- Home
- Programs
- dual-diagnosis
- anxiety
Anxiety Treatment
Experience evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and anxiety disorders.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Anxiety disorders are one of the most commonly occurring psychiatric illnesses in the United States. According to a study by Harvard Medical School, it is estimated that over 30% of adults in the US will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder over the course of their lifetime. Research¹ also indicates that women are more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder (24 % versus 14%, respectively). Feelings of anxiety exist on a spectrum and can range from very mild to extremely severe.
While it is not uncommon for most individuals to experience some anxiety under a particularly stressful situation, an anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the level of anxiety becomes persistent, pervasive, and disruptive to an individual’s daily functioning. When anxiety symptoms become severe, some individuals may use drugs or alcohol to help manage their symptoms.
At Hammocks on the Edisto, we are a women’s anxiety treatment center in South Carolina. If you or a loved one is self-medicating your anxiety with drugs and/or alcohol, let our mental health treatment program in South Carolina help! For more information on addiction and anxiety treatment, please call us today at 833.793.0191.
Anxiety and Substance Use
Increasingly, research is focusing on the co-occurrence of anxiety disorders and addiction. While it is difficult to ascertain whether anxiety leads to alcohol and drug use, or vice versa, there are three ways² that these disorders are thought to interact.
- Self-medication, in which a person may use alcohol and or drugs to manage anxiety symptoms
- The anxiety disorder is substance-induced, meaning it occurs after the use/ingestion of drugs or alcohol
- A genetic predisposition or sensitivity to both anxiety and addiction.
At Hammocks on the Edisto, our focus is on teaching women about addiction and supporting them in recovery while also addressing their anxiety when the two disorders interact.
Our medical staff can review non-addictive medication alternatives with the residents, while our clinical staff, wellness coach, and yoga therapist can all work with residents on finding long term, non-pharmacologic alternatives to cope with and manage their anxiety symptoms (such as yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, breathwork, and CBT).
To help our residents wind down after a long day, we encourage healthy sleep hygiene practices, starting with participation in our evening tea time. Residents choose from a variety of locally-sourced tea varieties from the Charleston Tea Garden and local kinds of honey from Bee City. As they enjoy their caffeine-free, herbal tea before bedtime, it is an ideal opportunity to chat and mingle with fellow residents.
How Does Anxiety Impact Women?
Anxiety can significantly impair a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Many signs and symptoms of anxiety can greatly reduce a woman’s quality of life. Some common anxiety signs and symptoms include:
- Insomnia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Nausea
- Gastrointesinal distress
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Feeling on-edge
- Rapid heartbeat
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Panic attacks
Anxiety can significantly impact both your personal and professional life. Not only can anxiety influence your work or school performance, but living with an untreated anxiety disorder can make you feel exhausted and always on edge. However, you should never have to learn to live with your anxiety symptoms. Our women’s anxiety treatment in South Carolina provides comprehensive treatment so you can receive the support and care you need to better manage your anxiety.
Get the type of treatment you need
Types of Anxiety Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-V) describes anxiety disorders as having a common set of symptoms that are experienced both emotionally and physically. The emotional symptoms may include excessive fear, worry, apprehension, irritability, dread, or jumpiness. The physical symptoms may include a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweat, fatigue, insomnia, headache, or upset stomach. Individuals may experience some or even all of these symptoms, depending on the nature and severity of their anxiety. The DSM-V also identifies a number of types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Specific phobia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
At our holistic anxiety treatment in South Carolina, we will work with you to identify how your anxiety may be related to or contributing to your drug and alcohol addiction. Our clinical team utilizes cognitive processing therapy as one of our treatment approaches to help reduce symptoms of PTSD for women who have survived traumatic events.
How to Treat Anxiety in Women
Occasional moments of anxiety are normal; however, if you are experiencing chronic anxiety symptoms that affect your daily life, you must seek professional treatment to manage your anxiety symptoms better.
Understanding and getting an accurate diagnosis for your anxiety disorder is the first step towards treating your anxiety. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have will impact the type of treatment that may be best suited for your needs.
That being said, anxiety disorders are often treated with one or a combination of the following treatment options:
Therapy
Therapy and talking with a mental health professional can greatly change your thoughts and behaviors surrounding your anxiety. One of the most popular and effective forms of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which involves recognizing negative thought patterns that may exacerbate your anxiety symptoms and learning how to change those negative thoughts. Exposure therapy may also be helpful for anxiety treatment, especially if an individual gets anxious about specific situations, such as being in public.
Medication
Your doctor may consider prescribing various medications to help reduce your anxiety symptoms. While not a cure, medications can help you better manage your symptoms.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatment options such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are more ways that can help you better manage your anxiety symptoms.
Hammocks on the Edisto provides dual diagnosis treatment in South Carolina to help clients live a happier, healthier life. Our South Carolina drug rehab offers a range of treatment options so clients can receive tailored treatment plans centered around their unique needs.
You should never have to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol as a means to cope with your anxiety disorder. Contact us today to learn how our South Carolina anxiety treatment center can help you on your road to recovery.
Insurance Can Help Cover up to 100% of the cost of treatment
We Accept Most Major Insurance
Hammocks Recovery is an in-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and Aetna. Contact us today to find out if your insurance will help cover many of the costs associated with treatment at our program.
Don't Wait - Find Healing
Start Over Today
Clients Trust Us
Women's Stories of Hope
Don't Wait Any Longer
Connect With Us Today
Contact our caring and knowledgable admissions coordinators today. We will help answer any questions you may have about our gender-specific women’s rehab program right now.
Rediscover your path to joyous living
Learn More at Our South Carolina Anxiety Treatment Center
Located just south of Charleston, SC, our women’s anxiety treatment center is ready to help guide you on the path to recovery! For more information on our treatment program for anxiety and addiction, contact us at 833.793.0191.
¹ Harvard Medical School, 2007. National Comorbidity Survey (NCS). (2017, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/index.php. Data Table 2: 12-month prevalence DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders by sex and cohort.
² Stewart SH, Conrod PJ. Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders comorbidity: common themes and future directions. In: Stewart SH, Conrod PJ, editors. Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders: The Vicious Cycle of Comorbidity. New York: Springer; 2008. pp. 239–257.
