Two of the most common co-occurring mental health factors in recovery are anxiety and depression. There are millions of individuals who suffer from mental health issues and also struggle with addiction. Depression and anxiety have some similarities, but when broken down, they are very different. By learning more about the specifics of both anxiety and depression, you can gain further insight into the importance of recovery treatment.
Individuals who have depression or anxiety may display an inability to function at work, school, or social outings. In the early stages of recovery, understanding and clarifying the specifics of anxiety and depression can eliminate the confusion of a different or unexpected diagnosis.
Those struggling with anxiety disorders may feel panic or fear when certain situations arise. Anxiety can build when you feel uneasy or threatened, but it can also occur when situations are not life-threatening or fear-inducing. Anxiety brings bouts of worry that can disrupt your daily life. You may experience unrecognized triggers, leading to confused responses to your reactions.
Depression can cause feelings of despair, emptiness, and hopelessness. Emotions and feelings like stress and anger can accompany a loss of motivation and energy. Depression can make you feel lethargic, making it hard to live with. When dealing with depression, those struggling may see fluctuations in their interpersonal relationships and personal motivations.
If you struggle with substance use, anxiety and depression can expand your challenges. Before giving up, though, remember that you’re not in this alone, no matter how hard it seems. Millions of people feel the way you’re feeling. Remember that this is temporary, and you can improve.
The definitions of anxiety and depression are based on classes of health concerns. While depression is a mood-altering condition, anxiety is a response that reacts to stress.
When anxiety becomes a disorder, it alters your mental state and your physical being. There are different levels of anxiety, but those that suffer from the disorder can experience anxiety in situations where it isn’t normally expected. They may suffer from muscle tension, increased heart rates, and pain, among many other symptoms.
Depression can also be a reaction to negative situations, but it acts by altering your motivation and mood. There are points in everyone’s life that they may feel sad or lonely, but when depression becomes a disorder, the loss of interest in normal daily activities becomes problematic.
The symptoms of both disorders vary. In short, anxiety is a worry or stress-related concern, while depression is based on overwhelming sadness and disconnectedness. Anxiety also includes symptoms of insomnia, nausea, sweating, fatigue, loss of appetite, and more. Depression symptoms can be similar to anxiety, but many strong negative symptoms like excessive worrying, fear, and suicidal tendencies are more likely to be linked to depression than anxiety.
Anxiety and depression are similar in the way that some symptoms manifest, including the inability to focus or make high-functioning decisions. Those that suffer from depression may tend to assume everything is going to be bad, whereas anxious people are overwhelmed and may fear the negative outcomes.
Both the disorders can lead to an inability to function on a day-to-day basis. This difficulty can be even worse when someone is suffering from substance use disorders. Anxiety and depression are linked with recovery because recovery can unveil untreated mental and emotional health concerns.
Behind every negative emotion that one goes through is an underlying issue of being hurt. Handling social situations can be difficult to accomplish when you put anxiety and depression in the same boat. Those that feel anxiety and depression draw inwards, altering cognitive behavioral thinking.
Anxiety and depression matter in recovery because they lead to connections with substance use disorders. The connection between your thoughts and feelings needs to be addressed when dealing with addiction. Addiction recovery treats mental health conditions and substance use disorders simultaneously to get to the underlying concerns.
There are various treatment modalities and medications directed to those that have anxiety and depression. The treatment modalities work well with both disorders alongside substance use treatment. Professionals care about every element of the treatment process, tailoring each step for every unique situation. Addiction recovery covers anxiety and depression at its core to help clients discover underlying concerns. This discovery ensures the recovery process is smoother and the risks of relapse are reduced.
Treating depression and anxiety during recovery increases the success rate of recovery and helps you find your life’s purpose. Addiction recovery helps people feel better, providing a course of action to relieve them from depression and anxiety.
When you are diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, cognitive behavioral therapy can help manage the conditions. The various treatments at NorthStar Transitions, including family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, individual counseling, and more, can help you address anxiety, depression, and addiction. Lasting recovery tackles the underlying core issues of depression and anxiety. If you are nervous or afraid of the outcomes, we are here with compassion and care. NorthStar Transitions has a team filled with professionals and specialists that dedicate their lives to helping you, regardless of your situation. We are trained to uncover health concerns and help you through the recovery process with individualized treatment plans. We understand the situations that you’re going through. It is important to not put aside your mental health concerns and get treatment for your anxiety and depression today. For more information, reach out to NorthStar Transitions, or call us at (303) 558-6400.
