What Are Some Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety and Depression in Substance Use Recovery?

Substance use recovery is a deeply personal and complex journey. It so often involves more than overcoming addiction. For many, it requires you to address co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. The emotional toll of addiction, combined with the biological, psychological, and social factors involved in recovery, makes it common for people to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during their treatment journey. Fortunately, evidence-based treatments exist that can effectively address these challenges, improving your overall recovery outcome. 

West Coast Recovery Centers is dedicated to providing high-quality, individualized care for those struggling with addiction and mental health conditions. That includes utilizing evidence-based treatment methods from a holistic approach. If you or a loved one is looking to reclaim your life or achieve lasting wellness, consider contacting us today. 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The first treatment we'll look at is CBT, which is one of the most widely researched and effective therapies for anxiety and depression. CBT can help you identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behavior contributing to emotional distress. 

In the context of addiction recovery, CBT focuses on helping people reframe their thinking patterns related to substance use, anxiety, and depression. For example, someone may feel anxious about a potential relapse and interpret the anxiety as a signal of failure. CBT teaches people to recognize these distorted thoughts and replace them with healthier, more realistic beliefs. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

A more modern modality that is growing in popularity among clinicians is ACT, a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy. ACT focuses on accepting negative emotions rather than fighting, avoiding, or even changing them, like we would with CBT. Further, it encourages individuals to commit to actions aligned with their values, even in the face of emotional distress. 

Within addiction recovery, ACT can help people accept uncomfortable feelings surrounding anxiety and depression. The approach teaches that struggling with negative emotions can lead to substance use as a form of avoidance. Through ACT, people can learn how to make room for distress and take positive actions toward recovery despite the discomfort. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A type of CBT, DBT is designed specifically for those experiencing emotional dysregulation. While initially developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT has proven effective for managing mood disorders, anxiety, and depression in a variety of populations. That includes those in recovery. 

At its core, DBT teaches skills that help people be more mindful, tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships. As these skills are learned, individuals begin to deal with emotional instability and complex feelings that often accompany addiction and recovery. Additionally, learning to tolerate distress without resorting to substance use and how to regulate extreme emotions can be helpful to those in treatment. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Individuals experiencing severe anxiety and depression during recovery may need more than psychotherapy; rather, they may also need medication. Medication can play an integral role in stabilizing a mental health condition and providing symptom relief. MAT combines the use of FDA-approved medications with counseling and therapy to address both addiction and mental health conditions. 

Additionally, MAT may involve selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression or benzodiazepines (used cautiously and short-term) for anxiety. Further, substances like buprenorphine and methadone are commonly used for substance use disorder (SUD) and can help reduce cravings while helping people manage depression and anxiety symptoms during treatment. 

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

More modalities have risen that have a foundational groundwork in mindfulness, including MBSR. This structured program teaches individuals how to pay attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. The practice of mindfulness has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, making it a valuable tool in substance use recovery. 

MBSR encourages mindfulness practices, which may include meditation, breathing exercises, and body scan. Within an addiction recovery program, mindfulness can help people become aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without reacting impulsively. Such self-awareness can prevent the emotional overwhelm that often leads to substance use as a coping mechanism. 

Peer Support and Group Therapy

The last modality we'll mention is peer support and group therapy. Connection is vital to those in recovery. Sharing experience with others who can understand the challenges of addiction helps reduce feelings of isolation, promote emotional well-being, and enhance coping strategies. 

Group therapy also provides a space for individuals to share their struggles and learn from one another's experiences. Peer support groups outside of treatment – like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – also provide additional, ongoing encouragement. Further, it helps people build a network of sober peers who can offer support during times of emotional distress. 

Embracing the Path Forward

Addressing anxiety and depression in addiction recovery requires a multifaceted approach that combines evidence-based modalities and supports emotional well-being. These are just a few of the evidence-based treatments you may be exposed to during your time in treatment. Nevertheless, they can all play an integral role in helping you manage your anxiety, depression, and other mental health symptoms that may arise on your path to recovery. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety and depression during substance use recovery, it's essential to reach out for help. West Coast Recovery Centers can provide the individualized care necessary to help you reclaim control over your life. Call or visit our website to get started today. 

Addiction treatment can be extremely complex and messy, which is why professional treatment is vital. Among a number of complex emotions, many experience anxiety and depression while seeking treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD). Thankfully, many evidence-based treatments can help manage these symptoms during your treatment. Some of those include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and peer support and group therapy, to name a few. For more information about these and other evidence-based modalities, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509. Our facility is committed to helping you feel empowered to regain control over your life through our individualized treatment plans and combination of evidence-based and holistic treatments.