--- title: The Connection Between Anxiety and Addiction description: What's the connection between anxiety and addiction? How does depression fit into this? Visit our website to learn the answers and how to recover. image: https://www.theclearingnw.com/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-79312372-2.jpg --- [![20130627_TheClearing_Logo_WhiteType_Transparent_215x78](https://www.theclearingnw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/20130627_TheClearing_Logo_WhiteType_Transparent_215x78.png?width=215&name=20130627_TheClearing_Logo_WhiteType_Transparent_215x78.png)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/) - [Home](https://www.theclearingnw.com) - [Program](https://www.theclearingnw.com/substance-abuse-programs) - [What We Treat](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/what-we-treat) - [Dual Diagnosis](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/what-we-treat/dual-diagnosis) - [Underlying Core Issues](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/how-were-different/underlying-core-issues) - [Our Non 12 Step Program](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/non-12-step-rehab) - [Spiritual Psychology](https://www.theclearingnw.com/spiritual-psychology) - [Testimonials](https://www.theclearingnw.com/rehab-reviews-and-testimonials) - Resources - [Video Resource Center](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/addiction-treatment-video-resource-center) - [Recovery Resources](https://www.theclearingnw.com/recovery-resources) - [Blog](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog) # The Connection Between Anxiety and Addiction Post Date September 27, 2016 Author [Caroline McGraw](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/author/caroline-mcgraw) Subscribe to blog: click here to subscribe ### Subscribe by Email Sign up for weekly updates Close ![connection-anxiety-and-addiction](https://www.theclearingnw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/ThinkstockPhotos-79312372.jpg?width=260&name=ThinkstockPhotos-79312372.jpg "connection-anxiety-and-addiction")Did you know that anxiety often coincides with depression ... and that these conditions are very common in people suffering from addiction? Furthermore, did you know that depression can be defined as “anger turned inward”? ## **Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction** When you cut yourself off from feeling your anger, you create a wall inside and begin to feel depressed. When you block yourself from feeling hurt as well, you end up with two “walls” within your psyche. As you experience the normal course of your life - the challenges, the small annoyances, the stress - your emotions end up bouncing back and forth between those two internal emotional barriers.  This bouncing happens when you’re trying to avoid a so-called unacceptable emotion such as anger or grief. There’s a push-and-pull between your real feelings and your beliefs, and you feel unsettled and ungrounded as a result. ## **How Anxiety and Addiction Overlap** We see a significant overlap between anxiety and addiction; it’s a common combination in [dual diagnosis](https://www.theclearingnw.com/program/what-we-treat/dual-diagnosis). The Clearing co-founder Joe Koelzer explores the correlative connection between anxiety and addiction and the behaviors associated with substance abuse in this new article in [Anxiety, Panic & Health](http://anxietypanichealth.com/2016/09/26/how-anxiety-and-addiction-are-connected-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/). ## **Anxiety, Panic & Health** Anxiety, Panic & Health is about living with health, wellness, and wholeness. It was created by Mike Nichols in 2008 as a resource to provide information about anxiety disorders. As Nichols writes in [My Story](http://anxietypanichealth.com/my-story/), “Most people struggle with Anxiety for many, many years before being diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder. The same is true with me. Looking back, I realize that I had been having Anxiety symptoms for over two decades before I was finally diagnosed as having Anxiety Disorder and treatment began.” In this article, Joe covers .... - The difference between occasionally feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder - The role that internal conflict and suppressed emotions play in anxiety - The interplay between anxiety, depression, and addiction - How past trauma contribute to present-day anxiety - Substance abuse as a coping mechanism … and how to break the addictive cycle [**Click here to read the full post!**](http://anxietypanichealth.com/2016/09/26/how-anxiety-and-addiction-are-connected-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Caroline McGraw](https://www.theclearingnw.com/hubfs/Caroline%20Garnet%20McGraw%20Bio%20Photo%20Small%20400%20x%20400.jpg) This post was written by [Caroline McGraw](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/author/caroline-mcgraw) In addition to her work as "the voice of The Clearing", Caroline Garnet McGraw writes about trading perfectionism for possibility at [A Wish Come Clear](https://awishcomeclear.com/start-here/). Visit and receive your free Perfectionist Recovery Toolkit today! [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/awishcomeclear) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/awishcomeclear) ### Related posts: - [Addiction and Psychosocial Development in Early Childhood](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/psychosocial-development-early-childhood-sets-stage-addiction) - [Addiction & Chronic Relapse: Why Long Term Sobriety Eludes Some People](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/addiction-chronic-relapse-why-long-term-sobriety-eludes-some-people) - [PTSD and Alcoholism](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/ptsd-and-alcoholism) - [What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/co-occurring-disorders) - [What Are Judgments? How Do They Relate to Addiction?](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/what-are-judgements) Search this site Search ***Subscribe by Email*** Sign up for weekly updates ### Popular Posts ### Follow Us ### Categories - [All Mental Health (54)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/all-mental-health) - [All Rehab & Treatment (73)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/all-rehab-treatment) - [Depression (8)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/depression) - [Detox Resources (19)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/detox-resources) - [Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment (16)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/drug-alcohol-addiction-treatment) - [Dual Diagnosis (59)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/dual-diagnosis) - [Emotional Health (14)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/emotional-health) - [Family / Loved One Resources (15)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/family-loved-one-resources) - [Inpatient Treatment (14)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/inpatient-treatment) - [Limiting Beliefs (5)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/limiting-beliefs) - [Non 12 Step Treatment (16)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/non-12-step-treatment) - [Spirituality (6)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/spirituality) - [Substance Abuse (15)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/substance-abuse) - [Suicide (4)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/suicide) - [The Clearing (16)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/the-clearing) - [Trauma (5)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/trauma) - [Treatment Cost and Payment (6)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/treatment-cost-and-payment) - [Treatment Resources (37)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/treatment-resources) - [Videos (15)](https://www.theclearingnw.com/blog/topic/videos) see all categories ### Top 10 Rehab Blog The Clearing’s Blog was recently ranked one of the ten best rehab blogs on the internet. 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