Co-Occurring DISORDERS
Anxiety & Addiction
Anxiety disorders and substance use often occur together, each feeding and intensifying the other. At Luna, we provide integrated treatment that addresses both conditions for lasting recovery.
Co-Occurring DISORDERS
Anxiety disorders and substance use often occur together, each feeding and intensifying the other. At Luna, we provide integrated treatment that addresses both conditions for lasting recovery.
THE CONNECTION
Anxiety and addiction frequently co-occur, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break without professional help. Many people use alcohol or drugs to temporarily relieve anxiety symptoms - racing thoughts, panic attacks, social fear, or constant worry.
While substances may provide short-term relief, they ultimately worsen anxiety, disrupt brain chemistry, and create physical dependence. As tolerance builds, more of the substance is needed, leading to addiction while anxiety symptoms intensify.
Our integrated treatment addresses all types of anxiety disorders alongside substance use disorder.
Persistent, excessive worry about everyday matters that interferes with daily functioning and often leads to self-medication.
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with intense physical symptoms that may drive substance use to prevent or manage attacks.
Intense fear of social situations and judgment by others, often leading to alcohol or drug use to ease discomfort in social settings.
Anxiety stemming from traumatic experiences, with symptoms including flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors.
Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that create significant distress and may lead to substance use for relief.
Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations that can lead to avoidance behaviors and substance use to cope.
UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERN
Overwhelming worry, panic attacks, social fear, or physical symptoms like racing heart and difficulty breathing create significant distress and interfere with daily life.
Alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs provide immediate but short-lived relief from anxiety symptoms, creating a false sense that substance use is the solution.
As tolerance develops, more of the substance is needed for relief. Withdrawal and rebound anxiety between uses actually worsen baseline anxiety levels. Physical dependence develops alongside psychological reliance, making it increasingly difficult to stop without professional help.
The result: Both conditions become more severe, and neither can heal without treating the other.
OUR APPROACH
At Luna, we treat anxiety and addiction simultaneously with a comprehensive, evidence-based approach.
Our psychiatric team provides comprehensive assessment and manages medications for anxiety safely during recovery, using non-addictive options when appropriate.
CBT, DBT, and exposure therapy help you develop healthy coping skills, challenge anxious thoughts, and manage anxiety without substances.
One-on-one sessions address your unique triggers and patterns, while group therapy provides connection and shared strategies from others in recovery.
Yoga, meditation, mindfulness practices, and neurotherapy help regulate your nervous system and reduce anxiety naturally.
Treating only the addiction while ignoring anxiety sets the stage for relapse. When anxiety symptoms return in full force during recovery, the temptation to self-medicate again becomes overwhelming.
Similarly, treating anxiety alone without addressing substance dependence leaves the physical and psychological addiction untreated. The withdrawal process itself can worsen anxiety, creating a barrier to mental health recovery.
At Luna, our integrated dual diagnosis approach means your addiction counselor and psychiatric provider work together as a team, ensuring coordinated care that addresses both conditions simultaneously. This collaborative approach significantly improves outcomes and reduces relapse rates.
GETTING HELP
If these signs resonate with you, integrated treatment at Luna can help you break free from the cycle and build lasting recovery.
Our compassionate admissions team is available from 8am-10pm to help you begin your journey to recovery.
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