TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS NEAR FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

Anxiety disorders are usually found alongside other disorders. Because of this, they have a high comorbidity rate, which is when a person experiences two or more illnesses at the same time. As damaging as one disorder can be, comorbid disorders can be detrimental to anyone, and finding the correct treatment can be crucial.

Since so many adults struggle with anxiety disorders every day, it is important to get treatment, but some adults can be a little more hesitant when it comes to topics of mental health. This does not need to hinder an adult’s ability to find help, though.

The first step would be to talk with your trusted physician for a diagnosis or for treatment if symptoms have been previously established. Talking with a trusted physician can result in adults having greater chances of accepting treatment or a referral to a mental health professional like Allendale Treatment.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

-Causes: Family history of anxiety, prolonged or recent exposure to stressful situations (including family or personal illnesses), excessive use of caffeine or tobacco which can worsen existing anxiety, childhood abuse or bullying

-Symptoms: Difficulty controlling feelings of worry, muscle tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating, easily fatiguing, feeling restless or wound up

-Treatment: Psychotherapy or medication

Generalized anxiety disorder (with or without agoraphobia) is typically one of the top two anxiety disorders that is consistently associated with substance use disorders.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

-Causes: Genetic and hereditary factors, repetitive and habitual learned behaviors that become associated with anxiety relief

-Symptoms: Irrational fear of disorder or dirtiness, compulsive behavior, agitation, hyper-vigilance, impulsivity, ritualistic behavior, apprehension, repetition of own words

-Treatment: Therapy (cognitive behavior therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, aversion therapy, support group), medication

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a relatively common underlying disorder with substance abuse disorder patients. Substance abuse disorders may become more noticeable than the symptoms of OCD, which is why the two disorders co-occurring. It has been estimated that close to 30% of people who have obsessive compulsive disorder had a substance abuse disorder at one point during their life.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

-Causes: Family history of anxiety, prolonged or recent exposure to stressful situations (including family or personal illnesses), excessive use of caffeine or tobacco which can worsen existing anxiety, childhood abuse or bullying

-Symptoms: Difficulty controlling feelings of worry, muscle tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating, easily fatiguing, feeling restless or wound up

-Treatment: Psychotherapy or medication

Generalized anxiety disorder (with or without agoraphobia) is typically one of the top two anxiety disorders that is consistently associated with substance use disorders.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

-Causes: Genetic and hereditary factors, repetitive and habitual learned behaviors that become associated with anxiety relief

-Symptoms: Irrational fear of disorder or dirtiness, compulsive behavior, agitation, hypervigilance, impulsivity, ritualistic behavior, apprehension, repetition of own words

-Treatment: Therapy (cognitive behavior therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, aversion therapy, support group), medication

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a relatively common underlying disorder with substance abuse disorder patients. Substance abuse disorders may become more noticeable than the symptoms of OCD, which is why the two disorders co-occurring. It has been estimated that close to 30% of people who have obsessive compulsive disorder had a substance abuse disorder at one point during their life.

Panic Disorder (OCD)

-Causes: Genetic or hereditary factors, experiencing a traumatic or stressful life event (loss of a family member, events leading to grief or bereavement)

-Symptoms: Racing or pounding heart, sense of impending doom or danger, chills, sweating, shortness of breath, trembling, fear of loss of control or death

-Treatment: psychotherapy, medication

People who experience panic disorder have been known to use drugs or alcohol to calm their nerves or numb their fears. Addicts can become dependent on these substances that only worsen their condition and give them a higher chance for panic attacks.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

-Causes: Experiencing a serious accident, experiencing any form of abuse, exposure to traumatic events (war, losing a child, physical or sexual assault)

-Symptoms: Hypervigilance, irritability or hostility, insomnia or nightmares, social isolation, emotional detachment, severe anxiety, flashbacks, guilt, unwanted memories of trauma

-Treatment: psychotherapy (trauma-focused), medication

PTSD changes one’s brain chemistry just like a substance abuse disorder does. Following a traumatic experience, the brain can begin to create less endorphins, the chemical that plays a part in making us happy. The US Department of Veteran Affairs states that “nearly three-quarters of people surviving abuse or violent trauma report alcohol abuse disorder.”

People experiencing PTSD may have harsh outbursts in public, and this may lead the person who is suffering from the disorder to feel guilty. This guilt can lead them to further self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.

Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

-Causes: Genetic or hereditary factors, negative experiences, having a condition of appearance that could draw attention

-Symptoms: Avoiding situations in which you may be judged, worry about embarrassment, fear of talking to or interacting with strangers, fearing others will notice your anxiety

-Treatment: psychotherapy, medication

Social anxiety disorders (SAD) affect 15 million people a year in America, and close to 36% of that group goes ten or more years before they start getting help. Someone with a social anxiety disorder is at a far higher risk of developing substance abuse disorders to try and feel more relaxed, calm, or confident while they are in a social setting. These substances can become crutches, and they can heighten social fears and make people more reclusive than before.