Anxiety is a crippling feeling of worry, unease, and apprehension of life and the world around us. Everyone deals with anxiety to some degree, but anxiety levels are higher than ever in today’s society. Every year, over 40 million adults—nearly 20 percent of the American population—suffer from anxiety disorders in the United States. These include GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), different phobias, social anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. In fact, some professionals speculate that anxiety is on the rise.

Feelings of anxiety are normal and part of our everyday lives and instincts. However, struggling with irregulated anxiety can make for even more troubles. In the case of addiction and recovering from addiction, anxiety can make the process even more difficult. In such a stressful world, it is important to tackle problems like addiction as well as anxiety simultaneously.

How Anxiety and Addiction are Connected

At first, connecting anxiety and addiction may seem like a reach, but the truth is they are very much intertwined. In fact, one of the top reasons people begin to abuse drugs and alcohol is to feel better and relax. For many of these cases, substance abuse relieves anxiety, from general to social anxiety or events of PTSD. Conversely, people who begin to abuse drugs can develop anxiety from the effects of substance abuse, including stress and shame.

Because of this, it is crucial to not only treat addiction but any mental illnesses like anxiety in recovery. After all, if you were to treat an addict’s alcoholism, they could easily relapse if their anxiety is left unaddressed. The same applies to other mental conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

As such, recovery patients should always be checked for dual diagnosis—suffering from both an addiction and mental disorder. In doing so, the chance of relapse becomes significantly lower.

Identifying Our Anxieties

To fully understand living with, recovering from, and coping with anxiety, there needs to be an understanding of the source. In recovery, different therapy sessions, methods, and other outlets help victims learn about themselves and their setbacks. Today, some people have developed anxiety simply because the world around them insists on worrying.

Everyone worries about deadlines, relationships, finances, physical and emotional needs, and most importantly, the future. In today’s society, there exists a great amount of emphasis put on “what if” or “what could be”. We are sold insurance plans to prepare for tragedy, take vitamins for “less risk of disease” and what have you. The human mind becomes frequently conditioned to worry about numerous crises ahead and fear the proverbial monster in the closet. We may not even know what the monster looks like yet dread it because society says we should.

Anxiety comes from many different places, in different forms, and affects every person individually. But in a world that places so much focus on it, is it any wonder why anxiety rates are rising?

Coping with Anxiety and an Anxious World

It is no secret that we live in an anxious world, and avoiding its anxieties are challenging hurdles themselves. With a
constant stream of worries, it can be challenging to accept and cope with it. Combine these difficulties with the struggles of addiction, and addicts understandably feel restless, irritable and unsatisfied on a constant basis. However, we can change how we approach these by changing our everyday perception and outlook.

There are many complex treatments to addiction itself as well as treating anxiety but moving forward requires your own efforts. This means directing your mindset into more positive outlooks, focusing thoughts elsewhere, and being mindful of the world around you. Make an effort to remind yourself of what you do have, what you are grateful for, and reassess your worries.

By following these lifestyles, you may find yourself struggling with less stress and enforcing a more positive routine overall. Recovery is not easy and recovering from addiction as well as regulating anxiety takes a great effort on your part. But by utilizing the resources of rehabilitation centers, psychiatrists, and therapy, you can begin the steps of a calmer life.

If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, contact a local Treatment & Rehab alternative in Tennessee. You might be interested in Discovery Place’s own treatment center alternatives, such as our 30 Day Residential Addiction Alternative Recovery Program or our Long Term Alternative Recovery Program in Burns, Tennessee. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-725-0922.

Testimonials

  • Discovery Place was the answer for my son. He did the 90 day and then the step down program and sober living. We give this organization 10 stars. They met my son where he was …emotionally, mentally, physically. They helped him put his life back on track. Discovery Place employees care about their guests. If your son, brother, nephew, grandson or husband needs excellent supportive care THIS is indeed the facility.

    Kim Morton
    Alumni Parent
  • I have remained sober and it is because of DP. DP is the best place there is, hands down. I keep everyone there in my prayers, and I encourage everyone there to take what they are practicing and do it in their lives, after.

    Roy Mantelli
    Alumni
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    Matt Kassay
    Alumni
  • Discovery Place means the world to me. They showed me the tools that I’ve tried to use everyday in my life to think less often of myself, and more frequently of others. I am learning to lend a hand when I am able and to have a honest and humble relationship with God and the people around me. Not only am I clean and sober, but also I am happy and fulfilled.

    Tommy Parker
    Alumni
  • Discovery Place and the men who work there made recovery attractive, and more importantly, fun. There is strength in the struggle. I am forever grateful for my time at Discovery Place.

    Creed McClellan
    Alumni
  • When I got to Discovery Place my whole life was in shambles, but I didn’t know it. I spent 6 months in their programs, participating in all three phases, and was met with kindness and love all along the way. It is unbelievable to me, where I am now relative to where I was when I arrived at DP.

    Lance Duke
    Alumni
  • I can never say enough good things about Discovery Place and the people who work there. Before checking in to DP, I was out of options and out of answers. Fortunately, Discovery Place has a solution. Taking suggestions from the staff at DP saved my life, and as a result, I’m now more content and hopeful about life. I’m grateful for Discovery Place showing me how to live a healthy life so that I can become a better man and help the next guy.”

    Tyler Buckingham
    Alumni

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