Breaking the Cycle: Anxiety and Addiction
As a therapist, and as a 44-year-old woman raising twin 12-year-old boys in a busy, happy home—I know firsthand how overwhelming life can feel. Between work, family, and the everyday curveballs, anxiety has a way of creeping in for so many of us. For some, that anxiety becomes tied up with addiction, creating a cycle that feels impossible to break.
I see this often in my field of work, and I want to share what I’ve learned: anxiety and addiction don’t have to exist in separate corners. They can fuel each other. But the good news is, with awareness and the right support, it is possible to break free.
How Anxiety Fuels Addiction
Anxiety isn’t just “feeling worried.” It can happen when lying awake at 2 a.m. with your mind racing. It can be the knot in your stomach when you can’t turn off overthinking or the physical tension you carry through your shoulders or chest.
In those moments, it makes sense to want quick relief. A drink at night, scrolling endlessly on your phone, or other habits can feel like a way to shut it all off. But here’s the catch: the relief doesn’t last. Over time, the brain starts to expect that pattern. Anxiety rises you reach for the “fix” the cycle deepens.
How Addiction Fuels Anxiety
On the flip side, what starts as relief often comes back with more pressure. Alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors may calm anxiety for a bit—but once they wear off, the nervous system rebounds. Sleep is disrupted, moods swing, and anxiety spikes higher than before.
Then add in the ripple effects: strained relationships, financial worries, guilt, and shame. Addiction doesn’t just mask anxiety it magnifies it.
Breaking the Cycle
The hopeful part? You don’t have to stay stuck. Healing is absolutely possible, and it starts with tending to both anxiety and addiction together.
Here are a few tools that help my clients (and that I use myself for stress relief when life with two energetic boys gets loud and busy):
Ground your body. Take a few slow breaths, notice your feet on the floor, or step outside for fresh air.
Challenge anxious thoughts. When worry shows up, ask yourself: “Is this thought fact, fiction, or is it fear?”
Create healthier coping outlets. Movement, journaling, or connecting with supportive people can provide comfort without consequences.
Seek support. Therapy can offer new tools, accountability, and a safe place to practice healthier ways forward.
You’re Not Alone
If you’ve been caught in the loop of anxiety and addiction, please know this: you’re not broken. You’ve been doing your best with the tools you had. Healing doesn’t mean you need to do it perfectly, it just means taking the next step forward.
I believe deeply in people’s ability to grow, heal, and find peace even in the middle of busy, messy, real life.
At Guided Path Healing, we specialize in supporting people who are navigating both anxiety and addiction. Together, we can create a path forward that feels calmer, steadier, and sustainable.