Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder and Addiction
Mixed anxiety depressive disorder is a behavioral health condition in which patients suffer equally from both anxiety and depression. Individuals who suffer from mixed anxiety depressive disorder are often at higher risk for also suffering from substance abuse, since drugs and/or alcohol can help relieve some symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Understanding the link between mixed anxiety depressive disorder and addiction can help connect individuals who suffer from these conditions with treatment centers that specialize in co-occurring disorders.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and a co-occurring disorder such as mixed anxiety depressive disorder, call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) right away. Our caring addiction specialists will guide you or your loved one toward rehab centers that treat co-occurring disorders.
Symptoms of Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder
Mixed anxiety depressive disorder is a relatively new behavioral health condition that equally treats both anxiety and depression. Sometimes, the disorder can be difficult to diagnose due to the similarities in symptoms between anxiety and depression. Addiction treatment centers that specialize in co-occurring disorders such as mixed anxiety depressive disorder can often diagnose this condition properly and guide patients toward the proper course of treatment.
Those with mixed anxiety depressive disorder tend to cry easily and have low self-esteem.
Symptoms of mixed anxiety depressive disorder include the following:
- Difficulty with concentrating
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Excessive worrying
- Crying easily
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Low self-esteem
- Enhanced sensory state
Individuals who suffer from one or more of the above symptoms for at least four weeks may have mixed anxiety depressive disorder. Those diagnosed with this condition must not be experiencing these symptoms on behalf of other medications, drugs, or health conditions. These symptoms must also be causing significant impairments to the patient’s normal, everyday life to indicate mixed anxiety depressive disorder.
Using Substances To Self-Medicate
Individuals who suffer from mixed anxiety depressive disorder often turn to drugs and/or alcohol to numb feelings of mental and emotional pain associated with anxiety and depression. These individuals may abuse prescription drugs, or turn to the streets for illicit drugs such as heroin when prescription drugs are no longer available or become too costly. Over time, these people can develop a physical dependence on substances — especially highly addictive substances such as opioids.
Addiction to substances can lead to worsened health, loss of relationships, affected performance at school or work, and other problems that can affect a person’s overall livelihood. But addiction treatment centers that specialize in co-occurring disorders can address both mixed anxiety depressive disorder and substance abuse, and help patients get their lives back on track.
Rehab centers that treat co-occurring disorders offer a number of different treatments that can be tailored specifically to each individual patient. Many times, treatments involve a combination of medications and counseling to help patients overcome both conditions. Patients may also undergo family therapy for substance abuse so they can improve and mend relationships with family members before leaving rehab.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction and one or more behavioral health disorders, call our 24/7 confidential helpline immediately at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) . We’ll help you find addiction treatment centers that can help you or your loved one overcome both mixed anxiety depressive disorder and addiction.
