Anxiety can play a huge role in someone’s life, but at the same time, it can go completely undetected. Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects a total of 6.8 million adults in the United States. Only 43.2% are receiving the proper care needed.^[1] With such a large percentage of the cases going untreated, individuals are turning to self-medication in an effort to suppress their symptoms. Even though it may worsen your disorder and cause complications in the future, it has become a common route that some are taking.^[2] Self-medicating is the act of using drugs or alcohol to alleviate any uncomfortable feelings or to mitigate their anxiety symptoms.^[2] Doing so is especially dangerous, as it could lead to serious substance addiction, promptly requiring the help of dual diagnosis Orange County.

Anxiety Brought to Light

You can develop a High Functioning Anxiety Disorder from a series of factors, including:^[3]

Genetics
Brain chemistry
Personality
Life events

If you are currently living with a High Functioning Anxiety Disorder, you know how it feels to live on an intense, high energy day after day.^[2] This nervous energy spills you forward, preventing you from ever slowing down and makes you continue to be productive, even if that means never taking a minute for yourself.^[2]

A recent article goes on further to share that an individual suffering from High Functioning Anxiety Disorder will strive, and usually succeed, to appear neatly groomed, motivated, helpful, and well rounded. But in truth, they are in a constant state of anxiety and panic.^[4] Below are the 9 most common characteristics of someone who has High Functioning Anxiety Disorder^[4]:

Highly sensitive and cares deeply
Perfectionist
Usually uncomfortable or unsettled
Active into the late evenings, skipping out on any chance to relax
Falling asleep does not come naturally
Constantly planning the next day or the future
Self-medicates to relieve symptoms
Procrastinates
Constantly seeks reassurance when making difficult decisions

Living with High Functioning Anxiety Disorder can be demanding. This particular illness is not a recognized mental health disorder. Instead, it is used as a relative term to describe someone that has anxiety but seems to be functioning well.^[2]

There are many reasons an individual may not reveal their anxiety or seek help. You may fear that you are not ill enough to need help. Perhaps you assume everyone must feel this way or think it wouldn’t make a difference because nobody would support you anyways.^[4] Your anxiety will convince you of these things to keep itself hidden. However, reaching out for help will only make you healthier and more at peace. Treating your High Functioning Anxiety Disorder doesn’t have to be complicated at all either! It could be as simple as learning how to manage your symptoms and treat them as special assets instead.^[4]

Co-Occurring Disorders and Dual Diagnosis Orange County

A person suffering from High Functioning Anxiety Disorder, may also struggle with other emotional complications, such as depression or substance use disorders.^[1] It is thought that substance abuse and anxiety co-exist, due to the frequency in self-medicating.^[1] Even though drugs and alcohol are used to temporarily subside symptoms, such as nervous habits or the inability to sleep, doing so can lead to further problems and complicate your anxiety levels more.^[1]

A study conducted with adults that have High Functioning Anxiety disorder and also struggled with substance abuse, revealed that these individuals more likely to experience poor concentration, have more disagreements with loved ones, and had a higher difficulty in completing daily responsibilities.^[1]

What Can I Do?

Individuals suffering from a High Functioning Anxiety Disorder, as well as co-occurring substance use, need to seek help from dual diagnosis Orange County. With the right recovery model, you will learn it is treatable and can even be done so by learning how to properly treat your symptoms in healthier ways.^[4]

If you or a loved one is suffering from a High Functioning Anxiety disorder and may be in need of a dual diagnosis Orange County, contact Ocean Hills Recovery for help. Anyone suffering from anxiety may worry they won’t be heard or taken seriously. But our staff assures you that we are here to help and support you every step of the way.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding High Functioning Anxiety disorders and dual diagnoses, please contact us right away. We want to ensure we equip you with the right tools to be able to handle any situation as well as lead a healthy life. Beginning the road to a healthier, happier you, is only a phone call away.

Sources:

[1] https://www.verywellmind.com/anxiety-substance-use-disorders-1393073

[2] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety-4140198#citation-6

[3] https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

[4] https://aliciaclarkpsyd.com/symptoms-of-high-functioning-anxiety/

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How long does drug and alcohol rehab last?

The length of your stay at drug and alcohol rehab will vary for each person attending rehab and from treatment center to treatment center. Most inpatient programs are at least 30 days long; however, some programs may incorporate a shorter inpatient stay with a more extended outpatient stay. The best rehab centers will provide a more custom treatment plan for each person that takes into account the individual’s needs before determining the length of treatment. Ocean Hills Recovery offers a variety of options for addiction treatment. A typical stay at our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs last between 30 to 45 days.

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How to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website is a great place to start when you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. We recommend that you make a list of a few different centers to contact and speak with them to get a feel for their programs, therapies, and staff and find the center that you feel most comfortable with. Have a list of questions that you can ask each center to help you through the process. One of the most important questions to ask is if the rehab holds accreditation by CARF. Having a state license is no longer enough to ensure that a rehab center is reputable. If the rehab holds CARF accreditation, they have had to meet a more strict set of guidelines and procedures.

Do I need detox before addiction treatment?

Many people require detox to help manage withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. There are several factors that we take into consideration to determine if you will need detox before addiction treatment. Our admissions professionals work with each person to obtain a thorough history of substance use and other medical conditions to help make the appropriate recommendations for care. You must give accurate information so that we can keep you as comfortable as possible if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. For long-lasting addiction recovery, a person must deal with the underlying issues that lead to substance use in the first place. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for High Functioning Addiction and Anxiety