Healing the Core of Addiction Effective Anxiety Treatment in Hawaii at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™

Understanding Anxiety

“Anxiety” can be used to refer to a feeling of uneasiness, fear, or dread often surrounding stressful life events such as starting a new job or having a difficult conversation with a loved one. This feeling of being on edge is normal in many circumstances. However, chronic or extreme anxiety can be a sign of an anxiety disorder, which is a group of serious mental health disorders. Some types of anxiety disorders you may have heard of include:

Each of these anxiety disorders has a specific set of symptoms, but they can each affect the whole person. For example, panic disorder is usually characterized by sudden episodes of panic and panic attacks, which may cause serious physical symptoms such as hyperventilation, nausea, and sweating. These episodes sometimes lack an obvious cause, or the panicked reaction is not proportional to the cause. GAD, on the other hand, is when a person experiences persistent and nagging anxiety or worry about many things in their life. They may struggle to get through the day without being constantly preoccupied with anxious thoughts. While these two disorders are very different, both are considered anxiety disorders.

Without an evaluation from a trained healthcare professional, it can be difficult to know where your experience fits. Some common symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:

However, anxiety can also exist as a product of other challenges. Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can carry intense symptoms of anxiety that signal a larger underlying challenge. Talking to a trained professional about your unique experiences, needs, and treatment options is the best way to determine the right path to healing for you.

How Anxiety and Addiction Disorders Interact

Anxiety disorders and substance use disorder (SUD) often go hand-in-hand. For some, substance use or withdrawal from substances can trigger feelings of anxiety. People with SUD may feel that these symptoms of anxiety won’t go away unless they use substances again, leading to a self-destructive cycle perpetuated by addiction and anxiety.

For others, they may be living with a pre-existing anxiety disorder that is difficult to cope with. They may begin to use substances as a way to dull their anxious thoughts and feelings, finding relief from the mental health disorder by drinking alcohol or using drugs. However, when the effects of the substance wear off, the anxiety usually returns, similarly creating a cycle of misuse that can lead to addiction.

Common Triggers and Risk Factors

There are a few risk factors for anxiety disorders. Although these factors don’t guarantee that you will develop an anxiety disorder, you may be at a higher risk for one. Factors that put you at higher risk include: