Last Updated:

January 29th, 2026

Anxiety and addiction

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health condition that influences how a person thinks, feels and reacts to everyday situations. It creates a level of internal tension that becomes hard to ease on your own and can affect sleep, appetite, concentration and energy. While anxious feelings are part of life, an anxiety disorder shapes daily functioning in a way that feels persistent and difficult to manage.

In the UK, anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns. Reports suggest that around 73% had felt anxious recently, with 20% admitting they feel anxious most or all of the time. This shows how anxiety can appear in anyone, regardless of circumstance.

Anxiety also varies in severity and type, with disorders like social anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias listed in the DSM-5. Some experience manageable symptoms that stay in the background, while others face more intense periods that disrupt their entire lives. This variation means anxiety isn’t a single, fixed experience but a spectrum of symptoms requiring tailored support.

young man facing Anxiety issues

What are the signs of anxiety?

The signs of anxiety can present themselves differently from person to person, yet clear themes emerge when symptoms start to affect daily life. These patterns build gradually and begin to influence how someone feels about themselves and their surroundings.

Common signs of anxiety include:

  • Persistent worry
  • Restlessness
  • Changes in sleep
  • Physical tension
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Stomach discomfort or nausea

If several of these signs have been present for a significant period and feel difficult to manage, it may be helpful to speak with a professional who can assess whether anxiety is contributing to these experiences.

How can anxiety impact a person’s life?

Without the right support, anxiety can influence all areas of a person’s life. At work or in education, anxiety can make concentration harder, especially when the mind stays busy with intrusive thoughts or constant worry. This can lead to missed deadlines, absenteeism, reduced productivity, or avoiding situations that require focus.

Relationships can be distressed when anxiety is present, and a person may withdraw to manage their internal stress, yet this withdrawal can be misunderstood by others. Loved ones may interpret the distance as rejection, creating tension that feels difficult to resolve. This dynamic can leave the anxious person feeling disconnected and unsure of how to repair the gap.

Anxiety also influences physical wellbeing, most notably through sleep disruption, digestive issues and muscle tension. These types of symptoms can appear when the body stays in a heightened state for long stretches, something which anxiety can cause.

One of the most concerning effects of anxiety is its relationship with addiction, which is explored more closely in the next section.

The links between anxiety and addiction

The relationship between anxiety and addiction is complex because several psychological and physiological factors shape how the two interact. Living with anxiety does not mean a person will develop an addiction, yet features of anxiety, like constant worry or a strong desire to escape distress can increase vulnerability to using substances or behaviours as coping mechanisms.

The strength of this connection varies across different types of addiction. Some patterns show a clearer association with anxiety than others, which is why examining each addiction separately can help highlight the specific emotional and behavioural processes involved.

  • Anxiety and alcohol addiction – A meta-analysis found that adults with anxiety disorders have nearly double the odds of developing an alcohol addiction compared to those without anxiety.
  • Anxiety and drug addiction: Research found that those with drug addictions reported significantly higher levels of anxiety compared to non-users. In one study, 97% of adults with drug addiction had some form of anxiety and greater addiction severity was linked with higher anxiety scores.
  • Anxiety and food addiction: Data from long-term research found a bidirectional link between anxiety and food addiction. This means that having one of the two could influence the other. Baseline food addiction predicted increased anxiety in both men and women, while initial anxiety predicted later food-addictive behaviour only in women.
  • Anxiety and shopping addiction: Studies find that nearly 44% of people with compulsive buying (shopping addiction) meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Many compulsive shoppers also report anxiety or depression preceding their shopping sprees, using buying as a brief stress-relief before feelings of regret emerge.
  • Anxiety and porn addiction: A recent study found that young adults with higher porn addiction scores had significantly correlated with higher anxiety levels.

If you find yourself in a position where you suffer from anxiety and addiction, you’re probably wondering what the next steps are. In the next sections, we focus on how someone with anxiety and addiction is treated in rehab.

How are those with anxiety and addiction treated?

When anxiety and addiction occur together, treatment works best when both conditions are addressed at the same time. Treating only one leaves the underlying difficulties in place, especially when the addiction has developed as a response to anxiety symptoms.

Therapies used in addiction treatment can be adapted to support those with anxiety:

  • CBT helps challenge intrusive thoughts and the patterns of worry that fuel both anxiety and addiction.
  • DBT supports emotional regulation during periods of heightened stress, making it easier to stay engaged in recovery.
  • Grounding therapies such as mindfulness or movement-based approaches give people practical ways to reduce physiological tension without relying on harmful coping strategies.

Medication can also be included in anxiety treatment, even when addiction is present, though the approach becomes more careful. The aim is to create enough emotional steadiness for someone to take part in therapy and maintain progress.

man suffring form anxiety

Does addiction rehab differ for those with anxiety?

The core structure of rehab stays similar but certain adjustments help create a sense of safety for someone living with anxiety. Detox can feel unsettling because physical and emotional changes happen quickly. A predictable routine and clear explanations of each stage can reduce uncertainty, which is essential for managing anxiety during withdrawal.

Therapy sessions may focus on understanding how anxiety contributed to the addiction, reducing catastrophic thinking and building confidence in coping skills. As these patterns become clearer, the person gains a sense of control that anxiety previously disrupted.

Group work can also help when the environment is calm and supportive. Hearing others share similar difficulties can reduce isolation and create a sense of connection that anxiety often restricts.

The next steps

If you’re living with anxiety and worried about your relationship with substances or compulsive behaviours, you don’t need to navigate this alone. Speaking with an addiction specialist can help you understand what support is available and how both conditions can be treated in a way that feels manageable. Reaching out can provide a clearer path forward and the reassurance that change is possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What different types of anxiety are there?
Anxiety can appear in several recognised forms, such as generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder and phobia-related anxiety. Each affects daily life differently and can lead to distinct patterns of worry.
Can anxiety cause chest pain?
Yes. Anxiety can create chest pain through muscle tension and changes in breathing. These sensations feel alarming but usually settle once the body returns to a calmer state.
Can anxiety cause dizziness?
Anxiety can cause dizziness when breathing becomes shallow or rapid. This reduces carbon dioxide levels, creating lightheadedness that often eases once breathing steadies and the body relaxes.

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