Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues and significantly contributes to the development of preventable diseases. Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have a higher risk of developing anxiety-related conditions. Driftwood Recovery addresses the symptoms and side effects of anxiety using evidence-based therapy and alternative holistic therapies. Anxiety treatment reduces the risk of relapse and provides clients with practical coping skills for managing stress.
Understanding Anxiety: A Path to Healing
Fully understanding the causes, effects, and long-term impact of anxiety provides essential context and helps individuals in recovery heal. Anxiety is often caused by chronic or acute stress. Our compassionate clinicians recognize the need to educate clients on the connections between thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and everyday stressors by providing therapy.
What Is Anxiety?
Everyone feels anxious sometimes. Most people experience anxiety during high-stress situations. For example, a person giving a critical presentation may feel anxious. People diagnosed with clinical anxiety experience a severe or persistent sense of fear, dread, or helplessness. Clinical anxiety causes physical, emotional, and cognitive changes within the body. Treatment for anxiety may include peer support, psychotherapy or counseling, and prescription medications to manage symptoms.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety exist along a spectrum, and no two people have the exact same experience. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Persistent and often irrational worries and fears
- Restlessness or constantly feeling “on edge”
- Unexplained physical exhaustion and fatigue
- Concentration issues
- Unusual irritability
- Muscle tension
- Body aches or discomfort
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and oversleeping
- Nausea
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling out of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- An impending sense of doom
Anxiety also contributed to mental and physical side effects, including an increased risk of depression or other mood disorders.
The Impact of Anxiety on Mental Health
Anxiety has a profound impact on mental health and wellness. Individuals with anxiety-related mental health disorders often experience a cycle of worry and avoidance behaviors, increasing overall stress and making it more difficult for them to cope with life challenges. If left untreated, anxiety can contribute to the development of mental health disorders and substance abuse. Anxiety may interfere with a person’s ability to function and reduce their quality of life. A clinical assessment by a mental health professional is needed to determine if anxiety has affected a person’s mental health.
How Anxiety Affects Your Life
Anxiety affects everyone differently. Some individuals may have difficulty trusting people or making social connections, while others may struggle with low self-esteem and reduced self-confidence. Anxiety affects how people think about themselves, interact with others, and manage stress. Chronic or acute stress may impact how people act in social situations and affect their ability to function day-to-day. Anxiety may cause self-isolating behaviors, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. Our anxiety treatment programs empower clients and show them how to manage stress to avoid triggering anxiety.
Emotional and Cognitive Impact of Anxiety
Anxiety often causes people to think about themselves and their circumstances more negatively. People with anxiety frequently experience low self-esteem and feelings of shame or guilt. According to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, “Anxiety disorders can promote a crippling focus upon negative life-events and make concentration difficult, which can lead to problems in both social and work environments.”
Anxiety affects brain processing and how people perceive the world around them. Stress and chronic anxiety put people on edge and make them more susceptible to misreading situations. For example, a person may feel threatened by everyday social interactions due to anxiety triggering hypervigilance. Therapy provides clients with the tools to recognize maladaptive thought patterns and manage anxiety.
Driftwood Recovery’s Approach to Anxiety Treatment
Our treatment programs offer clients holistic and personalized anxiety treatment under the guidance of mental health professionals and addiction recovery experts. Clients and their loved ones receive education about the realities of anxiety and how it impacts people’s recovery from substance use disorder and other conditions. Individualized care plans at Driftwood Recovery provide clients with a solid foundation for healing and long-term recovery.
Comprehensive Assessment and Tailored Programs for Anxiety Disorders
We use comprehensive assessments, screening tools, and tailored program services to address a range of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalizes anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Social phobia
- Panic disorder
- Agoraphobia and other specific phobias
We provide clients with an accurate diagnosis and detailed care plan to ensure the best possible outcome.
Emphasis on Non-Judgmental, Supportive Care in Anxiety Treatment
Our team of experts provides compassionate and empathetic treatment. We believe in a non-judgmental approach to care. Individuals with anxiety often benefit from additional emotional support during early recovery from SUD. We address all issues impacting clients and their mental health through skill development, trauma processing, and other therapy techniques.
Innovative Therapies and Modalities for Anxiety Treatment
Our innovative therapies for anxiety treatment ensure clients better understand the root cause and effects of clinical anxiety. Some of the most common modalities used to treat anxiety include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Neurofeedback and biofeedback
- Mindfulness-based therapies
- Alternative holistic therapies
Our team of experts uses integrative care and a wide range of modalities to help clients manage anxiety and address underlying issues. We also offer to partner with private therapists and medical professionals to ensure clients have access to essential support services to meet their unique needs during treatment and continuing care.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Community Integration for Anxiety and Substance Abuse
We offer intensive outpatient treatment for anxiety and substance use disorder. We help clients integrate back into daily life and manage anxiety attacks using the skills learned in therapy. Our community integration program (CIP) also helps clients build supportive social connections and manage anxiety. IOP or CIP programs provide clients with the resources to build a strong support network and coping strategies to support long-term sobriety and positive mental health.
Enhancing Community Engagement for Anxiety Relief
Community support plays a vital role in reducing anxiety for many people with substance use disorder. Engagement in the supportive atmosphere at Driftwood Recovery fosters a sense of belonging. Participating in workshops, group therapy, support groups, and joint activities helps clients build healthy connections and improve mental wellness. Normalizing conversations about mental health and addiction recovery among peers creates a safer and more welcoming support group.
Holistic Anxiety Treatments at Driftwood Recovery
Some of the holistic services used in anxiety treatment at Driftwood Recovery include:
- Acupuncture
- Meditation
- Breathwork
Combining holistic anxiety treatments with evidence-based modalities often leads to better outcomes for clients in recovery.
Specialized Care for Unique Populations With Anxiety
Some populations are more likely to experience anxiety disorders and may have specific needs during treatment and aftercare. Professionals in high-demand positions, celebrities, and individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community all face unique challenges. Specialized care at Driftwood Recovery creates a safe and comfortable space for people to learn, grow, heal, and recover alongside peers with similar life experiences.
Addressing the Needs of Executives, Celebrities, and Professionals for Anxiety Relief
C-suite executives, celebrities, and high-level professionals often experience a higher level of anxiety due to the pressures and stress of their positions within the workplace and society. Public-facing positions may increase the risk of SUD and anxiety-related mental health disorders. Driftwood Recovery addresses the needs of these individuals by creating a personalized care plan integrating evidence-based and holistic modalities. We also partner with private providers and healthcare professionals to ensure clients can access all the support services they need to thrive in recovery.
Tailored Strategies for Managing Stress and Anxiety in Professionals
Professionals, including first responders, primary care doctors, and psychiatrists, may need additional support coping with anxieties of the job while undergoing treatment for SUD and anxiety-related disorders. We provide professionals with the skills to manage workplace stress and anxiety, reducing the risk of relapse and improving treatment outcomes.
Caring for the LGBTQIA+ Community
Individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community often face additional stigma and barriers to treatment. Cultural competency and sensitivity are essential when navigating the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients. Many people in minority groups, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, experience discrimination, isolation, and social rejection. We have created an inclusive space where everyone feels heard, welcomed, and supported. Clients heal in an environment where their identity is respected. Everyone deserves to be accepted and validated during their therapy journey.
Creating an Inclusive and Safe Environment
Client safety is our number one priority. We encourage clients to uplift and support one another, building a sober support system that normalizes recovery and positive mental health.
Untreated anxiety may impact many areas of a person’s life and their ability to recover from substance use disorder. To learn more about our programs and treatments for anxiety-related mental health disorders, call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.