Anxiety and Addiction

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal part of life. People often feel anxious about moving to a new city or starting a new job. This type of anxiety might be unpleasant, but it can motivate hard work and other actions. In short, anxiety is the body's natural response to stress.

However, some anxiety feelings can be more extreme, lasting for more than six months and preventing normal functioning in everyday life. This long-term feeling is called an anxiety disorder.

People with an anxiety disorder have intense and persistent feelings of worry and fear about everyday situations. Instead of providing motivation, the extreme anxiety is debilitating and may cause them to stop doing the things they enjoy.

There are several types of anxiety, including:
 

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Phobia
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

 
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.¹

What is Addiction?

Addiction is a physical or psychological urge to do, take or use a substance, even though it could be harmful to you. The most common type of addiction is drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder.

Addiction does not only mean being physically and physiologically dependent on a substance, such as cocaine or heroin. It's also possible to be addicted to various activities, such as gambling, eating, or working.

In addition to being unable to stop the addictive behavior, other signs of a substance use disorder include:
 

• Lack of self-control
• Having an intense desire for the substance or activity
• Not accept the fact that substance use is causing problems
• Struggling with other daily activities

How SUD Can Cause Anxiety

The use of substances can increase the risk of developing anxiety or can make pre-existing symptoms worse.

Stimulant drugs are most commonly related to causing and worsening symptoms of anxiety.² Taking stimulants can lead to increased activity in the brain. Stimulants can also change the way nerve cells send messages. As a result, while on stimulants, you may feel restless and anxious, especially in high doses.³

Moreover, withdrawal from stimulant medications can lead to a sudden drop in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can cause anxiety that can last for up to two weeks.⁴

Withdrawal from CNS depressant drugs can also trigger anxiety.⁵

How Anxiety Can Cause SUD

Substance abuse, particularly alcohol abuse, is common among people with a social anxiety disorder. In a misguided attempt to feel more comfortable and relaxed in social situations, individuals with social anxiety turn to alcohol or drugs.

However, this can be extremely dangerous as the anxiety may make it difficult to tell when you've reached your limit. In some cases, an anxiety disorder may not even be diagnosed yet. Although drugs and alcohol can bring temporary relief, they can also intensify anxiety a few hours later or the next day.⁶

PTSD

People who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also at risk of developing an addiction. They often use alcohol or drugs to reduce their feelings of anxiety, but substance abuse can worsen PTSD symptoms. Roughly 50% of people seeking treatment for substance use also meet the criteria for PTSD.⁷