Those suffering from anxiety disorders are at significant risk of alcohol or drug abuse. It’s not unusual for those with these disorders to attempt to self-medicate in an effort to deal with or control their symptoms or associated stress. Substance abuse may include alcohol, misuse of prescription drugs that may or may not be prescribed to the patient, and use or abuse of illegal drugs.
According to a 2010 study by the University of Manitoba, those who self-medicated to deal with anxiety symptoms were four times more likely to develop a drug abuse problem and twice as likely to develop drug dependency than those who didn’t self-medicate.
Those who used alcohol to self-medicate had a twofold increase in developing alcohol abuse problems and threefold increase in developing alcohol dependency.
Researchers found that those who used drugs frequently also used alcohol, and even those who only initially used alcohol moderately were at significant risk for alcohol related problems later.
Further complicating treatment is that those who self-medicate are even less likely than others with anxiety disorders to seek treatment.
Perhaps most troubling is that those who with anxiety disorders who self-medicate have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
Those experiencing intense anxiety and stress from anxiety disorders may feel compelled to take prescription drugs in a manner not prescribed, or take another drug or drink alcohol to quell the anxious feelings and quiet anxious thoughts. The results temporarily will be to ease the anxiety somewhat. However, the long range picture is that drugs and alcohol actually will increase anxiety symptoms and worsen anxiety disorder over time. Also, after the alcohol or drugs are out of the system, the symptoms will resurface perhaps even stronger. Now the individual will have not just the initial symptoms to deal with but also the stress from the substance use.
The next time the individual experiences anxiety symptoms he or she may feel like the drug or alcohol will help ease the situation, or perhaps in the case of social anxiety provide some relaxation or comfort to make social interaction more easy. Quickly the substance becomes enmeshed in the person’s anxiety disorder.
Other risks of self-medication include that using drugs or alcohol may trigger other mental health issues such as depression, or mask other underlying mental health issues.
If a person is suffering from untreated anxiety disorder and is struggling to control alcohol or drug use, treatment should address both concerns. Treatment one issue and not the other will likely be unsuccessful. Dual diagnosis of anxiety disorder and substance abuse or addiction requires specialized treatment.
Dual diagnosis of substance abuse and anxiety is fairly common especially since most patients with anxiety disorder are reluctant to seek help initially, and are likely to try to solve the issues alone. The good news is that since this is seen regularly by professionals, treatments options are well known and likely to be successful.
However, it may be that loved ones, family members or friends of the affected individual may only see the symptoms of substance abuse and miss the underlying initial cause of anxiety disorder. Screening for anxiety disorders among those seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse may help catch and properly treat those silently suffering.