Is Alcohol Induced Anxiety Real (And How Is It Treated)?

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Alcohol induced anxiety is a common experience when you drink, and the condition can be serious. Someone suffering from this disorder must be able to get the help they need. If you are a heavy drinker who is looking for help putting an end to your substance abuse and its side effects, call 800-948-8417 Sponsored now; we will match you with a rehab center that can treat all of your symptoms.

Alcohol and Anxiety

While you have likely experienced anxiety infrequently throughout your life, others live with anxiety disorders that cause them to feel uncomfortable, worried, and afraid a lot of the time. As a result, some people start drinking to self-medicate and alleviate their feelings of anxiety. However, drinking heavily can either exacerbate the issue or trigger anxiety if you haven’t experienced it before.

How Does Alcohol Induced Anxiety Occur?

This disorder can occur for several reasons and in several ways. According to the National Library of Medicine, alcohol withdrawal can trigger feelings of anxiety. Feelings of anxiety are more likely when you are dependent on alcohol and suddenly no longer drinking.

Sometimes, people stop drinking purposefully when they enter rehab or choose abstinence. However, even if you have not chosen to stop drinking, you may still experience anxiety when you haven’t had a drink yet that day.

Some people even become worried and upset while they are drinking. Although alcohol is a depressant and initially makes you feel numb and happy, it can lead to depressive effects. Drinking dumps dopamine, a feel-good chemical, into the pleasure center of your brain.

This rush lasts for a short time. When the effect wears off, you experience the rebound effects of anxiety. People who typically experience anxiety and depression are more likely to experience anxiety when they stop drinking. Unfortunately, those uncomfortable emotions drive a person back to drinking, and increase the risk they will develop an alcohol abuse or addiction issue.

According to some experts, “Panic attacks may be related to drinking aimed principally at reducing anxiety states and aversive bodily sensations.” This means a person who drinks heavily to minimize their anxiety may be even more likely to experience more severe, negative effects, such as panic attacks.

How Is Alcohol Induced Anxiety Treated?

The best way to be treated for alcohol induced anxiety is to seek help for substance abuse in a rehab center. These facilities can help you control your drinking or stop altogether, and they can protect your physical and mental health during the withdrawal process. An added benefit is treating comorbid disorders simultaneously, such as anxiety and depression.

A rehab program must be able to evaluate and treat both issues, called a dual diagnosis, so that one condition doesn’t undermine the progress of treating the other. Your customized treatment plan may include several options that help minimize issues from both conditions when they are treated together, allowing you to gain control of your life.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a core, evidence-based approach for the simultaneous treatment of substance use disorders and mental conditions. This treatment modality helps you:
  • Understand the reasons why you began abusing alcohol
  • Learn to recognize and avoid triggers
  • Learn to cope with stress and cravings
  • Practice better life skills that can allow you to live a happier, more productive life
• Medications are sometimes beneficial. For example, a person may need to take one medicine that minimizes cravings for alcohol and another that minimizes the symptoms of anxiety. Medication management to ensure the drugs don’t interact and are effective is crucial. Many anti-anxiety medications can be taken with alcohol medication, but not with alcohol. For example, benzodiazepines and antihistamines interact with alcohol.
• Yoga, meditation, or another type of stress-relieving activity helps reduce symptoms of anxiety. In addition, these programs are effective at treating addiction as well.

How College Alcohol Use Leads to Addiction

The stress and anxiety many students feel in college can lead to alcohol abuse problems.

After stopping or cutting back on drinking, you can usually see the issues of the alcohol induced anxiety begin to subside. However, it is important to seek safe, professional treatment to protect your physical and mental health.

Do You Need Help Finding Alcohol Rehab?

Call 800-948-8417 Sponsored today. We will help you find the best program for your needs and ensure that your treatment involves not only help for substance abuse but also for anxiety issues.