Can anxiety lead to addiction?

Can anxiety lead to addiction?

Testimony from Maud Tijardovic, clinical psychologist specializing in addiction treatment.

First, it is important to distinguish between anxiety and addiction:

– Addiction is a substance-related or non-substance-related dependence leading to a compulsive behavior (out of control).

– Stress is a normal reaction of our body which enables us to cope with an emergency, danger, or change. It is what allowed our ancestors to survive, overcome challenges, and reproduce. However, stress can have a negative impact on us, and when it becomes overwhelming, it leads to anxiety which can manifest itself in various forms (phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, etc.) and impact daily life.

Anxiety and addiction are related, but can exist independently of each other!

1. What is the link between anxiety and addiction?

Anxious people are more likely to become addicted. They also find it very difficult to overcome their addiction.

The anxious patients I see in my practice take medication for various reasons. These reasons will determine the substance they use:

– Highly introverted people and those with high levels of social anxiety will tend to turn to “non-substance” addictions such as video games. Gaming will then act as a “buffer” between players and the outside world. - People with high levels of stress, or even generalized anxiety, will use more disinhibiting substances such as alcohol or cannabis. - People stressed by work or a particular area of life will be more attracted to substances such as tobacco. Tobacco will have a “placebo” effect on the brain and make users feel more relaxed.

In addition, some people do not consume alcohol for fear of losing control and feeling that something is slipping away from them. In therapy, I tailor my treatment to each patient. Anxiety disorders and generalized anxiety are reduced by working on the emotions and thoughts associated with anxiety. For phobias and panic attacks, I offer patients “exposure” exercises to help them become accustomed to the source of their fear while controlling their emotions without becoming overwhelmed.

1. What advice would you give to people who are anxious about quitting smoking?

These individuals can reduce their anxiety through breathing exercises or meditation. In addition, there are five very simple emotional regulation strategies that they can use every day.

If they have to deal with a stressful situation (e.g., presenting a project), they can “Select the situation” by creating the right conditions for a successful presentation:

– Get a good night's sleep, eat well, make sure the presentation is the way I want it to be...

If they have to go through an interview with their boss and feel stress building up during the discussion, they can:

– Change their behavior in response to the situation: If I feel the tone rising and my stress becoming uncontrollable, I can ask my boss for a short break to get some fresh air and take a step back.

– Redirect your attention: If you are feeling very stressed, you can ask yourself the following questions: What am I feeling? How much on a scale of 1 to 10? Where in my body? This way, my stress will decrease when I focus on my feelings rather than on the stressful situation. - Change your perspective. For example, if my boss explains everything that is wrong with my work, it is for my own good and so that I can improve.

Finally, the last strategy consists of debrief how the person may have felt after a stressful situation. This way, they will be better able to handle the situation differently if it happens again.