The iconic American poet Walt Whitman famously said, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” Millions of people are unable to see this “sunshine.” This is because they struggle with issues of anxiety and alcohol use disorder. The good news is there are many means, methods, and modalities that can help one recover from not just one affliction but both.
Better Understanding Addiction
Addiction is more prevalent than many people realize; it’s one of the most prominent health issues both in the U.S. and around the world. This is especially true with alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is the most common form of addiction worldwide.
Many people are also unsure of what addiction is. These people often minimize addiction as some sort of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply false. Addiction is a disease and is more similar to other chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than it is a choice.
Addiction is also a “family disease.” This is because addiction does not just affect the individual, but it affects everyone and everything it touches. It has been said that addiction is like a tornado that rips through the lives of everyone in its path. Again, this can be especially true with AUD.
Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group),” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group.” AUD also causes significant harm to both the individual struggling and the loved ones around them.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, “Time and again history has proven that this fatal addiction [AUD] could make the life of those who consume it terrible. Also, the lives of the dear ones of alcoholic people are affected as alcohol not only affects those who consume them but also kin and friends. Various research studies conducted over many years clearly show the association of prolonged alcohol intake in the causation, aggravation, worsening, and deterioration of the health of its consumers.” Similar effects can be felt by those struggling with severe anxiety (as well as those around them).
Better Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety affects millions of people around the world. Also, this is not just “worry” (though that is certainly part of it). Anxiety is a clinical condition that needs professional help if one is going to get better and live a more functional life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Feeling anxious is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, school, work, or family. However, anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear. For people with these disorders, anxiety does not go away, is felt in many situations, and can get worse over time.” There are also many types of anxiety disorders. This includes generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.
Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common form of anxiety disorder. It is also one that many people struggle with and don’t even realize it. This is often because they feel that everyday “worry” is just a normal part of life. The reality is that it should not be.
According to NIMH, “[P]eople with GAD feel extremely worried or nervous more frequently about these and other things – even when there is little or no reason to worry about them. GAD usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread that interferes with how you live your life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events.” Another very common form of anxiety disorder is panic disorder.
Understanding Panic Disorder
According to NIMH, “People with panic disorder have frequent and unexpected panic attacks. These attacks are characterized by a sudden wave of fear or discomfort or a sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger or trigger. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder.” This last aspect of panic disorder is important because, while not everyone who has a panic attack may have panic disorder, they should still seek professional help to be sure.
It is also important to understand that panic attacks can often arise from underlying trauma. Many people don’t realize just how common trauma is around the world. This is true both in first-world and third-world countries.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged. Much more limited evidence for less developed countries suggests that fatalities due to injuries and accidents are more common in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries; for example, road injuries are the 10th leading cause of lost years of life in developed countries and the 8th leading cause in developing countries.” Social anxiety disorder can also be caused by trauma.
Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is often the most discussed anxiety disorder. This is because many people feel that they struggle with it. However, there are certain criteria that must be met to be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.
According to NIMH, “Social anxiety disorder is a common type of anxiety disorder. A person with social anxiety disorder feels symptoms of anxiety or fear in situations where they may be scrutinized, evaluated, or judged by others, such as speaking in public, meeting new people, dating, being on a job interview, answering a question in class, or having to talk to a cashier in a store. Doing everyday things, such as eating or drinking in front of others or using a public restroom, may also cause anxiety or fear due to concerns about being humiliated, judged, and rejected.” There are also those who struggle with phobias alongside their social anxiety.
Understanding Various Phobia-Related Disorders
Many people have heard of various phobias throughout their lives, such as a fear of flying and a fear of snakes. However, it is important to note that phobias are more intense than simply experiencing unpleasant fear.
Phobias and various phobia-related disorders can be debilitating. They also require serious and direct intervention to overcome them. Often, this is done via psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is also commonly used to help individuals who struggle with co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use.
Better Understanding Co-Occurring Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
Many people don’t realize just how common co-occurring issues of mental health and addiction actually are. This includes anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders…. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”
It’s also true that many people are unsure of which issue they acquired first. This is because many people choose to manage their anxiety by self-medicating with alcohol. Then, there are millions of people who become addicted to alcohol, and as a byproduct, they end up struggling with an anxiety disorder. Regardless of which came first, the reality is that the signs and symptoms of anxiety and AUD often look the same.
The Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
Anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are complex diseases, and, yes, as previously mentioned, they are diseases. Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of anxiety and AUD are going to vary based on the individual. However, there are some universal signs that someone may be struggling. The following are just a few of those universal signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Loss of appetite and sudden changes in weight (loss or gain)
- Feeling overly anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Having feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or hopelessness
- Feeling depressed
- Engaging in other risky behaviors
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Not being able to stop
- Harming oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, anxiety and AUD should never be minimized. They can be life or death. This is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. The good news is that there is hope and help.
Recovering From Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
There are many effective ways to treat anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The key is to treat them at the same time. If one issue is treated and not the other there is a significant chance of one of them coming back. Also, if one issue comes back, the other is usually not far behind.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people struggling with these issues to either get under-treated or not get the treatment that they require at all. According to the peer-reviewed journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, “There is evidence for substantial [under-treatment] of anxiety disorders. In a large European study, only 20.6% of participants with an anxiety disorder sought professional help. Of those participants who contacted health care services, 23.2% received no treatment at all, 19.6% received only psychological treatment, 30.8% received only drug treatment, and 26.5% were treated both with drugs and psychotherapy.”
However, those who do seek treatment should do so in a multi-angled way. This means that they should utilize as many modalities as possible for recovery. This includes experiential therapies like nature immersion and art therapy, holistic healing methods like yoga and mindfulness meditation, and “traditional” psychotherapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
‘Traditional’ Therapy for Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
Psychotherapy is a common method for treating anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is because psychotherapy works at getting to the underlying issues that often cause anxiety and AUD.
Psychotherapy works to help show an individual the negative way that they have been viewing themselves and the world around them. Once this realization is made, then the individual can start to work on their negative cognitions (thoughts), emotions (feelings), and behaviors (actions) associated with their anxiety and AUD. Experiential therapies can also be highly effective at treating anxiety and AUD.
Experiential Therapy for Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
Experiential therapy is more about the “experiences” an individual has, rather than mere discussion (though, of course, this is a big part of it). Nature immersion therapy is one of the most used and most effective types of experiential therapy. This is because nature has been shown to be highly effective at helping an individual recover from issues of mental illness and addiction.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment.” Also, “physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.” Nature immersion therapy also offers a myriad of other benefits.
The benefits of nature have long been known. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Individuals living and interacting in green spaces (GS) report being more energetic, in good overall health and, have more of a sense of meaningful purpose in life. Current scientific findings are illuminating what humans intuitively know: nature has great benefits for the human brain and this is shown through increased happiness, health/well-being, and cognition. Historically speaking, Cyrus the Great intuitively built lush green gardens in the crowded urban capital of Persia 2500 years ago to increase human health and promote a sense of ‘calm’ in a busy city.” Holistic healing methods also offer this sense of calm.
Holistic Healing Methods for Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
The iconic yoga and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “As animals, we walk the earth. As bearers of divine essence, we are among the stars. As human beings, we are caught in the middle, seeking to reconcile the paradox of how to make our way upon earth while striving for something more permanent and more profound.” Holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation have been around for thousands of years.
Initially, these holistic methods were used solely as religious and/or spiritual practices, but they have since moved into other areas, including recovery. Yoga and meditation offer many benefits. These benefits include a better sense of peace and serenity, better balance and flexibility, and lowered stress (which is ideal for anxiety).
Working With Others: 12-Step Recovery for Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
It has been said that working with others is essential for addiction recovery. This is even discussed in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book).
The Big Book states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail…. You can help when no one else can.” Working with others truly helps both parties involved.
The Importance of Long-Term Success at Northstar Recovery Center
Here at Northstar Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This includes our day treatment plans, which are always comprehensive and individualized, focusing on the future.
Recovery is out there. There is hope. We can help.
Many people don’t realize that alcohol is a depressant. This also means that many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also struggle with anxiety. The good news is there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help one recover from both AUD and anxiety. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about the best recovery options for AUD and anxiety, please reach out to Northstar Recovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.