At Olympia House, we strive to share our knowledge as health practitioners with you to provide individualized treatment. If you suffer from anxiety, we know it can impact you in many ways, two of which are self-medication and interfering with treatment for addiction.
Self-medicating the symptoms of anxiety
Many substances have a dampening effect on the nervous system. These include opioids and alcohol. When one has an untreated or undiagnosed anxiety disorder, or if this individual is not receiving a medication that works for anxiety, those with addiction may have turned to street drugs or other substances to get the help they need. Unfortunately, in addition to being unsafe, these substances create more anxiety when they aren’t immediately available or when the brain grows used to the effects and needs more than can be safely ingested. In addition, the worry about hiding illegal substances or hiding addictions from a loved one only means that one needs even more of the substance. All of this creates a cycle of anxiety, depression, and addiction that we understand will require community and professional help to end.
Concerns you may have about anxiety in the context of treatment
Anxiety can also interfere with treatment. Group therapy can be extremely hard for those with social anxiety. Individual therapy can be hard for the same reasons. Leaving your room and going out can be a challenge when you or a loved one dreads possible reminders that stress them out. Finally, even communicating how you’re truly feeling or how medications are really working can interfere with treatment. At Olympia House, we understand your challenges. We want to emphasize that we will not punish you or make you feel like you are not trying when you have bad days. We know that patience, understanding, a gentle approach, the right medication, and a knowledge that you can take the time you need are the essential keys to caring for those with anxiety.