The link between cocaine and anxiety

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that’s known for the profound effect it has on the central nervous system, leading to increased energy, euphoria and alertness. However, alongside these effects, many people also experience anxiety, agitation and panic attacks after taking cocaine.

Here, we'll explore why anxiety can accompany cocaine use and how it can make existing anxiety disorders worse. We’ll also outline some strategies for managing anxiety after you’ve taken cocaine, including how you can cope with cocaine panic attacks.

Whether you're personally affected by anxiety after cocaine use, or supporting a loved one, we’re here to help.

Does cocaine cause anxiety?

The relationship between cocaine and anxiety is complex. Cocaine can initially cause you to experience ‘positive’ feelings, such as euphoria and increased confidence, by boosting dopamine levels in your brain. However, the effect it has on other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, can cause you to develop some symptoms of anxiety, including feeling nervous, jittery and ‘on edge’.

Also, as the effects of cocaine wear off, lots of people experience a cocaine comedown or ‘crash’, which can cause fatigue, irritability and feelings of anxiety – all of which can lead to even more distress.

Taking cocaine over a long period of time can lead to alterations in your brain chemistry and the way your brain functions. This can have a long-term impact on your mood, make any pre-existing anxiety disorders worse, or trigger the onset of a new anxiety disorder.

Therefore, the effects and long-term consequences of taking cocaine can increase the chances of you experiencing anxiety symptoms, both during and after cocaine use.

Can cocaine make anxiety worse?

If you already struggle with an anxiety disorder, or are prone to anxiety, cocaine can make your symptoms worse.

Because cocaine is a stimulant, it can intensify feelings of nervousness, restlessness and agitation, and the comedown from cocaine can be particularly distressing if you already have anxiety. Also, using cocaine over a prolonged period of time can disrupt the natural balance of neurotransmitters in your brain, which can make your anxiety even more persistent.

Taking cocaine can also lead to a cycle of addiction and withdrawal, which can cause a whole range of mental health issues. This can make it even more difficult for you to break free from anxiety and any other problems, such as depression.

Overall, cocaine and anxiety can fuel each other. Cocaine tends to worsen anxiety symptoms over time, creating a vicious cycle of substance use and psychological distress.

Why do I feel anxious after taking cocaine?

Feeling anxious after taking cocaine is a common experience that many users struggle with. You might wonder why you suddenly feel on edge or jittery after the initial rush of energy and confidence wears off.

When you first take cocaine, it increases the levels of dopamine in your brain, which boosts your mood and makes you feel euphoric and confident. But as the effects start to fade, you might enter what’s known as a comedown, where you find yourself feeling exhausted, irritable, paranoid and anxious. Managing a comedown can be challenging as this is your body’s way of trying to balance itself out after the intense high.

Over time, repeated cocaine use can disrupt your brain chemistry, making it harder to regulate your emotions and shake off anxious feelings, even when you're not taking cocaine.

Managing cocaine panic attacks

Cocaine can also trigger panic attacks in some people. Panic attacks are intense and sudden episodes of overwhelming fear or anxiety that can strike unexpectedly. During a panic attack, you might experience a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and a sense of losing control.
Managing cocaine panic attacks can be daunting, but there are strategies that can help you navigate through these difficult moments:

• Remember that while panic attacks are intense and can be scary, they are temporary and will pass
• Use some grounding or relaxation techniques for anxiety, such as deep breathing, to bring yourself back to the present moment

Find more tips on how to cope with panic attacks.

Dual diagnosis treatment

If you’re struggling with cocaine misuse and anxiety, it’s important to understand that you’re not alone and that support is available. At Priory, we can help you to tackle your cocaine misuse at the same time as any underlying mental health issues, such as anxiety and panic attacks.

Cocaine addiction treatment usually takes place as part of our residential addiction treatment programme. You might need to start by going through a medically assisted detox, to help you safely manage your withdrawal symptoms, before starting with comprehensive therapy.

Our specialists can deliver therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and group therapy sessions to help you overcome your addiction and develop coping mechanisms for the future. We can also use techniques such as mindfulness and breathing exercises to help calm your mind, build resilience and overcome your anxiety and panic attacks. We can also prescribe medication to help provide relief from these symptoms.

By addressing your addiction and underlying mental health issues simultaneously, dual diagnosis treatment offers a roadmap to recovery that's tailored to your needs, giving you hope for a brighter future.