Anxiety & Addiction: How Will Inpatient Rehab Help Me Overcome Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders—an addiction and at least one other mental illness—are particularly difficult to treat because patients are often unstable. People with mental illness are already on edge and abuse of alcohol and drugs over time makes the situation more problematic, resulting in a patient who is approaching their limits. For patients with anxiety, this is especially true.

Anxiety is a generalized term and this is one reason that anxiety is the most common illness in America, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, who claim it affects 40 million adults 18 and older, which is 18 percent of the population. But, anxiety is an umbrella term that includes more specific conditions, like:

Inpatient rehab will give you the coping skills to recover from anxiety and addiction.

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobias
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Posttraumatic stress disorder

If you suffer from one of these conditions, you may have turned to drugs or alcohol to cope with your symptoms. But, these solutions don’t treat the underlying condition and they tend to actually make things worse. Inpatient drug rehab centers are equipped to treat both your addiction and your anxiety. These co-occurring disorders wont pose a problem and you will be able to recover in a secure, comfortable environment.

For help finding an inpatient treatment center equipped to treat co-occurring disorders, call 800-430-1407Who Answers?. Our experts can help you choose a treatment program, answer all of your questions, and discuss financing options. Get started on the process right now.

The Relationship Between Anxiety and Addiction

You may not know it, but having either anxiety or an addiction makes the chance you have the other much higher. Data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions reveals 15 percent of their respondents reported having an anxiety disorder, but among respondents with a drug use disorder, 30 percent reported an anxiety disorder. And, the reverse is true. People diagnosed with anxiety disorders are two times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. The two share a strong link.

Diagnosis

It’s very important that you get help from a structured, professional inpatient program experienced in diagnosing and treating co-occurring conditions because diagnosing can be rather difficult. It can be hard to determine which symptoms are part of the addiction and which are the anxiety. For example, stimulant use can often trigger effects that are not unlike those of anxiety.

The first step is generally to institute a period of detoxification; as the drugs leave your system, the symptoms you display will change. When your body is through the withdrawal period, anxiety symptoms may be more able to assert themselves.

After a period of abstinence, you will be given a comprehensive assessment designed to screen for many mental health issues, including anxiety. The results of this evaluation will inform your treatment plan.

How Inpatient Mental Health Rehab Helps with Addiction, Too

Treating Anxiety and Addiction

A person who suffers from both a substance use disorder and anxiety is fragile and they need a treatment plan that can address both conditions simultaneously. This type of treatment is called integrated care. The therapists and psychiatrists who treat you will need extensive training in treating co-occurring disorders in order to cope effectively with the challenges to recovery.

You may be given medication as part of your treatment plan. Generally, anxiety is treated with both medication and therapy. You may need medication to stabilize your brain chemistry. This will allow you to better engage in the other aspects of treatment. The most common medications used are beta-blockers, anti-anxiety drugs, and anti-depressants. Many of these medications will need to be taken regularly and their efficacy will diminish if you do not follow your doctor’s orders.

Patients with anxiety will need to learn healthy coping techniques that they can use in their daily lives. This will diminish the likelihood that they will turn to drug use to self-medicate. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a popular way to teach these strategies. You will be taught to examine your thoughts and to challenge those that are unhealthy. Inpatient care will involve individual counselling, 12-step programs, and support groups. You can benefit from all of them.

An inpatient treatment center is your best chance at managing your co-occurring conditions. To receive the integrated care you need, call 800-430-1407Who Answers?.