The Relationship Between Anxiety and Alcohol Use

And the more work your body has to do, the more likely you may be to experience anxiety after the alcohol’s initial effects wear off. Over time, “the use of alcohol can become a second problem, or serve as an avoidance behavior that actually maintains an anxiety disorder in the long term,” Yusko adds. He doesn’t believe all anxious people need to stay away from alcohol completely, but does recommend being careful about using alcohol as a way to cope with anxiety. While small amounts of alcohol may activate GABA and cause you to relax, heavier drinking can sap GABA. Additionally, panic attacks can be triggered because of the effect alcohol has on GABA, another brain chemical that normally has a relaxing effect. Moderate drinking is not the same for all genders and age groups.

As your body removes the alcohol from your system, your blood sugar drops because your body is diverting energy to excreting the booze rather than maintaining healthy glucose levels. According to a 2016 study in Case Reports in Psychiatry, low blood sugar can lead to nervousness and anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder resulting from past trauma. Alcohol’s effects change your brain chemistry so profoundly that alcohol withdrawal can be a serious medical emergency. 20% of people diagnosed with an alcohol or substance use disorder also suffer from an anxiety or mood disorder.

Why Alcohol Causes Anxiety

This type of therapy can help individuals feel less alone in their journey toward recovery and provide them with a sense of community and belonging. Anxiety may be caused by stress, whether from a major life event or the accumulated effect of small everyday stressors. Anxiety can also come with medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or thyroid disorders, that need treatment. There’s a clear link between caffeine and anxiety, and also alcohol and anxiety. In this case, avoiding caffeine and alcohol or changing medications may reduce the anxiety. It’s important to note that while all these things (medications, substances, stress) can cause anxious feelings, they may involve different medical diagnoses.

When this occurs, an individual might feel down, depressed, or anxious. If you have symptoms of anxiety and use alcohol to cope in social situations, you are not alone. Following your last drink, you can typically expect the first signs of withdrawal to appear within six to 24 hours. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one.

Online Therapy

The alcohol has worn off, and things don’t feel so good anymore. You may be worried about what you said to people or how you acted when you were intoxicated. The worry might even be so intense that it wakes you up from sleep when the alcohol is leaving your system. After a night of drinking, Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House many people experience the typical symptoms of a hangover—nausea, headache, fatigue, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, and shakiness. If you’re struggling with stress or anxiety, try some of the strategies listed on our website, or consider seeking help from a professional.

This is possibly because of the effects of alcohol abuse, which can actually change brain activity. Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also have noticeable physical and mental consequences. Over time, consuming too much alcohol can lead to blackouts, loss of memory, and even brain damage (especially if it causes other health problems, such as liver damage).

How can I help someone having a panic attack?

For your own safety, you should never go through withdrawal alone. When your brain is exposed to alcohol, receptors release more dopamine than usual. The increase makes you feel happy, comfortable, and relaxes your inhibitions.