Nearly 10 percent of all teenagers in America suffer from an anxiety disorder. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, only 18 percent of those teenagers are actually medically treated for their conditions. Young people who have an anxiety disorder are set at a 25 percent higher risk for substance and alcohol abuse than teenagers who do not have such disorders (Duckworth 1). A healthy amount of stress and anxiety help humans detect threats and guide to prepare for everyday challenges that they are going to face (Hand 33). Anxiety disorders are a problem as they lead to greater mental health issues, such as comorbidity and other harmful situations involving drug abuse and school refusal. School is a common environment to find
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To temporarily treat symptoms of their anxiety, teens often tend to experiment with alcohol and drugs. In America, 20 percent of the population with anxiety disorders or depression have an alcohol or substance abuse (Hand 41). Teens with panic disorder turn to drugs and/or alcohol as a way to calm down or numb their mental status and feelings. Alcohol and drugs often become triggers for panic attacks, the very thing the teen is trying to avoid. This method of self-medication will only make his or her mental disorder worse (“Anxiety Disorder and Addiction” 1). Teens who have an anxiety disorder will often engage in unhealthy binge drinking. Especially in young people, drinking large amounts of alcohol in one sitting will cause alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and increased risk of alcohol addiction (Hand 41). According to a study by “Behaviour Research and Therapy”, between ten and 40 percent of alcoholics have some form of an anxiety disorder and between ten and 20 percent of anxiety suffers abuse alcohol and other drugs. The physical symptoms of anxiety can include chest and stomach pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, and weakness. These symptoms will appear before a person becomes addicted to alcohol, proving that substance abuse is a method of a self-sedative in order to relax a person’s uneasiness. People who have anxiety and alcoholism usually believe that their ways of binge drinking and substance abuse are effective way to cure their disorder (“Anxiety Disorder and Addiction” 1). Even though his or her disorder is seemingly cured for a short amount of time, the health risks from drinking and drugs still are very present. Health risks from substance abuse are highly fatal, especially in teens and young people. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and lung disease come about while abusing
To temporarily treat symptoms of their anxiety, teens often tend to experiment with alcohol and drugs. In America, 20 percent of the population with anxiety disorders or depression have an alcohol or substance abuse (Hand 41). Teens with panic disorder turn to drugs and/or alcohol as a way to calm down or numb their mental status and feelings. Alcohol and drugs often become triggers for panic attacks, the very thing the teen is trying to avoid. This method of self-medication will only make his or her mental disorder worse (“Anxiety Disorder and Addiction” 1). Teens who have an anxiety disorder will often engage in unhealthy binge drinking. Especially in young people, drinking large amounts of alcohol in one sitting will cause alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and increased risk of alcohol addiction (Hand 41). According to a study by “Behaviour Research and Therapy”, between ten and 40 percent of alcoholics have some form of an anxiety disorder and between ten and 20 percent of anxiety suffers abuse alcohol and other drugs. The physical symptoms of anxiety can include chest and stomach pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, and weakness. These symptoms will appear before a person becomes addicted to alcohol, proving that substance abuse is a method of a self-sedative in order to relax a person’s uneasiness. People who have anxiety and alcoholism usually believe that their ways of binge drinking and substance abuse are effective way to cure their disorder (“Anxiety Disorder and Addiction” 1). Even though his or her disorder is seemingly cured for a short amount of time, the health risks from drinking and drugs still are very present. Health risks from substance abuse are highly fatal, especially in teens and young people. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and lung disease come about while abusing