It is normal to feel anxious sometimes, especially before a big event, exam, or presentation, where you feel extra pressure to get out of your comfort zone. However, people who struggle with anxiety may have these feelings of stress on an ongoing daily basis. Anxiety is a chronic state of worry that can impact mental health, physical health, and disrupt daily functioning.
For people recovering from substance abuse & mental health disorders, levels of anxiety can heighten during this time before they get better. Starting the journey toward recovery can push many patients out of their comfort zone and be a challenge—causing them to feel anxious about the path ahead. It’s important to understand that these feelings are normal, and during recovery, you will learn the necessary skills to cope with feelings of anxiety.
Understanding Anxiety: Causes, Signs & More
Anxiety is a fear response to anything that the brain thinks is a threat (even if that threat is non-existent). This response puts the body into survival mode, increasing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This heightened state of fear becomes the baseline for people with anxiety, and the increased stress hormones can increase the risk of other mental health problems or physical health disorders.
People with anxiety don’t need a reason to feel this chronic state of fear. They may struggle with anxiety about situations that never happened or have no reason to take place.
Causes of Anxiety
Anxiety can be caused by several different factors. Sometimes anxiety is situational, taking place during or after a stressful or traumatic event. Other factors that can make someone more susceptible to developing anxiety include genetic, environmental influences, or social factors. Some common causes of anxiety include:
- Childhood trauma
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Health problems
- Medical injury or accident
- Social isolation
- Conflicts in relationships
- Gender (women are 2x likely to suffer from anxiety than men)
Signs of Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety can manifest psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Some of the common signs of anxiety include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Sweating or trembling
- Restlessness or irritability
- Changes in sleep/appetite
- Headaches
- Increased heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
Anxiety During Substance Abuse Recovery
Experiencing anxiety during substance abuse recovery can be normal and may be a sign of post-acute withdrawal syndrome. These withdrawal symptoms can persist for up to a few weeks following detox. It’s normal to face several challenges in the early stages of recovery that can also heighten anxiety. These may include:
- Fear of living in sobriety without drugs or alcohol to cope
- Living in a new setting (if entering residential treatment or inpatient rehab)
- Financial instability
- Seeking a new job or education (life after treatment)
- Feelings of isolation
- Repairing damaged relationships
Anxiety During Mental Health Recovery
Anxiety can arise during mental health treatments as patients work through underlying distress and trauma. Sometimes the fear of mental illness symptoms returning can also increase rates of anxiety. If patients enter residential treatment, being in a new setting and meeting new people can increase anxiety.
How to Cope With Anxiety in Recovery
During recovery, you will be involved in intense therapies that help you build positive coping skills to improve your mental health and decrease symptoms of anxiety. Some of the coping skills you may learn that help you during recovery could include:
- Grounding exercises by engaging the 5 senses. This could include listening to music, playing with your pet, or going outside for a walk
- Breathing exercises may be taught in workshops during treatment to teach you how to slow your breathing and get the body out of fight or flight mode
- Creating a resource for self-soothing. This could be a box filled with items that help you relax and ease anxiety. Items could include puzzles, a coloring book, or a stress ball
- Reducing caffeine intake can help curb symptoms of anxiety. Try switching to an alternative such as tea or water
- Allow yourself to properly rest, getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night
When To Seek Help
It’s important to seek help from a mental health professional if you experience anxiety during recovery. Maple Mountain Mental Health & Wellness Center has a compassionate team of holistic therapists who can provide comprehensive support to help reduce stress and support patients with anxiety during recovery.
We understand the complex nature of anxiety and offer treatments such as CBT, medication management, and animal-assisted therapies to help ease stress & anxiety. Reach out to our admissions team today for more information.
