Alcoholism Dual Diagnosis – Successfully Treating Alcoholics

January 27th, 2012 Posted in Anxiety and Depression

Individuals given an anxiety disorder and alcoholism dual diagnosis have a mental health problem at the root of their alcohol addiction. They drink to relieve their anxiety. Because overindulging makes their anxiety symptoms worse when they sober up, they repeatedly use alcohol in a vicious cycle. To be successful, treatment must address the anxiety disorder and the alcohol abuse simultaneously.

Social Phobia

One of the most common anxiety problems associated with alcohol abuse is social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder. People with social phobia have an intense fear of being humiliated, embarrassed or negatively judged by others. The disorder causes such severe anxiety that people will go out of their way to avoid social activities and public situations. Physical symptoms include trembling, stammering, blushing, sweating, nausea and heart palpitations.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is another condition associated with problem drinking. Sufferers repeatedly undergo sudden episodes of intense anxiety. These panic attacks are so severe that they can be mistaken for a heart attack or nervous breakdown. Symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, chest pains, shallow breathing, shaking and dizziness. During an attack, people may fear that they about to lose consciousness or even die.

PTSD

Alcohol abuse is also frequently seen in association with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People may develop PTSD after experiencing a horrific event such as rape or series of traumatic episodes such as continuous combat in war. Symptoms of PTSD include agitation, sleeping problems, nightmares and flashbacks. Sufferers are constantly vigilant and over-sensitive to perceived threats. They find it difficult to handle the stress of the workplace or public situations.

Reasons For Abuse

Individuals with anxiety disorders often use alcohol to calm fears, reduce stress levels, numb emotional pain or relax social inhibitions. Treatments for alcohol addiction often fail because alcoholics routinely drink in order to cope with their anxiety. One study following patients in alcohol dependence programs found that those diagnosed with anxiety disorders had the greatest risk of a relapse within four months.

Therapy

Many alcohol rehabilitation centers now have programs specifically developed for anxiety disorder and alcoholism dual diagnosis patients. Treatment at inpatient facilities normally begins with detoxification. Once this process is completed, healthcare workers are better able to distinguish between the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and those brought on by alcohol abuse. A range of treatment options can then be used to reduce the patient’s anxiety and overcome their addiction.

12-Step Program

Alcohol misuse is typically addressed using twelve-step methods along with peer counseling and support. Symptoms of anxiety may be treated with prescription medications to eliminate the need for self-medication with alcohol. Psychotherapy may be used to help patients with underlying emotional conflicts. Patients are frequently offered cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach them practical ways to reduce their social anxiety and prevent panic attacks.

After successfully progressing through an alcohol inpatient program, patients can continue to access support through out-patient programs. Dedicated case workers help to ensure that they are able to cope with the stresses of work and social situations. Specialized treatment allows anxiety disorder and alcohol addiction dual diagnosis patients to break the vicious cycle of addiction. They emerge from therapy with the ability to minimize their anxiety without reaching for the bottle.