How do alcohol and anxiety affect each other? Anxiety is a type of mental health disorder that can be debilitating when out of control. Yet, getting control is the hard part. Many people turn to alcohol for help. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction and need anxiety treatment as well, the team at Sunflower Wellness Retreat can help you. We offer the dual diagnosis treatment you need to overcome both of these challenges.
What’s the Link Between Alcohol and Anxiety?
Many people have underlying mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder and don’t know it. You may know you have an alcohol abuse problem because you drink often or binge drink frequently. Yet, you may not realize why you are using alcohol and its relationship to your anxiety.
Anxiety is a condition in which a person experiences racing thoughts and hard-to-control emotions. Your mind feels out of control. You worry about things that, in the back of your mind, you know are not risky or realistic. Yet, you cannot stop thinking about them. Even then, you want to control those thoughts so you can enjoy a higher quality of life. That is where alcohol often comes into the picture. Because alcohol is a depressant, it helps to slow down the central nervous system, including the brain. That means some of that anxiety is lessened by the use of alcohol. Many people self-medicate their anxiety through the use of alcohol.
Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Abuse and Anxiety
One of the most important first steps if you are worried that you or someone close to you has an alcohol use disorder that may be fueled by anxiety is recognizing the signs. It is easy to assume, for instance, that your alcohol use is merely recreational when in reality it has crossed the line into something more. It can also be difficult to ascertain the extent to which anxiety and other mental health issues like depression, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder may in fact be fuelling your consumption.
Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol abuse coupled with these conditions include:
- The constant need to use alcohol
- Using alcohol as a way to deal with stress
- Racing thoughts and worrying excessively
- After work or a long day, all you want is a drink
- Hiding how much you are using from family, friends, or coworkers
- Drinking in isolation because others have told you that you have a problem
If any of the above sounds familiar, the first step is to call our team to learn more about our solutions.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Works
Dual diagnosis is a type of drug and alcohol treatment program that simultaneously addresses underlying mental health disorders. If you have both conditions, you need both alcohol abuse treatment and anxiety treatment. It is a critical investment for those who are battling both conditions.
At Sunflower Wellness Retreat, anxiety treatment and dual diagnosis are available to you. These are some of the services and therapies we offer to help you overcome your addiction for good. Some of the therapies we use include:
- Individual therapy program
- Family therapy program
- Group therapy program
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Recreation therapy programs
- Holistic therapy programs
Embrace Change with Sunflower Wellness Retreat
When it comes to managing alcohol use problems coupled with an anxiety disorder, know that you do not have to attempt recovery on your own. Our team at Sunflower Wellness Retreat offers the tools you need to handle both alcohol abuse and anxiety treatment. Our dual diagnosis program can change the way you see the world around you. Reach out to us by calling us at 855.730.8825 or connect with us online for support.
