Dual Diagnosis in Addiction and Anxiety

Unit 4: Addiction/Anxiety Counselling

• Addiction and anxiety often occur together. Depression can be a cause for drug or alcohol use for self-medication, or it may develop as addiction progresses.
• "Dual diagnosis" refers to addiction alongside psychiatric issues including anxiety. This complicates recovery for clients.
• Mental health conditions like depression increase the risk of addiction. About 29% of people with diagnosed mental illnesses are also substance abusers, including 37% of alcoholics and 53% of drug abusers.
• Addiction is not instantaneous but develops slowly, sometimes as a result of occasional recreational use.
• Anxiety is characterized by psychological and physiological symptoms including stress, worry, fear, and panic attacks. Symptoms include nervousness, excessive worry, panic attacks, and avoidance behaviors.
• Psychoactive drugs like alcohol, nicotine, barbiturates, minor tranquilizers, amphetamines, heroin, and marijuana are commonly abused substances. Drug abuse involves a pathological need that can lead to substance dependence disorder or substance abuse disorder. Dependence involves physiological need, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.
• Symptoms of addiction and anxiety overlap considerably; anxiety may be a consequence of addiction, rather than a separate condition, leading to more challenges in treatment.
• Symptoms can include sudden mood changes, irritability, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, personality changes, poor judgment, dishonesty, and family problems.
• Additional physical symptoms may include restlessness, fatigue, changes in heart rate, sweating, and difficulty speaking / communication problems.

Developing Addiction

• Addiction to drugs (including marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and alcohol) usually doesn't happen suddenly but develops over time. Often a recreational use escalates to habit.
• Drug use can be motivated by social factors or to cope with sadness, guilt, or worthlessness. This pattern can lead to addiction as temporary relief leads to repeated use.

Treatment for Addiction and Anxiety includes:

• Psychological treatment, focusing on personality assessment to understand the current state, and role of emotional stress and personality in developing a disorder,
• Group therapy, aims to release emotions, encourage behavioral and attitudinal modifications with a supportive environment, and focus on remedial, supportive, or reconstructive functions.
• Behavior counseling, involves therapies to help address addictive behaviors such as aversion therapy. This often focuses on modifying negative behaviors to improve habits.
• Environmental interventions, such as support groups or community involvement, can encourage a positive social environment and modify attitudes.
• Re-education psychotherapy, helps clients to become more self-aware and modify attitudes and thinking to find healthier solutions for their anxieties and addictive behaviors.
• Self-control training, which helps those affected to set goals, reduce substance use and improve their lifestyle.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on changing negative thoughts and beliefs to reduce anxiety and improve coping skills.
• Individual therapy, allows for personal exploration, goal setting, and address underlying problems associated with these issues.

Causes of Addiction and Anxiety

• Addiction's causes are multifaceted: psychological, social, biological, and cultural factors. This includes experiences like trauma, personal problems, environmental issues and societal influences.
• Genetic vulnerability may play a role in addiction, as indicated through family histories.
• Childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect may increase the risk of addiction in later life.
• Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety may contribute to addiction, as some individuals turn to substances or behaviors to cope with symptoms.