Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are several types of anxiety disorders that our team has seen in residents, each of which requires its own form of treatment. No matter what kind of anxiety you have, our team has a variety of specialized treatments and therapies at your disposal and are more than happy to sit down with you to determine which treatment is the best fit for you.

Some of the most frequently diagnosed anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder: This disorder, also known as GAD, refers to a lingering sense of dread that typically doesn’t have a specific focus. People suffering from GAD will worry about a variety of things in their life that don’t have any obvious connection, and these worries aren’t grounded in reality.
• Social anxiety disorder: People who suffer from social anxiety disorder are fearful about interacting with other people, which is why many avoid parties, crowds, public speaking, and other social activities. Around 15 million American adults suffer from social anxiety disorder, and individuals often have other types of anxiety disorders occurring at the same time.
• Panic disorder: Individuals with panic disorders have frequent panic attacks, which describe episodes of intense fear and involve symptoms like nausea, chest pain, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and more. As is the case with generalized anxiety disorder, individuals aren’t in any immediate danger when they’re experiencing panic attacks. An average episode lasts 10 minutes.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after an individual has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as a violent crime, sexual abuse, military combat, or childhood trauma. PTSD is often characterized by nightmares, paranoia, insomnia, and irritability associated with painful memories and flashbacks.

Signs of Anxiety Disorders

• Extreme worrying

• Feeling agitated

• Feeling Restless

• Fatigue

• Difficulty saying focused

• Irritability

• Trouble Sleeping

• Avoiding being social

• Having panic attacks

Why People with Anxiety Turn to Alcohol & Drugs

Though people who already have addiction issues can and often develop anxiety as a side effect, most dual diagnosis cases involve people who abuse drugs and alcohol to cope with their anxiety disorder. There are a variety of reasons why a person with anxiety may feel the need to drink or use drugs, the most common reason being a way to self-manage the symptoms of anxiety. A person with social anxiety disorder, for example, may drink heavily before social functions or presentations to put their minds at ease. A veteran suffering from PTSD may take drugs to feel a sense of euphoria and black out any memories they have from their time in service.

Other reasons why anxiety triggers substance abuse include:

• Family history of anxiety and/or addiction: Genetics and early exposure make a person much more likely to develop a mental illness or addiction if they come from a family with a history of addiction or illness. Children who are around alcohol or drugs at a young age are also at a higher risk of developing an addiction as they age.
• Effects of withdrawal or substance abuse: If people with anxiety are already using drugs or alcohol, they may experience symptoms related to anxiety such as insomnia, irritability, and nervousness. As a result, they may feel compelled to take more of the substance to get rid of the symptoms, sending them through a vicious cycle.

Ways to Help Your Anxiety

• Avoid drinking caffeine & alcohol
• Try writing down your thoughts
• Find a mantra
• Take a walk
• Drink some water
• Unplug and turn off your phone
• Take a bath

Help is Available

You may not think you need professional help for your anxiety, but when your mental disorder is combined with addiction, your life can fall apart quickly. Co-occurring disorders come with debilitating symptoms that impact your relationships, work and school life, and the way you view yourself and the world. Our facility treats anxiety with both treatment programs and therapeutic interventions to ensure no aspect of your mental health and well-being is ignored.

Recovery is possible – all you have to do is call our Chatanooga team for anxiety treatment at (423) 226-5331. We serve residents throughout Tennessee.