FEELING UNSAFE CAN LEAD TO ANXIETY. ANXIETY CAN LEAD TO ADDICTION.

Addictions exist in all arenas of society, and in various forms. Most of us understand their existence because they change how we feel.

What is starting to be well understood in psychology is the importance of feeling safe and being able to regulate the nervous system by keeping it in balance, or in other words, keeping the nervous system in a state of homeostasis.

Homeostasis is where the nervous system is kept in balance so it’s not revving too highly or so low that depression is experienced. With homeostasis we can have periods of nervous system activation like anxiety or excitement or low states like depression but the system quickly returns to balance.

The person whose nervous system revs high is more likely to seek out a substance that helps them to slow down the nervous system which then creates a false sense of calmness.

This type of person is more likely to be addicted to opiates, alcohol, benzodiazepines and other substances that down regulate the nervous system.

Conversely, individuals who have a lower revving nervous system and are in a depression like state most of the time are more likely to develop an addiction to something that stimulates the nervous system like cocaine, meth, speed and other stimulants.

What also seems to be important for those who are at risk of an addiction is the need to feel safe. This is a human quality and hard wired in us all.

We have evolved the need to seek safety. The degree to which a person feels safe in their own body often depends on early life experience. Was there chaos and uncertainty in their past?

If so there is a good chance that they unconsciously learned that life or people are not safe. This is partly why people who have had “hard lives” in their past are more prone to addictions.

There are generally speaking two ways to respond to this lack of a sense of safety.

One is to go into survival mode where you are constantly vigilant and on guard, with the nervous system revving high and ready for any threat that presents itself.

The other response is the down regulation of the nervous system, a numbing or in a sense giving up “the freeze response”. This is a self-protective mechanism as well.

The need to feel safe is human, it is not a weakness or character flaw.

Some people create safety for themselves in healthy ways while others in unhealthy, like developing a lot of psychological armour and adopting the tough guy archetype.

Others might withdraw. Neither of these defence mechanisms are ideal. Both are an attempt to feel safe and put a person at risk for substance abuse because neither are really creating that sense of safety.

The path to preventing addiction and relapse is to feel safe and to have a balanced nervous system.

The good news is that there are positive and healthy ways to promote a sense of safety in our society. Individuals can cultivate a life of peace. This can be done through relaxation and meditation a training that will strengthen the body’s relaxation response.

The antidote to the fight or flight response is the relaxation response which can neutralize a high revving system. There are many forms of self development. Working with a therapist to learn the tools and techniques that will regulate the nervous system can be helpful.

For those who are too low in their nervous system exercises like yoga, Pilates, and walking can have a tremendous effect and when done on a consistent basis helps stabilize homeostasis.

Positive and rational thinking can help tremendously when it comes to feeling safe and fostering nervous system balance.

It is important to set up an external environment that promotes safety as much as possible. Develop a solid social support system. Getting support from others helps us to feel safe but also helps to regulate our nervous system balance.

Have you ever felt low and had a friend come over and shift you to a more healthy state?

The bottom line is that to help prevent addiction and relapse we need to foster a sense of safety and balance within our communities, families and within ourselves.

Contact a Walmsley counsellor for more information on addictions and promoting safety.

Andy Belamy, BSc.Psyc MEd. Counselling, CCPA