in this manner always ends badly.

Treatment works well, provided the anxiety patient receives help for both their anxiety and substance abuse issues concurrently.

Treatment is always better undertaken sooner rather than later, and there is no need for anyone to endure the pains of anxiety and addiction without help and treatment.