The first step toward seeking treatment for any mental health condition is accepting when there’s a problem. However, recognizing the signs is hard for people with anxiety. Symptoms can be subtle, and many use substances to cope, which can quickly lead to dependency. If you are struggling with anxiety and substance use disorder (SUD), consider seeking addiction and anxiety treatment at Profound Treatment Center today.
Understanding Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, and Types
Before one can seek treatment, it can help to learn more about the conditions one struggles with. That includes understanding what anxiety is, the different kinds of disorders, and what the signs and symptoms are.
What Is Anxiety?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes an anxiety disorder as when someone consistently experiences anxiety that won’t go away and worsens over time. Anxiety disorder symptoms can interfere with day-to-day activities. If left untreated, anxiety can require intense intervention.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Some of the most common signs of an anxiety disorder, which may vary depending on the type of disorder, may include:
- Feeling restless, irritable, or tired
- Difficult concentrating and making decisions
- Experiencing intense panic and dread
- Uncontorallabe and sometimes obsessive thoughts
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Experiencing intense stress and worry
Anxiety disorders can also cause a variety of physical symptoms, like heart palpitations, muscle and body aches, shortness of breath, and nausea, to name a few.
Different Types of Anxiety Disorders
As mentioned, symptoms will vary depending on the anxiety disorder. Some of the most common anxiety disorders people experience include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) causes persistent feelings of anxiety and dread.
- Panic disorder causes sudden and intense panic attacks, even when there’s no clear danger
- Social anxiety disorder causes individuals to fear being watched or judged by others
- Phobia-related disorders describe intense fears of specific objections or situations
How Anxiety Affects Mental Health and Daily Life
The symptoms of anxiety disorders make functioning day-to-day difficult and even impossible in the most severe cases. Additionally, it can worsen or lead to other mental health conditions like depression, making functioning day-to-day even more challenging.
The Connection Between Anxiety, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse
Anxiety can cause or be a cause of another mental health condition, causing some to use substances to cope, leading to addiction. Additionally, long-term substance use can sometimes lead to anxiety or other conditions, in which case dual diagnosis treatment is required.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Anxiety Treatment at Profound in Los Angeles
Many evidence-based modalities can help those requiring anxiety treatment. Some you’ll encounter at Profound Treatment here in Los Angeles, California, include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Trauma therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Somatic experiencing therapy
- Art and music therapy
Modalities like CBT and DBT, in particular, can help people manage their emotions, behaviors, and thinking patterns. People learn to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and accept emotions while improving behaviors.
Psychotherapy for Anxiety
The modalities listed above are just a few of what we use at Profound, but psychotherapy sessions are shown to be exceptionally effective in treating anxiety. Whether individual, group, or family, psychotherapy can provide the chance to:
- Explore beliefs, feelings, and behaviors
- Address challenging memories and experiences
- Increase self-awareness and understanding
- Create a plan to achieve your desired changes
- Understand the impact of psychological trauma
- Process childhood trauma and learn to manage stress
Holistic Approaches to Anxiety Treatment
Along with these modalities, holistic practices can also help with treatment. These mindfulness practices help clients stay in the present moment, observe and detach from anxious thoughts, and reduce the intensity of their symptoms. That may include meditation, yoga, breathwork, and other mindfulness-based techniques. These practices aim to help anxiety by treating the mind, body, and spirit of those seeking treatment at Profound.
Residential Treatment Programs for Anxiety in Los Angeles, CA
Of course, anxiety treatment sometimes requires a more intense program, especially when addiction is involved. In some cases, individuals may consider a residential treatment program. Some of the benefits of anxiety treatment in a residential treatment program include:
- Around-the-clock care and support
- Comprehensive, individualized treatment plans
- Safe spaces to focus on treatment and wellness
- Consistent peer support and community
- Aftercare planning and sober living options
Additionally, choosing a residential treatment center for anxiety and dual diagnosis can help treat your anxiety and SUD simultaneously.
Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs for Anxiety in Los Angeles
Individuals not looking for a residential program may consider an outpatient or intensive outpatient program (IOP). The decision between an inpatient or outpatient program depends on your situation. Some of the benefits of outpatient programs and IOPs include:
- Flexibility to continue living your daily life while getting treatment
- More cost-effective than some inpatient programs
- Wide and quicker access to a high level of care
- Opportunities to keep working and care for a family when getting better
- Comprehensive treatment that helps with anxiety while teaching other essential life skills
Tips and Tricks for Managing Anxiety
Of course, to live and function with an anxiety disorder, individuals must also learn tools and techniques to help them manage. Time in treatment can teach clients about such tools, which may include:
- Getting enough quality sleep
- Eating right and exercising
- Breathwork and meditation
- Hobbies and enjoyable activities
- Spending time with friends and family
Anxiety Treatment in Special Populations
Additionally, Profound Treatment focuses on offering anxiety treatment to a range of special populations, including programs for:
- LGBTQ+ Communities
- Transgender individuals
- Working professionals
- Law enforcement and first responders
Begin Your Healing Journey: Anxiety Treatment at Profound in Los Angeles
Anxiety treatment at Profound is open to all, and we hope you’ll take the first step toward compassionate, professional anxiety treatment today. We nurture a safe, healing environment for people to recover from addiction, improve their mental health, and learn to manage their anxiety long-term. Call or visit our website to start your journey today.
Everyone experiences anxiety day to day, but for some people, anxiety becomes so debilitating that it prevents them from functioning. When this happens, it’s called an anxiety disorder, which includes generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobia-related disorders, and panic disorder. People sometimes turn to substance use as a way to cope with their disorder, but this can quickly lead to dependence. In those instances, individuals must seek dual diagnosis treatment to recover from both conditions simultaneously. Profound Treatment nurtures a safe, healing environment for people of all communities struggling with anxiety, mental health, and substance use. Call us at (310) 340-2609 to learn more and begin your addiction treatment program today.
(310) 929-9546
