Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

Many people turn to alcohol to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety, but can it actually help alleviate these symptoms, or does alcohol make anxiety worse? 

The relationship between alcohol and anxiety is complex, since alcohol can have both short-term and long-term effects on anxiety levels.

Understanding the effects of alcohol on anxiety can help us make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and find healthier ways of managing anxiety.

How Alcohol Affects Anxiety

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows down the activity of the brain and nervous system.

This can initially produce feelings of relaxation and reduced stress, but over time, it can disrupt the brain's natural balance and increase anxiety.

Alcohol can lead to a rebound effect, where the brain overcompensates for the sedative effect of alcohol by producing more excitatory neurotransmitters, which is what leads to increased anxiety.

Alcohol and social anxiety disorder

Many people who suffer from social anxiety disorder turn to alcohol to cope in social situations.

By lowering inhibitions, alcohol can make it easier for people to engage in conversation, approach others, and overall make them feel more comfortable in social settings.

However, this consistent reliance on alcohol can lead to serious problems. About 20% of people who struggle with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence.

Having an alcohol use disorder and a social anxiety disorder simultaneously is known as a co-occurring disorder, or a dual diagnosis. 

Alcohol and anxiety can quickly become a vicious cycle of drinking to avoid feeling anxious, and in turn feeling more anxious because of alcohol. 

Alcohol can also induce panic attacks in those who are prone to them. It can cause uncomfortable physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate and sweating, which can lead to a state of panic.

If you have a history of panic attacks, avoid alcohol or limit your consumption to ensure your safety. 

Mixing alcohol and Anxiety Medication

Alcohol can have dangerous interactions with anxiety medication such as Xanax. These two substances can heighten the effects of each other, leading to faster intoxication. 

Both substances also have sedative effects, which can cause breathing and heart rate to slow down to a dangerous rate.

If you are taking anxiety medication, it’s important to wait until the medication is completely out of your system before drinking alcohol. 

The Problem With Using Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism

Using alcohol to cope with anxiety or social situations is a band-aid solution and keeps you from developing healthy coping mechanisms. 

Here are some of the problems with relying on alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

Temporary relief: While alcohol may provide temporary relief from stress and anxiety, it only covers up the underlying problems and does not address the root cause of the issue.

Over time, relying on alcohol to cope can lead to an increased need for it and increase the risk of alcohol dependency.

Interference with sleep: Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns and can cause insomnia, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety.

Worsening of symptoms: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can disrupt the brain's natural balance of chemicals, leading to increased feelings of anxiety, agitation, and depression.

In some people, alcohol can cause panic attacks and make existing anxiety symptoms worse.

Addiction risk: Alcohol is highly addictive and can lead to a cycle of dependence, where a person may feel the need to drink to cope with anxiety or other mental health issues.

What is Hangxiety?

For most people, a hangover typically involves a headache, nausea, or fatigue. "Hangxiety" is a term used to describe the feeling of anxiety that often follows a night of heavy drinking.

Hangxiety occurs when the high levels of dopamine that were produced from drinking start to decrease. Anxiety after drinking can also occur due to dehydration and disrupted sleep patterns. 

Anxiety After Quitting Drinking

Anxiety is a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal. This is because the brain and nervous system must readjust to functioning without alcohol, which can result in temporary worsening of anxiety symptoms.

Alcohol withdrawal can also cause physical symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shaking, which can trigger feelings of anxiety and panic.

It’s important to note that the increased anxiety that occurs during alcohol withdrawal is only temporary, and the benefits of quitting drinking far outweigh any temporary discomfort.

Over time, anxiety symptoms will improve as the brain and nervous system return to their normal state.

How to Manage Anxiety Without Alcohol

There are many ways that you can manage anxiety naturally, without having to rely on alcohol. 

Exercise: Regular physical activity can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost self-esteem.

Relaxation techniques: Practices such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation can help reduce feelings of anxiety and promote a sense of calm.

Journaling: Writing your thoughts out can help them feel smaller and more tangible. It can also be helpful for identifying thought patterns that may be contributing to your anxiety. 

Therapy: Talking through your anxiety with a therapist can help you determine where it is stemming from, and practical tools you can use to combat anxiety. 

Getting enough sleep: Sleep and the quality of our sleep plays a major role in our mental health. Ensure that you are going to bed early enough, and have time to relax before bed. 

Eating healthy: Having a balanced, nutritious diet can improve your mental and physical health, and keep you from feeling so anxious. 

Practice healthy coping skills: In order to manage anxiety without the help of alcohol, you will have to replace alcohol with healthier coping mechanisms. 

It's important to find a combination of strategies that work for you and to be patient and persistent in your efforts to manage anxiety without alcohol.

Seeking the support of a mental health professional can also be helpful in developing an effective plan for managing anxiety without alcohol.

Get Help for Alcohol Dependence

At Aquila Recovery of Virginia, we offer outpatient and intensive outpatient programs for treating alcohol dependence. We focus not only on treating the alcohol use disorder, but also any underlying issues, including anxiety. 

Contact our addiction recovery staff to learn more about our programs and how we can help.