Understanding Anxiety Disorders & Addiction
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting approximately 40 million adults each year. When anxiety disorders co-occur with substance use disorders, the relationship between the two conditions creates a self-reinforcing cycle that can be extremely difficult to break without professional treatment. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or specific phobias frequently turn to alcohol, benzodiazepines, marijuana, or opioids in an attempt to self-medicate the persistent feelings of worry, dread, and physical tension that characterize anxiety.
While substances may provide temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, they ultimately worsen the underlying condition. Alcohol, for example, disrupts neurotransmitter systems involved in mood regulation, leading to rebound anxiety that is more intense than the original symptoms. Benzodiazepines produce rapid tolerance and physical dependence, and withdrawal from these medications can trigger severe anxiety and panic attacks. Over time, the brain adapts to the presence of the substance, and the individual requires increasing amounts to achieve the same anxiolytic effect, deepening both the addiction and the anxiety disorder.
At Trust SoCal, our dual diagnosis program addresses anxiety and addiction simultaneously through an integrated treatment model. Our clinical team conducts thorough psychiatric evaluations to identify the specific anxiety disorder present and develops a coordinated treatment plan that includes evidence-based psychotherapy, medication management when appropriate, and holistic stress-reduction techniques. By treating both conditions together rather than in isolation, clients develop healthier coping mechanisms and achieve more sustainable recovery outcomes.