Anxiety disorders affect millions of Americans, with the National Institute of Mental Health reporting that approximately 31% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. When left untreated, these conditions can become overwhelming, leading many individuals to seek relief through self-medication with alcohol, drugs, or other substances. At Pathways Recovery Center, we understand the complex relationship between anxiety and substance use, and we’re here to help you understand this connection and find healthier paths to healing.
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders represent a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear, worry, and related behavioral disturbances. Unlike normal anxiety that everyone experiences occasionally, anxiety disorders involve persistent, overwhelming feelings that interfere with daily life activities.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, feeling anxious is a normal part of life, but for people with anxiety disorders, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. These conditions can seriously impact job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.
Common types of anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which involves chronic, excessive worry about various life situations even when there’s little reason for concern. Panic Disorder brings recurrent panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, and difficulty breathing.
Social Anxiety Disorder creates extreme fear of social situations and being judged by others, while specific phobias involve intense, irrational fears of particular objects or situations. Agoraphobia causes fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, often leading to avoidance of public places. Post-traumatic stress disorder develops after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, involving flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
Understanding Self-Medication
Self-medication refers to the practice of using substances—whether alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit drugs—to manage uncomfortable emotions or symptoms without professional medical supervision. While this might provide temporary relief, it often creates more problems than it solves.
Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that people who experience anxiety, stress, depression, or pain may use drugs to try to feel better, especially if they lack access to mental health care. Unfortunately, while some substances may temporarily reduce symptoms of a mental disorder, they can also make symptoms worse both immediately and in the long run.
People turn to self-medication for anxiety for several reasons. Substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can provide quick, temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, making them appealing to those suffering from overwhelming worry or panic. Alcohol is legal and readily available, making it an easy option for those seeking quick anxiety relief. Some individuals prefer self-medication to avoid the perceived stigma of seeking professional mental health treatment. Many people don’t realize they have an anxiety disorder and may not understand that effective, professional treatments are available. Those who have had poor experiences with mental health treatment may turn to self-medication as an alternative.
The Dangerous Cycle of Anxiety and Substance Use
What often begins as occasional use for anxiety relief can quickly develop into a destructive cycle. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains that more than one in four adults living with serious mental health problems also has a substance use problem, and these conditions share some underlying causes including changes in brain composition, genetic vulnerabilities, and early exposure to stress or trauma.
This cycle typically unfolds in predictable stages. Initially, individuals discover that alcohol or drugs temporarily reduce their anxiety symptoms, creating a positive association between substance use and relief. Over time, the body develops tolerance, requiring larger amounts of the substance to achieve the same anxiety-reducing effects. As tolerance increases, physical and psychological dependence begins to form, and the person now needs the substance not just for anxiety relief but to function normally. When the substance wears off, anxiety returns—often worse than before—creating rebound effects that drive continued use and establish a vicious cycle. Eventually, the individual develops both an anxiety disorder and a substance use disorder, requiring specialized dual diagnosis treatment.
Common Substances Used for Self-Medication
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about 20% of people with social anxiety disorder also have alcohol use disorder. Alcohol initially acts as a depressant, reducing anxiety symptoms, but chronic use can actually increase anxiety levels and create additional health problems.
While benzodiazepines can be effective for anxiety when prescribed and monitored by a healthcare provider, they carry a high risk of dependence and are often misused. Street benzodiazepines or pills obtained without prescription pose additional dangers. Some individuals use marijuana to manage anxiety symptoms, and while some may experience temporary relief, regular use can lead to cannabis use disorder and may actually worsen anxiety in the long term.
Paradoxically, some people with anxiety use stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine. While these might provide temporary confidence or energy, they typically worsen anxiety symptoms and create serious health risks. Some individuals discover that prescription painkillers provide relief from emotional pain and anxiety, but opioids carry an extremely high risk of addiction and overdose death.
The Risks of Self-Medication
Self-medication creates numerous health consequences across physical, mental, and social domains. Physical health risks include liver damage from alcohol abuse, cardiovascular problems from stimulant use, respiratory depression from opioids or benzodiazepines, weakened immune systems, and increased risk of accidents and injuries.
Mental health deterioration often includes worsening of the underlying anxiety disorder, development of depression, increased risk of suicide, cognitive impairment and memory problems, and disrupted sleep patterns. Social and functional impairment encompasses relationship problems and family conflicts, employment difficulties and financial instability, legal issues related to substance use, social isolation and loss of support networks, and neglect of responsibilities and self-care.
Perhaps most concerning is that self-medication often leads to addiction, creating a co-occurring disorder that requires specialized treatment to address both conditions simultaneously.
Why Self-Medication Doesn’t Work Long-Term
While substances may provide temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, they fail to address the underlying causes of anxiety and often make the problem worse over time. The body adapts to regular substance use, requiring increasing amounts to achieve the same effects, a process known as tolerance. When substances wear off, anxiety often returns with greater intensity than before, creating rebound effects.
Relying on substances prevents the development of healthy coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills. Substance use introduces additional stressors like health problems, relationship conflicts, and financial difficulties. Rather than treating the root cause of anxiety, substances merely mask symptoms, allowing the underlying condition to worsen.
The Importance of Professional Treatment
Effective treatment for anxiety disorders exists, and it’s far safer and more effective than self-medication. Evidence-based therapies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. Exposure therapy gradually exposes individuals to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled, safe environment to reduce fear responses. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches acceptance of anxiety while committing to value-based actions, and mindfulness-based interventions incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices to manage anxiety symptoms.
When prescribed and monitored by qualified healthcare providers, anti-anxiety medications can be effective tools for managing anxiety disorders. These may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, buspirone, and short-term benzodiazepine use under strict medical supervision.
For individuals who have developed both anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, specialized dual diagnosis treatment addresses both conditions simultaneously.
Pathways Recovery Center’s Approach to Dual Diagnosis
At Pathways Recovery Center, we specialize in treating co-occurring anxiety disorders and substance use disorders. Our comprehensive approach includes an integrated treatment model that addresses both conditions simultaneously rather than separately.
Our medically supervised detox program ensures safe withdrawal from substances while beginning to address underlying anxiety symptoms. We offer proven therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, group therapy sessions, individual counseling, and family therapy.
Our treatment incorporates holistic methods to support overall well-being through mindfulness and meditation practices, yoga and physical fitness programs, art therapy and creative expression, nutritional counseling, and stress management techniques. When appropriate, our medical team provides carefully monitored medication to help manage both anxiety symptoms and substance use disorders.
Recovery is an ongoing process, which is why we provide relapse prevention planning, aftercare services, alumni support programs, and ongoing counseling and support groups.
Healthy Alternatives to Self-Medication
Instead of turning to substances for anxiety relief, consider these healthy alternatives. Lifestyle changes include regular exercise, which naturally reduces anxiety and stress, consistent sleep schedules and good sleep hygiene, balanced nutrition that supports mental health, limiting caffeine and sugar intake, and staying hydrated.
Stress management techniques encompass deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, journaling and expressive writing, and time management and organization skills. Building social support involves connecting with supportive friends and family, joining support groups, participating in community activities, volunteering for causes you care about, and building a strong support network.
Professional help includes regular therapy sessions, psychiatric medication when appropriate, support groups for anxiety disorders, stress management classes, and mindfulness-based stress reduction programs.
Warning Signs That Professional Help Is Needed
If you recognize these signs in yourself or a loved one, it’s time to seek professional help: using substances regularly to manage anxiety, needing increasing amounts of substances to feel calm, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using, having anxiety interfere with work, relationships, or daily activities, avoiding situations due to fear of anxiety, experiencing panic attacks or overwhelming fear, having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or being unable to control substance use despite negative consequences.
Taking the First Step Toward Recovery
Recognizing the connection between anxiety and substance use is the first step toward healing. Recovery is possible, and you don’t have to face this challenge alone.
At Pathways Recovery Center, we’ve helped countless individuals break free from the cycle of anxiety and self-medication. Our compassionate team understands the complexities of co-occurring disorders and is committed to providing the comprehensive care needed for lasting recovery.
If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety and substance use, don’t wait for the problems to worsen. Professional help is available, and recovery is possible.
Contact Pathways Recovery Center today at 1 (877) 811-0488 to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment programs and take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and help you understand your treatment options. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You deserve to live free from the burden of anxiety and addiction.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
