Anxiety Therapy in San Diego

Anxiety is a common mental health illness affecting up to 40 million Americans in the United States. Anxiety disorders can intensify mental health disorders when compounded with substance use disorders or addiction. Programs implementing dual disorders integrate mental health variables such as substance abuse or substance use disorders. From post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to general anxiety disorders and social anxiety, mental health must be studied as a variable aside from substance use disorders and addiction. Our experienced staff and mental health therapists at La Jolla Recovery have developed exceptional attention to anxiety treatment to personally attend to a client’s needs. Our alcohol and drug addiction recovery programs include MAT (medication-assisted treatment) optional, providing an integrative approach to attend mental health.

It is common for those suffering from anxiety to use other substances to self-treat their stress, such as alcohol. Given its nature as a depressant and its impact on the prefrontal cortex and amygdala by relaxing neurotransmitter activity, it might provide a relaxation or calm effect yet not attend to the roots of this anxiety or stress. Other medications or drugs such as benzos or opiates are frequently used with alcohol, only to leave a user depressed or emotionally down. At La Jolla Recovery, anxiety therapy is a comprehensive approach to anxiety disorders in addition to substance abuse treatment.

The problem with continuing this vicious cycle of seeking comfort from drugs and alcohol to alleviate anxiety or depression is a furthering of the symptoms and a continuous search for coming to baseline or homeostasis. This usually leads the user to use more frequently and have deeper bouts of mental health disorders, including anxiety. This physical and psychological dependence, now known as substance use disorder, deepens and requires attention from detox throughout rehab, such as outpatient.

As time passes, an individual requires more alcohol or drugs to feel the previous stimulation and effect. This problem can lead to physical dependence and psychological triggers, addiction, and what is now known as substance use disorder.
Detoxing oneself from alcohol or drugs causes an intensification of symptoms, furthering the difficulty of interrupting the pattern and cycle of use. Sleep loss, paranoia, irritability, and hallucinations are not uncommon. Sudden alcohol withdrawal may even lead to seizures or cardiac problems. Medical attention, such as physicians, nurses s, and therapists, are required during the early drug detox stage. At La Jolla Recovery detox, we provide specific attention to withdrawal symptoms to reduce discomfort, such as anxiety, and make it possible to embrace rehabilitation positively and effectively.

Research shows that less than half of those suffering from anxiety, specifically GAD or general anxiety disorder, receive the appropriate help. This leads to self-medication and a non-controlled environment to alleviate symptoms and further mental health problems. Both mental health and addiction rarely get attended to.

Studies and research suggest that less than half of people suffering from anxiety receive professional help, especially those with a General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This means many sufferers self-medicate, most probably with alcohol and illicit or legal substances. It is also highly likely that they will not link their anxiety to their addiction problem.

Like all dual diagnoses, anxiety and alcohol or drugs have a complicated and intimate relationship. Many factors are at play: genetics, history of trauma, brain chemistry, medications that produce side effects, and substance abuse.
Sometimes, anxiety results from the habit, and other times, it is vice versa. Cocaine, heroin, meth, marijuana, and alcohol can also bring about anxiety due to their abuse. It can be difficult to distinguish where anxiety stops, and addiction begins.
The problem is perpetuated by abusing alcohol or drugs, causing manifold problems in the individual’s social, emotional, and professional life, making the anxiety worse.