When we experience anxiety, we often go through a number of physical symptoms – headaches, nausea, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, dizziness, paranoia, and more. When anxiety hits, it can truly feel like you’re having a heart attack.
People in addiction recovery often struggle with anxiety for a number of reasons. Multiple studies have found that about half of those who experience a substance use disorder (SUD) will also experience a mental illness, and vice versa. This is commonly referred to as co-occurring disorders and emphasizes the importance of treating both disorders simultaneously to achieve true recovery.
Know the Warning Signs
Understanding the warning signs of anxiety can help anyone in recovery take preventative and proactive measures to ease their discomfort before it sends them into a downward spiral. Therapy can also help a person talk about what they’re going through so that they don’t feel alone.
What many people don’t realize is that anxiety is truly a mental illness experience. Anxiety is not the “normal” way of thinking and doing things – thankfully, nobody has to live like this. If your experiences don’t feel normal, it’s important to seek help. Even if you’re in addiction recovery, you can still take part in some truly wonderful services that can help alleviate your anxiety as you work towards sobriety.
Treating Your Anxiety Is Equally Important
Unfortunately, far too many people don’t talk about what they’re going through personally – and there’s a perception out there that substance abuse should be treated solely on its own. This could not be further from the truth. Treating just one disorder will not improve the other. Just as no two people respond to drugs or alcohol in the same way, mental health issues like anxiety affect each of us differently.
Ignoring anxiety in recovery also defies the concept of holistic treatment, which posits that a person has a variety of aspects that make up who they are – and that all of these should be taken into consideration when seeking recovery. Some examples of holistic treatment options include:
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Nature walks
- Recreational activities
- And many more
Help is Available
Don’t let anxiety hold you back from your true potential for recovery. If you’re ready to seek help, speak with a professional from Alta Loma today.
At Alta Loma, residents learn about the role that mental health has in their substance use so they can move forward to achieve sustainable, long-term sobriety. By managing both conditions simultaneously, we provide comprehensive care that treats psychiatric symptoms without drugs or alcohol and can put you on the path to a healthier future. Call us today at (866) 457-3843.
