Who Has the Best Anxiety Treatment in Costa Mesa, CA?

What Is Anxiety Treatment in Costa Mesa, CA Like?

Anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa is diverse and can be tailored to your specific needs and symptoms. Treatment can occur in various settings, including private practices, clinics, hospitals, or community mental health centers. It can involve a combination of therapeutic approaches, medication management, lifestyle changes, and support systems. 

Depending on your needs, you might receive anxiety therapy in a group or individual setting. Many find group settings helpful as it shows they aren’t alone in experiencing mental health struggles. The camaraderie and peer support that comes from group therapy can go a long way in helping someone overcome their issues with anxiety.

The types of therapies that may be used in treating your anxiety in Costa Mesa may include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most influential and commonly used therapies for treating anxiety. It focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT is effective for treating anxiety, focusing on teaching skills in distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Exposure Therapy: Often used for phobias and social anxiety disorder, exposure therapy involves gradual, controlled exposure to the source of fear in a safe and supportive environment.
• Medication: While not a therapy per se, medication is a crucial aspect of treatment for some individuals. Psychiatrists in Costa Mesa can prescribe medications such as SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, or beta-blockers to help manage symptoms of anxiety.
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): This therapy emphasizes mindfulness meditation to help people better understand and manage their thoughts and emotions.
• Lifestyle and Holistic Approaches: Encouraging regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and yoga and meditation can also support anxiety treatment.

Treatment plans are often multidisciplinary and can include a combination of these therapies based on what works best for the individual. Many Orange County, CA, anxiety treatment centers are equipped to offer a range of these services, ensuring that individuals can find the treatment that best suits their needs.

Medications That Treat Anxiety

There are certain medications prescribed by medical professionals that can help reduce symptoms of anxiety. Unfortunately, a subset of anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines carry a risk of dependence and abuse when taken over more extended periods. Known as benzos for short, these anxiety medications are intended for short-term use only. They are often fast-acting and can provide relief when someone feels overly anxious.

Some of the most common benzodiazepines used for anxiety treatment include:

• Alprazolam (Xanax, Farmapram, Niravam)
• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• Clorazepate (Tranxene)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Benzodiazepines work by slowing down the central nervous system, causing the user to feel more relaxed. Drowsiness is a common side effect of benzodiazepine use. While the anxiety-reducing properties can be very helpful, there are negative side effects. Confusion, respiratory depression, extreme tiredness, and slower reflexes have all been reported among benzodiazepine users.

Is Anxiety Medication Dangerous?

In 2016, of the 30.6 million adults in the US using benzodiazepines, 5.3 million reported misusing the drug. While the most common form of benzo abuse was without a prescription, many Americans reported misusing their prescription as well.

Taking benzodiazepines for longer than the recommended 7 to 14 days can also lead to tolerance, which means the person will need to take more of the drug to feel the same effects.

In fact, studies show that up to 30 to 45% of patients who chronically use prescription benzodiazepines develop a low-dose dependency on the drug.

When an individual starts taking more than the prescribed dosage of anxiety medication, it opens the door for an overdose or even death to occur. Benzodiazepine addiction is when someone feels a compulsive urge to use the drug despite negative consequences. On top of this, research shows that benzodiazepine misuse is strongly linked to prescription stimulant and opioid abuse as well. This puts people at risk of developing a polysubstance use disorder, which greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.

The Link Between Anxiety and Addiction

Anxiety and substance abuse are often intertwined in a complex relationship, with each condition having the potential to exacerbate the other. Anxiety disorders, characterized by excessive fear, worry, and stress, can be overwhelming for individuals, leading them to seek relief or escape through substance use.

Research shows that there are three ways substance abuse and anxiety occur:

• Self-medication of an anxiety disorder leading to a substance use disorder (75%)
• A substance-induced anxiety disorder (0.2%)
• A third factor, such as genetic predisposition, leading to the simultaneous development of a substance use and anxiety disorder (24.8%)

Of the different types of anxiety disorders, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD) have the highest associations with substance use disorders. However,  any who struggle with anxiety are at risk of developing a dependency. For this reason, it’s important to understand the relationship between anxiety and substance abuse, and how to address it.

The Dangers of Self-Medicating an Anxiety Disorder

The biggest risk of self-medicating an anxiety disorder is the potential of developing physical and psychological dependence on an addictive substance. Unfortunately, any form of substance abuse, regardless of a person’s intentions, can lead to an addiction.

This is because the body builds a tolerance to the substance the longer it is used. As a tolerance is formed, the body requires higher doses to achieve the same effect, which can escalate both the person’s substance abuse and feelings of anxiety.

While alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs may temporarily reduce symptoms of anxiety may seem like an alluring respite from the mental turmoil but this relief is fleeting. More often than not, individuals increasingly rely on substances to manage their anxiety, causing a never-ending cycle of self-medication.

This can severely impact their physical and mental health, as well as their relationships and daily functioning. People who attempt to use drugs or alcohol to cope with anxiety often end up worsening their original symptoms and may even trigger new ones.