Don’t Freak Out: 5 Ways to Combat Anxiety During Inpatient Drug Rehab Treatment

While the physical effects of recovery can be distressing in their own right, the psychological turmoil can be equally unsettling. More often than not, people going through inpatient drug rehab treatment experience intense feelings of anxiety as the brain tries to adapt to a drug-free state.

Fortunately, inpatient drug rehab treatment encompasses a range of interventions designed to help you overcome addiction’s aftereffects. If you’ve been struggling with ongoing anxiety and feel as if you can’t take it any longer, here are five ways to combat anxiety during inpatient drug rehab treatment:

1. Employ Behavioral Therapy Techniques

Breathing exercises can help you combat anxiety.

A big part of the inpatient drug rehab treatment process entails developing ways of coping with daily life pressures without the need for drugs. According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, behavioral therapy treatment works to help a person identify destructive thinking patterns while providing techniques for handling stressful periods as well as managing anxiety episodes. Behavioral therapy techniques to consider include:

• Seeing the anxiety-causing situation from a purely objective viewpoint
• Journaling
• Meditation
• Breathing exercises

2. Use Your Support System

During your stay in inpatient drug rehab treatment, your fellow residents and your treatment team comprise a support system that works to encourage continued abstinence. In effect, your support system plays an essential role in the recovery process, both now and in the future.

Talking things through with other residents, your doctor or your counselor can help with managing anxiety levels as well as working through any underlying issues that fuel anxiety feelings.

Not sure if your insurance will help cover your treatment costs? Call our helpline at 800-430-1407Who Answers? for more information.

3. Exercise

By the time a person enters inpatient drug rehab treatment, the brain and body have undergone considerable damage from the effects of chronic drug abuse. Feelings of anxiety not only result from drug withdrawal, but also from the brain and body’s overall weakened state.

Exercise can work wonders in terms of releasing excess energy and relieving stress. According to the Journal of Frontiers in Psychiatry, exercise also helps strengthen the body and supports its repair mechanisms as it recoups from months or years of drug abuse. Incorporating an exercise routine within your daily schedule can go a long way towards taking the edge of anxiety.

Aromatherapy in Residential Treatment and Recovery

4. Eliminate Sugar & Caffeine

Anything that helps the brain and body cope in the absence of drugs can only work for your benefit. This includes the types of food that make up your daily dietary intake. Sugar and caffeine, in particular, only work to increase energy levels and aggravate anxiety states. By replacing these items with more healthy choices, such as fruit or even decaffeinated beverages can help relieve feelings of anxiety over time.

5. Consult with Your Physician

Sometimes recurrent anxiety episodes may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. When this is the case, some form of treatment may needed, such as medication to help relieve anxiety symptoms. Consult with your doctor to see if anxiety symptoms warrant a more direct treatment approach.

If you or someone you know struggles with anxiety in recovery and are considering inpatient drug rehab treatment, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-430-1407Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.