Anxiety and addiction often create a cyclical pattern, and individuals who live with the conditions face constantly changing moods and anxiety levels. For this reason, diagnosing substance use disorder when anxiety disorder is also present can be difficult.6 Determining whether a person’s anxiety symptoms are caused by the substance itself or due to withdrawal from the substance is not always clear.
Nearly half of individuals who live with substance use disorders also experience a co-occurring mental disorder, such as anxiety.13 Anxiety and substance use disorders also occur at higher rates in individuals with bipolar II disorder than in the general population.5 For example, 75% of patients with bipolar II disorder also have anxiety.5
Early treatment is crucial because sustained anxiety may lead to higher rates of impulsivity, longer duration of illness, higher suicide rates, and poorer response to treatment.5 When a substance use disorder is present, it can also decrease the recovery rate of GAD.14