Anxiety and Addiction Treatment in Denver, CO
Integrated treatment for co-occurring anxiety disorders and substance use in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado. Evidence-based care that addresses both conditions at once.
How Anxiety and Addiction Feed Each Other
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people turn to substances. Alcohol quiets the nervous system, at least temporarily. Benzodiazepines dull the constant hum of worry. Cannabis can soften the edges of social anxiety. The relief is real, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous.
Over time, the substances that were managing anxiety begin to create it. Alcohol withdrawal produces anxiety that is often more severe than the original anxiety it was treating. Benzodiazepines create physical dependence that makes the anxiety disorder harder to treat. The nervous system becomes sensitized, rebound anxiety worsens, and what began as self-medication becomes its own problem alongside the original one.
Denver Recovery's integrated program in Denver and Lakewood treats anxiety and addiction together, recognizing that resolving one without addressing the other leaves the cycle intact.
Our Approach to Anxiety and Addiction Treatment
Identifying the Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and others. Each has its own clinical profile, and the relationship between the anxiety presentation and substance use varies. Our intake assessment identifies the nature of the anxiety disorder alongside the substance use history.
CBT for Anxiety and Substance Use
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most evidence-supported treatments for both anxiety disorders and substance use disorder. In the context of co-occurring anxiety and addiction, CBT helps clients identify the anxious thought patterns that trigger substance use, develop more effective responses to anxiety, and build tolerance for discomfort without relying on substances.
Learn moreDBT for Emotional Regulation
For clients whose anxiety is connected to difficulties with emotional regulation, Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers a structured set of skills for tolerating distress and managing intense emotions without the use of substances.
Learn moreMindfulness and Somatic Approaches
Denver Recovery incorporates mindfulness-based practices, breathwork, and somatic awareness techniques that help clients develop a different relationship with anxiety, one in which the sensation does not automatically trigger a crisis or a craving.
Learn moreMedication Management
For clients whose anxiety requires medication support, Denver Recovery's integrated psychiatric team manages this within the treatment program. Non-addictive anxiolytic medications and antidepressants with anti-anxiety properties are considered where appropriate.
Learn moreAddressing the Withdrawal Piece
For clients whose anxiety has been managed with benzodiazepines, withdrawal requires careful medical management. Denver Recovery's medical team manages this process safely and compassionately as part of the integrated treatment plan.
Learn moreServing Denver, Lakewood, and the Greater Colorado Region
Denver Recovery provides anxiety and addiction treatment at our Denver and Lakewood locations, serving individuals from Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Golden, Jefferson County, and across the Colorado region. Our admissions team is happy to help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Anxiety and Addiction Treatment
How does anxiety contribute to addiction?
Many people with anxiety disorders discover that substances provide temporary relief from symptoms. The relief works in the short term, which reinforces the behavior, and over time a substance use disorder develops alongside the original anxiety condition. The anxiety does not go away. In many cases it worsens, partly due to the effects of the substances themselves.
Is anxiety treated during addiction treatment?
Yes. At Denver Recovery, anxiety disorders are treated as part of the integrated care plan from the beginning of treatment. Both conditions are addressed simultaneously by the same coordinated clinical team.
What therapies help manage anxiety in recovery?
Denver Recovery uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. The specific combination is tailored to each client's presentation and clinical profile.
Is medication used for anxiety during treatment?
Where clinically appropriate, yes. Denver Recovery's integrated psychiatric team evaluates each client's anxiety presentation and may recommend non-addictive medication support. All medication decisions are made with full awareness of the client's substance use history and recovery process.
Next step
Relief Is Possible Without Substances
If anxiety has been driving your substance use, Denver Recovery's integrated program in Denver and Lakewood can help you find genuine relief through evidence-based treatment. Reach out today.