Studies show that once the brain develops a mental disorder, it’s easy for it to develop more. Unfortunately, addiction is a mental disorder. When people suffer from anxiety disorders, they also run the risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD). Anxiety treatment is an important part of an addiction recovery resource center.
The Link Between Anxiety and Addiction
Both anxiety and addiction are types of mental disorders. Having one of them puts people at risk for developing the other. To make matters worse, it doesn’t matter which disorder that people develop first.
Sometimes people develop an addiction when they try to find relief from their anxiety. On the other hand, some people develop anxiety because of substance abuse. In either case, co-occurring disorders are common.
Keep in mind that anxiety isn’t the only mental disorder that accompanies addiction. It’s common for people to suffer from other illnesses such as depression.
How Common Are Social Anxiety Disorders?
At any given time, around 2 to 13 percent of the population suffers from social anxiety disorder (SAD). In fact, SAD is the third-most common disorder behind only depression and addiction. With both addiction and anxiety being common disorders, it’s no wonder why so many people suffer from both. In fact, people who suffer from SAD have a 20% chance of developing a SUD.
Which one typically comes first? While it’s true that people can develop either disorder first, most people develop SAD first.
In fact, many people admit that they turn to drugs for anxiety treatment. Without dealing with the underlying issues that cause anxiety, they have to keep taking drugs to manage the problem. Constantly using drugs in such a manner typically leads to addiction.
SUD and Anxiety Treatment
When people suffer from one or more mental disorders, it’s important that they get help right away. However, both disorders require treatment at a drug addiction recovery center. When they only deal with one or the other, the treated disorder typically pops up again.
For example, people who suffer from both a SUD and SAD need to get treatment for both. Simply attending an anxiety and addiction recovery resource center won’t do anything for the SUD and vice versa. In either case, it’s important to deal with the root cause of the problem. In general, therapy is a great way to undercover the root cause and triggers of a disorder.
People can turn to different types of therapy when they suffer from SUD and SAD. Some of the most common options include:
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
All of these counseling methods satisfy a different need. For example, family therapy helps therapists spot problems in the home. They also use family therapy to educate family members about mental disorders.
Individual therapy makes some people open up about their problems. They find it easier to talk one-on-one instead of in group settings. However, group therapy makes it easier for people to see that they’re not alone. When they listen to others’ problems, they quickly see that they struggle with similar issues.
Don’t let your addiction or anxiety disorder dictate how you live your life. Get the addiction and anxiety treatment that you need.
