Social anxiety and addiction frequently go hand in hand. The uncomfortable symptoms that accompany social anxiety can drive some people toward alcohol or drugs in an attempt to cope with stressful social situations, which can frequently result in the development of a substance use disorder.
As debilitating as these common co-occurring conditions can be, effective, evidence-based treatment methods exist to help people overcome both challenges simultaneously.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
To understand the connection between these two disorders, it’s first essential to understand the symptoms and challenges that people with social anxiety disorder experience. Social anxiety is widespread, with the National Institute of Mental Health estimating that over 7% of the United States population experiences a social anxiety disorder each year.[1]
Common symptoms of social anxiety disorder may include:
- Fear of being judged or criticized by others
- Excessive worry about embarrassing yourself
- Avoiding social situations out of fear
- Physical symptoms, such as sweating, a racing heartbeat, or trouble breathing
- Expecting the worst possible outcomes in any social situation
- Overanalyzing your performance during social interactions
These symptoms can quickly disrupt daily life and may have downstream effects on sleep, emotions, and physical health.
Yet, as harmful as these symptoms can be, many people are unaware that they have an underlying mental health condition or avoid seeking out treatment for mental health disorders. When that’s the case, alcohol or drug use might become a temporary, maladaptive solution for managing the symptoms of social anxiety.
Symptoms of Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders are even more common, with the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimating that 17.5% of the adult population had a substance use disorder in 2022.[2] The simple definition of addiction is the continued use of drugs or alcohol despite mounting consequences. Still, clinicians have identified 11 key symptoms of a substance use disorder. This includes:
- Tolerance, or needing to use more of your substance of choice for the desired effect
- Withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking drugs or alcohol
- Continued use of drugs or alcohol despite worsening physical or mental health challenges
- Using drugs or alcohol when it is hazardous to do so
- Giving up important activities in favor of substance use
- Continued substance use despite interpersonal problems caused by substance use
- Failure to keep up with important tasks at work, school, or home due to substance use
- Cravings for substances
- Spending a great deal of time using drugs or alcohol, seeking them out, or recovering from their effects
- Multiple failed attempts to quit or cut down on your own
- Using more substances than intended or for longer than intended
Experiencing just a few of these symptoms can lead to a diagnosis of a substance use disorder. Living with untreated addiction can rapidly escalate, causing problems in your relationships, home life, and work. It generally leads to undue stress and hardship that could be avoided by achieving recovery.
The Connection Between Social Anxiety and Substance Use
Social anxiety and addiction frequently co-occur. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 37.9% of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental health condition, and 18.2% of people with a mental health disorder have a co-occurring addiction.[3]
The reason people with social anxiety turn to drug and alcohol use is relatively simple: drugs and alcohol can often temporarily relieve the experience of anxiety. Yet the benefits of coping with social anxiety through substance use are typically short-lived and can ultimately make anxiety worse over time.
People who turn to drugs or alcohol to overcome social anxiety can find themselves quickly becoming reliant on these substances for any social situation and never learn healthier coping mechanisms to deal with their challenges.
In time, this can lead to a physiological and psychological dependence on these substances, leaving people with two serious conditions that typically require professional treatment to be overcome.
Breaking Free from Social Anxiety and Addiction
As serious as these conditions are, there are effective treatment methods that can support people in finding recovery from both substance use and social anxiety simultaneously. The science of mental health and addiction treatment has grown by leaps and bounds in the past several years, offering several evidence-based treatments for people with co-occurring conditions.
If you or a loved one is experiencing both of these disorders, finding treatment from a team of mental health professionals can provide you with the services needed to build a lasting and sustainable recovery. Some of the best treatment options include:
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
Dual-diagnosis treatment is a model of mental health care dedicated to treating addiction and mental health conditions simultaneously. This includes both cutting-edge addiction treatment options, such as medication-assisted treatment and twelve-step facilitation, as well as targeted mental health treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychiatric services.
Dual-diagnosis treatment isn’t a specific treatment but rather an approach to comprehensively integrating multiple effective treatment options.
Individual Therapy
Working one-on-one with a talk therapist is one of the most powerful tools for breaking free from both addiction and social anxiety disorder. While there is an abundance of different therapeutic approaches your therapist may use, they all emphasize understanding the root causes of the condition, providing actionable strategies for managing your symptoms, and helping you build a stronger and healthier life in recovery.
Of all treatment methods, individual therapy provides the most in-depth investigation of your unique challenges. It is also inherently flexible, allowing you to guide the session toward the most pressing issues in your life now and in the future.
Peer-to-Peer Support
Peer support can be a precious tool for dealing with these severe conditions. Sometimes, the best person to help isn’t necessarily a professional but someone who has experienced similar challenges and found their own path toward recovery.
Mental health and addiction treatment centers often facilitate these peer support options by hosting group therapy sessions, connecting people to community support groups, and bringing people with shared challenges together to work on recovery.
Begin Treatment With the Connecticut Center for Recovery
If you or a loved one are dealing with co-occurring social anxiety and addiction, starting treatment at the Connecticut Center for Recovery can provide you with the evidence-based treatments and services needed to start making a new path forward. Reach out to our team today by filling out our confidential online contact form and taking the first steps toward a new life in recovery.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/social-anxiety-disorder
[2]https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42728/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetTabsSect5pe2022.htm
[3] https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/comorbidity/comorbidity-substance-use-other-mental-disorders-infographic
Alexis earned both a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She holds licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy in Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and is also a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Alexis works with families, couples, children, and groups and also has a sub-specialty in addiction and recovery. She utilizes an integrated, systemic approach to counseling; empowering people to define what is not working for them in their lives and to discover the possibilities for making life work. In doing this, clients are guided towards identifying their strengths, accessing their resources, tapping into their potential for success, and taking action toward achieving their desired goals.
Alexis also has extensive experience in the administration of behavioral health organizations. She has developed, built, and supervised several facilities encompassing all levels of care while leading them through state licensing and The Joint Commission accreditation process.