For most people, anxiety is a normal part of life. We might be anxious before giving a speech or going on a first date, but these feelings usually subside with time and experience. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, however, you could be overwhelmed by an irrational sense of fear, worry and panic at any time and without warning. These feelings can be very difficult to deal with, and unlike normal anxiety, are persistent, uncontrollable and able to interfere with your daily life. If left untreated, anxiety disorders can significantly impact your health, career, relationships and more, as well as increase your risk of developing a co-occurring disorder such as depression or substance use.
At Journey Hillside Tarzana, we understand how difficult it is to live with an anxiety disorder. When drugs or alcohol are added to the mix, your mental health can suffer even more, exacerbating symptoms and making it harder to cope. To help clients navigate the complexities of recovery and manage their anxiety effectively, we provide comprehensive addiction treatment that prioritizes mental health and integrated care. By addressing each client as a whole and exploring the deep-seated issues that often underlie mental health and substance use disorders, our goal is to promote meaningful progress and build a strong foundation for lasting recovery.
WHAT ARE ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Anxiety disorders are a mental health concern that causes overwhelming feelings of worry, dread, fear and anxiousness in response to normal, everyday situations. Persistent and excessive, anxiety disorders are highly distressing and make even simple, routine tasks feel insurmountable. Although there are several different kinds of anxiety disorders with varying triggers and symptoms, they all have one thing in common: the ability to significantly impact every aspect of daily life.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States, affecting more than 40 million adults each year. Despite this, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports that only 36 percent of individuals seek treatment for their anxiety due to barriers such as stigma, fear and lack of access to care. At Journey Hillside Tarzana, we provide an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to ensure that clients with co-occurring disorders have the opportunity to address their mental health needs. Many mental health concerns are highly treatable, and with the right care, clients can successfully manage their symptoms and begin to heal.
The major types of anxiety disorders are:
- GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) — AN ANXIETY DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY EXCESSIVE FEELINGS OF WORRY, STRESS AND ANXIETY IN RESPONSE TO ORDINARY EVENTS, OFTEN WITH NO APPARENT REASON. GAD IS CHRONIC AND PERSISTENT AND CAN BECOME DEBILITATING IF LEFT UNTREATED.
- PANIC DISORDER — PANIC DISORDER IS KNOWN FOR PRODUCING UNEXPECTED AND RECURRENT EPISODES OF INTENSE FEAR AND STRESS, KNOWN AS PANIC ATTACKS. OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS INCREASED HEART RATE, SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND DIZZINESS, PANIC ATTACKS ARE A FRIGHTENING AND OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE THAT CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
- SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER — SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER CAUSES EXTREME AMOUNTS OF SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, FEAR AND WORRY IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS. THIS CAN BE LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE OR APPLY TO ANY TYPE OF SOCIAL GATHERING, PREVENTING AN INDIVIDUAL FROM PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND ISOLATING THEM FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
- OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) — OCD IS AN ANXIETY DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY UNWANTED THOUGHTS THAT ARE ACCOMPANIED BY STRESS OR ANXIETY AND REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL FEELS COMPELLED TO PERFORM. ENGAGING IN REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS COUNTING, HANDWASHING OR CLEANING PROVIDES TEMPORARY RELIEF, WHILE NOT PERFORMING THEM INTENSIFIES FEELINGS OF DISTRESS.
- POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) — PTSD IS AN ANXIETY DISORDER THAT OFTEN DEVELOPS AFTER A TRAUMATIC OR TERRIFYING EVENT. THESE EXPERIENCES CAN BE DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH AND MAY AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL IN MANY WAYS. SYMPTOMS OFTEN INCLUDE NIGHTMARES, FLASHBACKS, SEVERE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN VARY IN INTENSITY AND INTERFERE WITH DAILY LIFE.
- PHOBIAS — PHOBIAS ARE AN ANXIETY DISORDER THAT CAUSE AN EXTREME REACTION OF STRESS AND PANIC TO SPECIFIC OBJECTS, ANIMALS OR SITUATIONS. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PHOBIAS, BUT WELL-KNOWN EXAMPLES INCLUDE FEAR OF SMALL SPACES (CLAUSTROPHOBIA), FEAR OF SPIDERS (ARACHNOPHOBIA), AND FEAR OF HEIGHTS (ACROPHOBIA).
WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Like other mental health conditions, anxiety disorders are complex and don’t have one single cause or origin. While certain medical conditions, illicit drugs and prescriptions are associated with anxiety, evidence shows that a variety of risk factors contribute to the development of chronic anxiety disorders, such as:
- GENETICS
- BRAIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURE
- LIFE EXPERIENCES
- FAMILY HISTORY
- PERSONALITY AND LEARNED BEHAVIORS
- SUBSTANCE USE
Although there is no one cause for anxiety disorders, certain risk factors may play a bigger role for some individuals. Anxiety is more common in those with a family history of the disorder, for example, and environmental factors such as past trauma and substance use are also linked to higher rates of anxiety. Regardless of the cause, numerous treatment options are available that can help. A combination of medication, therapy and mindfulness training can help you identify triggers and recognize the onset of symptoms, while treatment for any co-occurring disorders such as depression or substance use will promote lasting recovery.
HOW ARE ANXIETY AND ADDICTION RELATED?
Anxiety disorders and substance use are closely linked and often occur together. An estimated 20 percent of individuals with an anxiety disorder also have a substance use disorder, known as a dual diagnosis. It’s difficult to determine why this happens, but drug and alcohol use can trigger the onset of mental health concerns due to their detrimental effects on the brain. In other cases, individuals may self-medicate to relieve their symptoms, only to experience rebound anxiety and cause bigger problems once addiction develops. All too often, drugs and alcohol exacerbate mental health symptoms while complicating the recovery process. It is more difficult to treat co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse can delay treatment by masking the symptoms of anxiety or negatively impacting an individual’s motivation to get help.
Not only is substance use is more common in those with anxiety disorders, it has also been linked to higher relapse rates and more severe withdrawal symptoms. By integrating mental health care into our treatment programs, we can effectively address anxiety-related symptoms and ensure a more comfortable experience. Recovery itself can be a stressful process, so we also take great care to provide a safe, inviting space. Our beautiful facility is located in the quiet, peaceful hills of Los Angeles with private and semi-private rooms, the latest amenities and a relaxing environment that offers clients the serenity they need to heal.
TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY AND ADDICTION AT JOURNEY HILLSIDE TARZANA
At Journey Hillside Tarzana, we know that treating substance abuse and anxiety disorders together is essential for the health and success of our clients. If an individual in recovery for addiction also has a co-occurring anxiety disorder that isn’t addressed, they won’t learn how it contributed to their substance use or have the opportunity to develop the skills they need to manage their symptoms. When they return home, their unresolved anxiety will be waiting for them and may trigger a relapse. To promote lasting recovery, we provide integrated care that emphasizes mental health and addresses the underlying factors that contribute to addiction. This ensures a well-rounded program that empowers clients to discover healthy coping mechanisms and move past the issues holding them back from a life of sobriety. Some of the modalities and techniques we use include:
- INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY
- 12-STEP INTEGRATION
- TRAUMA SERVICES
- HOLISTIC MODALITIES
- COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
- DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT)
- MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT)
Our treatment programs are also highly personalized and tailored for each individual. We understand that every client is unique and strive to provide a deep and meaningful experience that allows clients to overcome barriers to recovery, meet their treatment goals and rediscover a life of purpose.
CONTACT JOURNEY HILLSIDE TARZANA
Journey Hillside Tarzana is an exclusive treatment facility nestled in the quiet, peaceful hills of Los Angeles. Our location provides clients with a calming, comfortable setting that encourages rest and relaxation, ideal for healing from addiction. We go above and beyond to provide comprehensive treatment plans that address the full scope of each client’s needs, including integrated mental health care for those with co-occurring disorders such as anxiety. If you or someone you care about is struggling with anxiety and substance use, contact or call us today at 833-7JOURNEY (877-414-1024) to learn more about our programs and how they can help.
