How to Deal With Anxiety Without Addictive Drugs

Everyone faces anxiety at some point in life. Work, school, relationships, and finances are all causes of concern. It often triggers feelings of worry, hesitation, and fear. However, knowing how to deal with anxiety could mean the difference between developing an addiction or not.

Tips for How to Deal With Anxiety

Anxiety doesn’t have to overwhelm you to the point that you want to drink or use drugs. You can use several tips to manage these feelings without substance abuse and addiction.

Pause to Breathe

It’s common for people to hold their breath when they become afraid or anxious. In some cases, overcoming the issue is as simple as stopping to breathe. Find a comfortable sitting position and close your eyes. Then, deeply inhale and exhale through your nose. Repeat these steps, allowing your breath to guide you back to the present. You might even want to get breathing training to help you regain control of your emotions. Learning diaphragmatic breathing can really calm you down.

Use Relaxation Techniques

Breathing exercises can help you relax when you have anxiety. However, practicing other techniques can come in handy when deep breathing isn’t enough. Yoga therapy and exercise are two of the most popular relaxation techniques. Yoga is a form of mindfulness that generates peaceful feelings. It helps you balance your body, emotions, and thoughts through postures so that you feel relaxed and calm. Exercise stimulates endorphin production, which makes your body feel better in general.

Determine the Cause

Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and trembling. These might arise before you even understand the cause. However, identifying the cause is one of the top tips for how to deal with anxiety. Set aside time to explore your feelings and thoughts. Journal writing is a great way to determine the cause of your anxiety. Write down everything that bothers you on a regular basis. Sometimes, this activity is enough to regain control.

Let Go of or Overcome the Fear

Fear of what could or may never happen is often a source of anxiety. For instance, you might worry daily about getting sick, the safety of loved ones, or losing your job. Although life is unpredictable, you can’t control everything that happens. What you can control is how you deal with the unknown. Turn the anxiety into a strength by letting go or overcoming it. You can overcome the fear by changing your attitude toward it. Focus on how grateful you are for your health, loved ones’ safety, and job.

However, this approach isn’t always viable. For example, you may have reason to fear job loss because of company layoffs. Instead of letting it build up inside, start looking for a new job in your spare time. You can retain control by being proactive about your cause of anxiety.

Get Help for Anxiety and Substance Use

If your anxiety disrupts your life and leads to substance abuse, you can get help at Beaches Recovery. We’re a dual diagnosis treatment center in Jacksonville Florida that offers a range of services, including:

• Drug and alcohol detox programs at Tides Edge Detox, our partner facility
• Residential drug rehab
• Outpatient drug rehab
• Sober living network
• Mindfulness-based treatment

Don’t let anxiety or drugs make you feel like it’s the end of the world. Learn how to deal with anxiety and substance use at Beaches Recovery. Contact us at 866.605.0532 and get started on your new, calmer life.