Anxiety Treatment Center

Repair, Rebuild, and Renew

Anxiety disorders are prevalent mental health conditions that profoundly impact individuals’ lives. From generalized anxiety to specific phobias, these disorders encompass many symptoms, including excessive worry, fear, and physical manifestations. The significance of anxiety disorders lies in their ability to disrupt daily functioning, strain relationships, and diminish overall well-being.

The significance of anxiety disorders lies in their ability to disrupt daily functioning, strain relationships, and diminish overall well-being.

Specialized treatment centers are crucial to address the unique challenges of anxiety disorders effectively. These centers provide:

  • A tailored approach to care.
  • Offering evidence-based therapies.
  • Medication management.
  • A supportive environment that recognizes the complexities of anxiety disorders.


By understanding the significance of anxiety disorders and recognizing the need for specialized treatment centers, individuals can access the comprehensive support they need for recovery and improved mental health.

Our promise is that you will be treated with love & respect.

Our goal is to make Renewal Lodge your very last treatment stay.

Allow us the opportunity to provide you and/or your loved one the skills and tools to get and stay sober.

Assessing and Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders

The accurate assessment and diagnosis of anxiety disorders are essential for developing effective treatment plans and providing appropriate care. Understanding the diagnostic process for anxiety disorders involves a comprehensive evaluation of symptoms, their duration, and their impact on daily functioning. Mental health professionals utilize various assessment tools and techniques to gather information and diagnose precisely.

The diagnostic process typically begins with a thorough clinical interview. During this interview, the healthcare provider will ask specific questions about the individual’s symptoms, frequency, and the situations that trigger them. The clinician will also inquire about the duration of symptoms and co-occurring conditions, such as substance abuse or other mental health disorders.

In addition to the clinical interview, mental health professionals often use standardized assessment tools to aid the diagnostic process. These assessment tools provide a structured and objective way to evaluate the severity and type of anxiety disorder. Some common assessment tools used in anxiety treatment centers include:

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI): A self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of anxiety symptoms, including physiological symptoms, subjective distress, and behavioral manifestations.

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A): A clinician-administered assessment tool that measures the severity of anxiety symptoms and their impact on daily functioning.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7): A brief self-report questionnaire designed to assess generalized anxiety disorder, measuring the frequency and severity of symptoms over the past two weeks.
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN): A self-report questionnaire to assess social anxiety disorder, focusing on the individual’s fears, avoidance behaviors, and physical symptoms of social situations.

These assessment tools help clinicians gather standardized and quantifiable data, clarifying the individual’s anxiety symptoms. They assist in making an accurate diagnosis and determining the appropriate course of treatment.

By utilizing comprehensive assessments and standardized tools, mental health professionals in anxiety treatment centers can effectively evaluate and diagnose anxiety disorders. This diagnostic process ensures that individuals receive the most appropriate and tailored care for their specific needs, promoting better outcomes and improved overall well-being.

The Connection Between Anxiety and Addiction

Anxiety and addiction are two interwoven conditions that often coexist and influence each other in complex ways. Many individuals with anxiety disorders may turn to substances for self-medication, attempting to alleviate the distressing symptoms they experience. This self-medication can temporarily relieve anxiety but can also lead to a harmful cycle of addiction.

The connection between anxiety and addiction lies in the shared underlying factors and neurobiological mechanisms contributing to both conditions. Anxiety disorders involve imbalances in brain chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and emotions. Substance abuse similarly affects these brain chemicals, leading to temporary feelings of pleasure or relief.

Individuals with anxiety disorders may seek substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or illicit drugs to alleviate their anxiety symptoms. Initially, these substances may provide a sense of calm or relaxation, reinforcing their use as a coping mechanism. However, as tolerance builds, higher doses or more frequent use are required to achieve the desired effects, eventually leading to addiction.

Conversely, substance abuse can increase anxiety symptoms over time. Prolonged substance use alters brain chemistry and can exacerbate anxiety disorders or induce anxiety-like symptoms. The withdrawal effects during periods of abstinence can further intensify anxiety, creating a cycle of substance use and anxiety reinforcement.

The combination of anxiety and addiction, known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, presents unique challenges in treatment. Both conditions need to be addressed simultaneously to achieve lasting recovery. Effective treatment approaches aim to address the underlying causes of anxiety while providing support for overcoming substance abuse.

Integrative treatment programs in specialized centers offer a comprehensive approach to dual diagnosis. These programs typically incorporate evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to address both anxiety and addiction. Medication management may also be utilized to manage anxiety symptoms and support recovery.

Furthermore, holistic therapies, including mindfulness practices, yoga, and stress reduction techniques, can help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and manage anxiety symptoms without resorting to substance use. Peer support groups and 12-step programs can also provide a supportive community for individuals navigating both anxiety and addiction.

Understanding the connection between anxiety and addiction is vital in providing appropriate and effective treatment. By addressing both conditions comprehensively and comprehensively, individuals can break free from the cycle of anxiety and substance abuse, leading to improved mental health and a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Tailored Approaches to Address Dual Diagnosis at Renewal Lodge

At Renewal Lodge, we understand the complexities and unique challenges of dual diagnosis, where individuals struggle with both anxiety disorders and substance abuse or addiction. We are committed to providing comprehensive and personalized care that addresses the specific needs of individuals facing dual diagnosis. Our specialized approach focuses on integrating evidence-based therapies, supportive interventions, and a compassionate environment to support lasting recovery.

Comprehensive Assessment:
We begin by conducting a thorough assessment to understand the individual’s specific needs, including their anxiety symptoms, substance use history, and co-occurring conditions. This assessment helps us tailor treatment plans to address both anxiety disorders and substance abuse.
Integrated Treatment Plans:
Our experienced professionals develop integrated treatment plans that simultaneously address anxiety disorders and substance use disorders. These plans incorporate evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to address the underlying causes of anxiety and provide tools for managing substance use.
Dual Diagnosis Expertise:
Our team at Renewal Lodge has extensive expertise in working with individuals facing a dual diagnosis. We understand the intricate relationship between anxiety and addiction and employ specialized techniques to support individuals in their recovery journey.
Dual Diagnosis Counseling:
Our counselors provide individual and group therapy sessions tailored to the needs of individuals with dual diagnosis. These sessions focus on exploring the connections between anxiety and addiction, developing coping skills, and addressing underlying issues contributing to both conditions.
Holistic Approaches:
We recognize the importance of holistic care in supporting individuals with dual diagnosis. Our programs incorporate holistic approaches such as mindfulness practices, yoga, and art therapy to promote emotional healing, stress reduction, and overall well-being.
Relapse Prevention Strategies:
We emphasize relapse prevention strategies customized for individuals with dual diagnosis. These strategies focus on identifying triggers, developing coping mechanisms, and creating personalized relapse prevention plans to support long-term recovery.
Ongoing Support and Aftercare:
At Renewal Lodge, we provide ongoing support and aftercare services to individuals completing our dual diagnosis treatment program. This includes access to support groups, alumni programs, and community resources to ensure continued support beyond their time at the treatment center.
Our tailored approaches to dual diagnosis treatment at Renewal Lodge are designed to empower individuals with the tools, skills, and support they need to break free from the cycle of anxiety and addiction. Through our comprehensive and compassionate care, we strive to help individuals achieve lasting recovery, improved mental health, and a renewed sense of hope for the future.

Dear Renewal Lodge Visitors,

My name is John Bruna, co-founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute, and more importantly, a grateful member of the recovery community. I am incredibly fortunate to have found my recovery in 1984. Of course, I did not achieve continuous recovery through willpower or my own efforts, but through the guidance and caring support of countless others that selflessly taught me how to live through the 12 Steps.

My journey of recovery brought this once homeless, shame-based, traumatized, insecure young man to a life far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I discovered self-worth, the joy of helping others, the gifts of parenting and grandparenting, and most importantly the ability to live a meaningful and purposeful life with integrity.

One of the greatest gifts of recovery is that I have the opportunity to give back and help others discover their self-worth, dignity, and the skills to fully live lives that they find truly meaningful. This is the inspiration for developing the skills of Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) to meet the needs of new generations struggling with alcohol and other substance use disorders. MIR is a set of evidence-based skills designed to help people fully integrate their tools of recovery in ways that are personalized, practical, and in alignment with their deepest values.

While we train counselors and therapists throughout the United States and abroad, I personally have chosen to work directly with the amazing team and clients at Renewal Lodge to develop the model MIR 12-step program for the nation. I choose Renewal Lodge because of the vision of its mission and the dedication of its team. Renewal Lodge is an extremely rare environment in which the staff embodies the very mindfulness and 12-step practices and skills they offer their clients. The results have been beyond my expectations. It is an honor to be here and I treasure my personal time with every client I meet.

With Gratitude,

John Bruna
John_Bruna_Sig
John Bruna
Director of Mindfulness
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