If you suffer from anxiety, you may also be familiar with the struggles of addiction. This connection between anxiety and addiction has been acknowledged by experts for many years, but if you are someone who deals with this daily, you may be curious about why this link exists.

Anxiety and addiction are, thus, two complex issues that can significantly impact a person’s well-being. They are often intertwined, with one condition fueling the other. In this blog, I will explore the connection between anxiety and addiction and how they can be treated.

Recognizing Anxiety

If you struggle with anxiety, regardless of the duration of your experience, you may constantly seek methods to alleviate its symptoms. You might have explored various coping mechanisms, including prescription medications, meditative practices, hobbies, or psychological therapy, and found that the outcomes were not as effective as you had anticipated. At some point, you may have experimented with drugs or alcohol and realized that they could offer temporary relief, enabling you to think more clearly than you had in weeks, months, or even years. However, this relief is short-lived, and you will find yourself resorting to substance use repeatedly in the hope of finding solace.

Substance Tolerance: A Byproduct of Addiction

You may have noticed that using substances provides temporary relief from anxiety. However, as time passes, you may have also realized that you need to consume a greater quantity of the substance to experience the same level of relief. This phenomenon occurs because addiction leads to substance tolerance, wherein your body and brain rapidly adapt to the amount of substance you consume, whether it’s alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or heroin. Consequently, you will require more dosage to achieve relief, and the cycle repeats itself, leading to dangerous levels of substance use or even prompting you to seek additional drugs to manage your anxiety.

Tolerance levels can be alarming, as they jeopardize your health. However, because substance use helps relieve your anxiety, you may not recognize the dangers immediately. You may not even realize the full extent of the problem until someone who cares about you points it out. At that point, you might consider quitting, but that presents a new kind of anxiety you have not encountered before – the apprehension of withdrawal.

Path to Recovery

Addiction recovery is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and psychiatrists typically recommend developing an individualized treatment plan. However, numerous recovery strategies have proven effective for several individuals.

Here are some ways a person can recover from anxiety and addiction:

5. Seek professional help: It’s important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional who specializes in treating anxiety and addiction. They can help create an individualized treatment plan that addresses both conditions. Having been a victim of anxiety and addiction myself, I can personally attest that a visit to a doctor stands a fair chance of being helpful. I do not intend that as an understatement.  I can’t emphasize enough how often physicians help patients nowadays, but I will boldly assert that it is most of the time.
6. Attend support groups: Joining a support group for people with anxiety and addiction can be beneficial. It provides an opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar struggles and can offer support and encouragement.
7. Practice self-care: Engage in activities that promote physical and emotional well-being, such as exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga can also help alleviate anxiety symptoms.
8. Identify triggers: Recognize and avoid triggers that lead to substance use or anxiety. This may involve avoiding certain people or situations, finding healthier ways to cope with stress, or creating a relapse prevention plan.
9. Consider medication: For some individuals, medication may be beneficial in managing anxiety and reducing the likelihood of relapse. It’s important to work closely with a psychiatrist to find the right medication and dosage.

While writing my book, I realized that I carried within me a disabled child who no one understood or believed. My memory issues created problems with anxiety which greatly contributed to my epilepsy. Combined with epilepsy and anxiety, I was a natural prey of addiction.  I think that when my desire to help became more urgent, I had to finish with the hope that if one person could be helped by this effort, it would be worth it. And make no mistake, my book, “Life comes as the wind blows” is a prayer. I hope it can lead you into the light if you ever fall into darkness.

The book is available on Amazon for you all to read! Grab a copy today to learn about my journey and how I made it through addiction!