There are more than 30 million alcoholics in the United States today.
Estimates suggest that the vast majority of these individuals are also suffering from a coexistent mental illness.
Perhaps the strongest connection between mental illness and alcoholism can be seen in anxiety disorders.
It is suggested in literature that nearly 50% of all alcoholics struggle with anxiety as well.
The reason for this connection are not completely understood medically.
However, it has been long been theorized that alcoholics become alcoholics due to genetic predisposition for becoming chemically dependent.
When a person with this predisposition self-medicates an anxiety disorder by drinking large amounts of alcohol the results are often predictable.
The person ends up with both an addiction to alcohol and an underlying mental illness.
Studies have shown that by treating the mental illness, in this case anxiety, in an aggressive and healthy way, that the individual is then placed on even footing with which to combat their alcoholism.
Alcoholism is a disease that requires maintenance in order to sustain sobriety.
This can be difficult at first for the newly sober person when that person is used to treating the discomfort caused by anxiety with alcohol.
Therefore, the first step in ensuring a lasting sobriety is to aggressively attack the underlying anxiety disorder.
This can be done through a multi-step process involving therapy and medication.
It is important to note that certain anti-anxiety medications will not be suitable for an alcoholic due to the likelihood of abuse.
But, with proper treatment it is entirely possible for a person to become free from anxiety symptoms which will give them the proper footing with which to address their alcoholism.
It can be a difficult struggle, however with determination it is a struggle that can be overcome.
Estimates suggest that the vast majority of these individuals are also suffering from a coexistent mental illness.
Perhaps the strongest connection between mental illness and alcoholism can be seen in anxiety disorders.
It is suggested in literature that nearly 50% of all alcoholics struggle with anxiety as well.
The reason for this connection are not completely understood medically.
However, it has been long been theorized that alcoholics become alcoholics due to genetic predisposition for becoming chemically dependent.
When a person with this predisposition self-medicates an anxiety disorder by drinking large amounts of alcohol the results are often predictable.
The person ends up with both an addiction to alcohol and an underlying mental illness.
Studies have shown that by treating the mental illness, in this case anxiety, in an aggressive and healthy way, that the individual is then placed on even footing with which to combat their alcoholism.
Alcoholism is a disease that requires maintenance in order to sustain sobriety.
This can be difficult at first for the newly sober person when that person is used to treating the discomfort caused by anxiety with alcohol.
Therefore, the first step in ensuring a lasting sobriety is to aggressively attack the underlying anxiety disorder.
This can be done through a multi-step process involving therapy and medication.
It is important to note that certain anti-anxiety medications will not be suitable for an alcoholic due to the likelihood of abuse.
But, with proper treatment it is entirely possible for a person to become free from anxiety symptoms which will give them the proper footing with which to address their alcoholism.
It can be a difficult struggle, however with determination it is a struggle that can be overcome.