Anxiety & Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

I used to be the queen of unhealthy coping mechanisms! And it’s definitely one of the reasons why I struggled with anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia for 15 years.

Struggling with anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia is HARD. And it’s absolutely natural to look for ways to cope with what you’re struggling with in an effort to make things less hard.

The big problem with unhealthy coping mechanisms is that they often do provide actual comfort, and also a sense of safety and positivity, but they are actually adding to your struggles, sabotaging your recovery, and making it harder for you to experience the things you’re fighting so hard for - peace, joy, and freedom.

Let’s dive into some unhealthy coping mechanisms!

- Drinking alcohol. This is often in an attempt to reduce feelings of anxiety or other emotions. Although alcohol can put a pause on feelings of anxiety and other emotions, once the alcohol wears off you’re typically hit with anxiety and other emotions in full force.