Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Anxiety and depression are the two most common disorders that occur with addiction. Moreover, anxiety and depression often co-exist. The high occurrence rate of these conditions is why it’s so common for rehab centers to offer dual diagnosis programs. Both anxiety and depression feed addiction, making it even harder for people to get their lives back on track.
Why 1st Step?
At 1st Step Behavioral Health, we recognize the complex interplay between addiction, anxiety, and depression. Our anxiety and depression treatment programs in Florida are tailored to address the unique needs of individuals facing these intertwined challenges, providing comprehensive support and evidence-based therapies that empower our clients to break free from the cycle of addiction and mental health distress.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response to stress, fear, or a perceived threat. It is a normal part of the human experience and can help individuals stay alert and focused in challenging situations. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and overwhelming, it can develop into an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. Depression can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being, often leading to a range of symptoms that interfere with daily life.
Both anxiety and depression are common mental health conditions that can vary in severity. When they become chronic or significantly impact a person’s functioning and well-being, professional treatment and support are necessary.
Why Do Anxiety and Depression Often Occur With Addiction?
When individuals engage in substance use, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, it significantly disrupts the delicate balance of the neurotransmitters in the brain. This disruption often leads to the emergence or exacerbation of anxiety and depression symptoms.
However, it’s worth noting that anxiety and depression aren’t always a direct consequence of addiction. In many instances, these mental health conditions can manifest independently. They can develop before any issues with substance use or even exist entirely apart from addiction concerns.
The reasons for the onset of anxiety and depression are multifaceted and can result from various factors, such as genetics, life circumstances, or past experiences. In some cases, individuals may turn to substance use as a means of self-medication—a way to cope with the emotional distress caused by anxiety and depression.
Whether addiction or mental illness comes first can vary significantly from one person to another. Some individuals may grapple with preexisting anxiety or depression, which subsequently drives them toward substance use as a way to alleviate their emotional pain. Others may initiate substance abuse for different reasons, only to find themselves dealing with new and intensified anxiety or depression symptoms as a result of their addictive behaviors.
Treatment for Anxiety and Depression in Florida
The best thing that you can do for depression and anxiety is to seek professional help. Our South Florida rehab centers offer comprehensive dual diagnosis programs, which address both addiction and co-occurring disorders.
At 1st Step Behavioral Health, we take a proven approach to helping our clients overcome addiction as well as any co-occurring disorders. We pride ourselves on offering long-term care that lasts anywhere from six months to a full year. Some of the addiction programs and services that we offer include:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Family therapy
- Relapse treatment
- Art and music therapy
- Life skills building
- Holistic therapies
- TMS Therapy
We place a great emphasis on family therapy. Involving family members provides you with a strong support system during your addiction treatment. Additionally, family therapy acts as an educational course that helps your family members better understand addiction.
We also offer a number of holistic therapies such as acupuncture and massage therapy. We have a wellness center with a chiropractor as well. The goal of these services is to reduce stress and make it easier for you to focus on treatment.
Advanced Depression Therapy With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is a non-invasive and FDA-approved treatment for depression that addresses the root cause without medication. It involves the use of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, particularly in areas associated with mood regulation.
1st Step proudly offers TMS Therapy as a safe and highly effective form of depression therapy. Our TMS therapy is:
- Covered by insurance
- More effective than medication
- Over 2 million treatments delivered
- Quick & convenient
By gently stimulating the areas of the brain that are under-active in people with depression, TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation teaches the neurons how to fire again. In as little as 6 weeks, you can have complete remission from depression.
Taking Complete Control of Anxiety and Depression
Depression and anxiety are difficult to deal with. It sometimes seems as if anything can trigger depression or anxiety at any time. Once these feelings set in, it’s easy to turn to drugs or alcohol as a crutch. The increase of dopamine that drugs and alcohol provide may be enough to keep depression or anxiety at bay, but only for a while. Taking drugs or alcohol never deals with the root cause of mental illness.
There are a few changes that you can make to your lifestyle to reduce the effects of anxiety and depression. Some of these changes include:
- Exercise
- Setting realistic goals for yourself
- Avoiding giving in to the temptation to sleep during the day
- Eating healthy
- Having a strong support group
- Avoiding drugs and alcohol
These may seem like basic concepts. However, it’s easy to lose sight of them when you suffer from depression. It’s also crucial to seek expert help so you can get to the root cause of your depression.
Start Treatment for Anxiety and Depression today.
Don’t let anxiety and depression make your addiction worse. Fight back against these disorders with the help of our dual diagnosis treatment center. Call or text us today at (855) 425-4846 for more information.
