Many people will be familiar with the experience of having a drink to help them relax, unwind or deal with a stressful situation. But does this actually work, or does alcohol increase anxiety?
The answer can be a little complicated. Alcohol can have a relaxing effect at first, which can help to dampen stress and anxiety when taken in limited amounts. It can also mask serious anxiety issues, lead to anxiety rebounds and make anxiety worse over the longer term.
In this article, we will look at the complex relationship between alcohol and anxiety and how drinking could make anxiety worse.
The Relationship Between Alcohol and Anxiety
Research has shown a clear co-morbidity between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders. In other words, these two very distinct conditions frequently show up at the same time in the same person.
There are two main probable reasons why this might be the case. The first is that someone suffering from anxiety – even if it is not yet severe enough to be classed as an anxiety disorder – may drink alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate or lessen the impact of their anxiety. The two conditions may develop at the same time or the problem drinking may follow the anxiety.
The second explanation is the ‘substance-induced hypothesis’ which suggests that the drinking itself may be the trigger or cause of anxiety. In some cases, it may exacerbate manageable levels of anxiety, making them much worse and harder to deal with.
The true picture may be a mixture of the two, with drinking and anxiety each affecting and reinforcing the other in a sort of vicious cycle.
Alcohol, Anxiety and the Brain
Alcohol works on the brain in different ways. At lower levels and in the early stages of drinking it can act like a stimulant, which can make the user feel more energetic, confident and outgoing. It also releases dopamine – which can provide a boost to the reward centre of the brain and mild feelings of euphoria. All of these can help to lower inhibitions and reduce anxiety in the short term.
Alcohol also works on GABA receptors – boosting the brain’s main calming chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA. At the same time it reduces the production of glutamate, a chemical that makes you feel keyed up and can increase anxiety.
As more alcohol is consumed, it starts to act as a central nervous system depressant. This can have a number of effects, including the classic symptoms of intoxication such as loss of coordination, tiredness and slurred speech. It can also affect the mood, bringing feelings of sadness, aggression and in some cases anxiety.
Even if drinking temporarily reduces or conceals anxiety it may return with a ‘rebound’ effect, especially if the drinker develops a hangover. Essentially, the brain looks to counter the effects of the alcohol by reducing GABA and increasing glutamate. This can result in rebound anxiety, sometimes known as ‘hangxiety ’-which can be worse than any anxiety the drinker had initially.
Does Drinking Help Anxiety in the Long Term?
While it can temporarily make some people feel more relaxed and less anxious in the short term, drinking will almost always make anxiety worse in the longer term.
There are a number of possible reasons for this.
Firstly, heavy or prolonged drinking can cause an imbalance in brain chemistry. This is similar to the ‘hangxiety’ effect mentioned above but on a longer-term basis. Persistent drinkers can also build up a tolerance to alcohol, meaning the brain has to work even harder to combat its effects.
Regular drinking can sometimes serve to mask the effects of a developing anxiety problem. Using alcohol as a crutch for social anxiety or a coping mechanism for other types of anxiety will generally be counterproductive as the anxiety will still be lurking underneath. Using alcohol in an attempt to manage anxiety can also lead to an increase in alcohol consumption.
Problem drinking can in itself be a source of anxiety, especially if it starts to affect health, relationships, finances and other aspects of daily life. Some people may feel anxious about how they behave or what they do when drinking but still feel unable to stop themselves.
Can Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?
So does alcohol make anxiety worse? The short answer is that it certainly can do, especially with heavy or persistent drinking.
Drinking can cause or contribute to a number of issues such as sleep disruption, dehydration and changes in brain chemistry, which can all help increase anxiety.
Drinking alone is not usually the only thing that causes an anxiety disorder, but it can be a contributing factor and alcohol and mental health issues are often intertwined.
When Anxiety and Alcohol Use Become a Problem
Some signs that alcohol and anxiety may be developing a problematic relationship could include:
- Drinking every day to ‘unwind or relax’
- Feeling unable to relax without a drink
- Drinking on most social occasions
- Feeling awkward or anxious without a drink
- Avoiding social situations where you can’t drink
- Increasing alcohol consumption
- Increasing anxiety
- Feeling anxious when hungover
If your drinking and anxiety have become interdependent and you feel you might need extra help, you may need to tackle both issues at the same time.
Getting Help
Whatever your situation, help is always available. Alcohol and mental health issues frequently co-occur and the approach of treating both at the same time is generally known as dual diagnosis treatment. This is important because if either side of the equation is left untreated, it could simply be storing up troubles for the future, including a risk of relapse.
Mental health issues, including anxiety, can be treated at the same time as alcohol addiction or misuse through a holistic programme of detoxification and evidence-backed therapies. A complete rehab programme can address all the physical and psychological aspects of addiction as well as related issues such as anxiety.
If you’re worried about your relationship with alcohol, anxiety or both, contact Rehab Clinics Group today for confidential advice on the next steps to take.
