Anxiety and Addiction Treatment
When Anxiety and Addiction Overlap
If you feel like your mind never switches off and you’re constantly worrying or second-guessing and you’ve turned to alcohol or drugs just to feel a moment of peace, you’re not alone. Anxiety and addiction often come hand in hand. The fear and discomfort are constant, and the substance use becomes a way to survive it, but it eventually creates even more chaos and panic.
For many people, it starts with just trying to take the edge off. Maybe you drink to get through social events, use something to fall asleep, or find yourself reaching for substances whenever your body feels like it’s buzzing with stress. The relief is short-lived. The cycle isn’t.
At Abbington House, we don’t treat anxiety as a side note. We understand that for a lot of people in recovery, anxiety isn’t just part of the story, it’s been running the show for a long time.
That’s why our programme is built around dual diagnosis care: a treatment model that acknowledges and supports both mental health and addiction at the same time. We’re not going to focus on the addiction and let you deal with the anxiety later, we’ll meet you where you are anxious thoughts, racing heart, messy coping mechanisms and all and help you begin from there.
How Anxiety and Addiction Fuel Each Other
How Anxiety and Addiction Fuel Each Other
Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic attacks or obvious fear. Sometimes it looks like:
Here’s what often happens:
This doesn't mean you're weak or lack willpower. If you’ve been living with anxiety for years, especially if it’s never been properly treated, it makes sense that you’d reach for something to help you cope. At Abbington House, we don’t judge the ways you’ve managed. We help you find safer, more sustainable ways to feel okay in your own skin.
What Dual Diagnosis Care Means in the Context of Anxiety
In many traditional rehabs, anxiety is either overlooked or treated as secondary. You’ll be told to focus on your addiction first. You might even be labelled resistant, avoidant, or unmotivated if you struggle to open up in groups or find the environment overwhelming.
But anxiety isn’t resistance, it’s a response to stress, threat, or trauma. And if it’s not addressed, it will keep showing up both in treatment and after treatment.
Dual diagnosis care at Abbington House means we treat anxiety and addiction together. That starts with acknowledging how the two are connected, and then building a care plan that supports both.
Without proper support for anxiety:
- You might find group therapy too overwhelming to participate in.
- You might feel unsafe or exposed in unfamiliar settings.
- You could leave treatment too early, convinced it’s “not for you.”
- You might relapse, not because you don’t care, but because the anxiety becomes unbearable without the coping strategy.
We’ve seen it too many times in other settings. That’s why we do things differently.
At Abbington House:
- You’ll be assessed holistically, with space to talk about your mental health, not just your substance use.
- You’ll have access to one-to-one therapy that gives you room to explore what’s behind the anxiety, and what triggers it.
- Our staff are trained to support anxious clients, we understand that things like group therapy, sharing in front of others, or even just being away from home can be daunting.
- We offer a calm, structured environment without confrontation, forced vulnerability, or shame-based tactics.
Anxiety doesn’t disqualify you from recovery. In fact, it’s often one of the most important reasons to seek help.
Signs You May Be Living with Anxiety and Addiction
Signs You May Be Living with Anxiety and Addiction
But if you’re turning to substances to try to feel safe, calm, or in control, that’s worth paying attention to. You might be living with both anxiety and addiction if:
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not being dramatic. You’re not weak. Your nervous system is stuck in a state of high alert and it needs support, not scolding.
At Abbington House, we recognise these signs for what they are: evidence that you’re surviving the only way you know how. And we can help you build new ways to live that don’t rely on substances or constant fear.
How Abbington House Supports People with Anxiety and Addiction
Anxiety can make asking for help feel terrifying. It can convince you that you’ll be judged, that you’re wasting people’s time, or that you won’t be able to cope in a treatment setting. We understand that, because we’ve worked with people who’ve felt exactly the same way and many of us have felt that way ourselves.
Abbington House is different by design. Here’s how we support clients who are living with anxiety alongside addiction:
Thorough, respectful assessment
From day one, we take time to understand what you’re struggling with not just your substance use, but your mental health, trauma history, and any previous experiences of treatment. There’s no one-size-fits-all plan here.
Non-confrontational therapy
We don’t believe in shaming people into change. Our therapists use compassionate, evidence-based approaches that respect your pace and your boundaries. We’ll never pressure you to open up before you’re ready.
Small group sizes
Large, noisy groups can be overstimulating especially when you’re anxious. That’s why Abbington House keeps things small and manageable. You’ll have time to speak, or time to listen quietly whatever you need that day.
Tools to regulate your nervous system
We don’t just talk about anxiety we give you tools to soothe it. This might include grounding techniques, breathwork, mindfulness, creative therapies, and somatic strategies that help you feel more settled in your body.
One-to-one therapy
You’ll work closely with your own therapist, where you can explore the roots of your anxiety in a space that’s confidential and consistent. Whether your anxiety stems from trauma, neurodivergence, or chronic stress, you’ll be met with understanding.
Medication management
If you’re already taking anti-anxiety medication, we’ll support you with safe continuation and review. If you’re exploring it for the first time, we’ll talk you through it carefully no pressure, just informed options.
A calm and nurturing environment
Abbington House is not a hospital or an institution. It’s a quiet, residential setting designed to feel safe. Staff are approachable and present. You’ll be treated with kindness not as a “patient,” but as a person who’s been through a lot.
Long-term planning
We know anxiety doesn’t vanish overnight. Before you leave, we’ll help you put together an aftercare plan that includes mental health support, therapy referrals, relapse prevention, and anything else you need to feel steady.
“You don’t have to be confident to come here. You don’t even need to believe it’ll work yet. You need to feel ready enough to let us help.”
What Treatment Looks Like Day to Day
One of the biggest fears for people with anxiety is not knowing what to expect. When things feel uncertain or out of your control, it can trigger even more fear especially in a new environment like rehab. That’s why we keep things predictable, gentle, and supportive.
At Abbington House, your days will follow a calm, structured rhythm but nothing is rigid or overwhelming. Here’s what a typical day might look like:
- Morning: You’ll ease into the day with a small group check-in or reflective activity. There’s no pressure to speak if you’re not ready just being there is enough.
- Midday: You might have a one-to-one therapy session or take part in a therapeutic group. There are breaks between activities, and you’ll always have time to breathe.
- Afternoon: Optional sessions like mindfulness, creative therapies, journaling, or light movement all designed to support your nervous system and emotional regulation.
- Evening: A quiet space to reflect, connect, or simply wind down whether in a small group or in your own time.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, that’s okay. We’ll never force you to engage in something that feels too much. We’ll gently encourage and support you to participate in ways that feel manageable and safe.
We don’t expect you to be “on” every day. Some people cry through the first week. Some barely speak. Some feel relief just being in a place where they’re not judged for how they’re coping. Wherever you’re at we’ll meet you there.
Living with Anxiety After Rehab What Support Continues
Recovery from addiction isn’t just about staying away from a substance. For people with anxiety, it’s also about learning how to live in your body and mind without feeling constantly unsafe. That takes time and it doesn’t end when your stay with us does.
Before you leave Abbington House, we’ll work closely with you to build a plan that helps you stay grounded in your recovery and supported with your mental health.
That might include:
- Continued one-to-one therapy
- Guidance on managing anxiety without substances
- Techniques like grounding, breathwork, journaling, and body-based strategies
- Support finding a private or NHS therapist after discharge
- A relapse prevention plan that includes emotional triggers not just environmental ones
- A list of people, places, or services to turn to when things feel overwhelming again
- Check-ins or alumni support, if that feels helpful to you.
We know anxiety doesn’t just vanish and we’ll never pretend that one programme can “fix” everything. What we can do is help you leave with tools, support, and a better understanding of yourself. That way, you’re not just surviving, you’re rebuilding.
You’re Not “Too Anxious” for Rehab
If anxiety has convinced you that you’re not cut out for rehab, that you’ll panic, or that you won’t fit in, we want you to hear this:
You are not too anxious for recovery.
You don’t have to be brave or calm and you certainly don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to feel ready enough to try, and to trust that you deserve support that’s specialised and non-judgemental.
At Abbington House, we understand that walking through the door is often the hardest part. But once you’re here, you’ll be met by people who truly get it, some because they’ve lived it, and others because they’ve spent years supporting people who have.
You’re not too much. You’re not too complicated. You’re someone who’s been living in survival mode, and we’d be honoured to help you start living in something better.