The Risks of Using Alcohol to Relieve Anxiety

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAlcohol’s EffectsWhy People Use Alcohol for AnxietyHow Alcohol Affects Anxiety DisordersSide Effects of Alcohol MisuseHow Much Is Too Much?Signs of Alcohol MisuseTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Alcohol’s Effects

Why People Use Alcohol for Anxiety

How Alcohol Affects Anxiety Disorders

Side Effects of Alcohol Misuse

How Much Is Too Much?

Signs of Alcohol Misuse

Treatment

Close

Because alcohol acts as a depressant, many people might wonder: Does alcohol help with anxiety? When you’re feeling tense and anxious after a stressful workday, it might seem like a great idea to fix yourself a cocktail or crack open a cold one. While alcohol is often used responsibly to unwind after a stressful day or relax at social events, it can become a problem when used as an unhealthy way to cope with anxiety.

Sometimes, people turn to alcohol or other substances to help them hide from their problems or cope with symptoms ofmental illness. In some cases, people with certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety or panic disorder, might develop anunhealthy relationship with alcohol.

At a GlanceDrinking might lessen anxiety, but not for long. In addition to the immediate risks of excess drinking, making a habit of using alcohol as a coping mechanism can have other lasting consequences, including worse anxiety and a drinking problem. That might explain why anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders often occur together. If you have an anxiety disorder and are concerned about your drinking, it’s essential to talk to a mental health professional so you can address both issues. Long-term recovery can hinge on getting a handle on your anxiety and your alcohol use.

At a Glance

Drinking might lessen anxiety, but not for long. In addition to the immediate risks of excess drinking, making a habit of using alcohol as a coping mechanism can have other lasting consequences, including worse anxiety and a drinking problem. That might explain why anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders often occur together. If you have an anxiety disorder and are concerned about your drinking, it’s essential to talk to a mental health professional so you can address both issues. Long-term recovery can hinge on getting a handle on your anxiety and your alcohol use.

An Overview of Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol depresses thecentral nervous system(CNS). When someone first has a drink of alcohol, it often has a sedative effect.

Alcohol can produce a sense of euphoria and decrease a person’s inhibition. These effects can make it seem like drinking alcohol is providing the person with relief from their anxiety.

However, the long-term effects of alcohol can cause anxiety or make the symptoms of an anxiety disorder worse. Additionally, chronic alcohol use can lead to tolerance or dependence, as well as cause physical damage to the body (including the brain, liver, and heart).

People with anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia, sometimesuse alcohol to copewith feelings of fear and anxiety. There are a number of theories to explain why this happens:

Tension Reduction

One theory of why this happens is called the “tension reduction hypothesis.” This theory suggests that alcohol is used as aself-medicating methodto reduce stress and anxiety.

The whole idea behind self-medicating is using alcohol, drugs, supplements, or other substances as ‘home remedies’ to handle health problems. While this approach can relieve some symptoms, these aren’t doctor-recommended or prescribed methods. In many cases, self-medicating leads to other problems, including worsening symptoms and substance use problems.

Genetics

Other researchers have proposed agenetic linkinfluencing a person’s anxiety level and alcohol consumption. These biological theories suggest that there could be a brain mechanism that is responsible for both anxiety symptoms and drinking behaviors.

Expectations for Anxiety Relief

Another proposed theory refers to an expectancy component in people with anxiety who use alcohol. In this situation, a person expects to get relief from theiranxiety symptomswhen they consume alcohol because of its effect on the central nervous system (CNS).

In some cases, a person who drinks alcohol to relieve feelings of anxiety might end up drinking more because they expect alcohol to provide a certain amount of relief from their anxiety symptoms.

A person’s drinking behavior becomes associated with their level of anxiety and how much relief they expect alcohol will provide. In this scenario, the more anxiety a person experiences, the more they tend to drink to alleviate their anxiety.

How Common Is Alcoholism in the United States?

Research has found thatanxiety disordersand alcohol use disorders often occur together.Several proposed explanations exist for the link, including genetics, a person’s environment, and the brain mechanisms related to addiction and anxiety symptoms.

Given the possible connection, it’s not surprising that research has also shown that treating one condition requires adequately addressing the others.

A person with an anxiety disorder is two to three times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder at some point in their life compared to someone who has never been diagnosed with anxiety.

Studies have shown that alcohol use disorders are more prevalent in people with specific mental health conditions, including agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder and Agoraphobia

The onset of symptoms related to social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia can be a trigger for some people to develop unhealthy relationships with alcohol.

For example, a person with social anxiety might be afraid of going to a party where there will be many people they do not know. Even simply thinking about attending the gathering might cause themanticipatory anxiety.

When these symptoms become overwhelming, the person might have an alcoholic drink to try to calm down. They might also consume alcohol at the gathering to feel more relaxed or less inhibited around others.

While alcohol might feel like a solution in the short term, this drinking behavior comes with many problems. When people use alcohol to relieve symptoms of a mental health condition, it can quickly become a “crutch.”

If they continue to use alcohol to help them feel more relaxed or at ease, they might eventually feel the need toavoid any social situationswhere they would be unable to drink. This can end up making their anxiety worse.

Long-term alcohol use also often leads totolerance, when a person needs to drink more to get the desired effect. For example, a person might have started feeling more relaxed after just one glass of wine. As time goes on, however, they might find they need two, three, or more glasses of alcohol to get the same feeling.

Alcohol Myths Debunked

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder

Studies have shown a different trend of alcohol use in people who are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder orpanic disorder.For many people with these mental health conditions, unhealthy drinking behaviors begin around the same time as the disorder’s symptoms.

Researchers are not sure what the connection means. The initial symptoms of anxiety and panic may be related toalcohol withdrawal. It could also be that alcohol use provides a mechanism for these disorders to develop.

RecapPeople with generalized anxiety or panic disorder are more likely to develop unhealthy drinking behaviors around the same time that they start having symptoms of their anxiety-related mental health condition.

Recap

People with generalized anxiety or panic disorder are more likely to develop unhealthy drinking behaviors around the same time that they start having symptoms of their anxiety-related mental health condition.

Even if someone starts drinking alcohol as a way to cope with anxiety, it can quickly have the opposite effect. For one, drinking alcohol more frequently or having larger amounts can causehangovers.

The symptoms of a hangover, such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dehydration, and low blood sugar, can make it hard to function. If someone is sick because of a hangover, they might not be able to attend to their responsibilities at home, school, or work—which can, in turn, fuel their anxiety.

Heavy or regular alcohol misuse also often leads to withdrawal. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and anxiety disorders can be similar. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include:

If a person experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it can create a cycle of heightened anxiety and increased alcohol misuse.

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers specific definitions for “heavy drinking.“The CDC considers one standard drink to be the equivalent of:

CDC Alcohol Limits

Theories About Alcohol Metabolism

Whether you have a mental health condition like anxiety or not, certain behaviors can signal that your relationship with alcohol could cause concern.

You might recognize these behaviors in yourself, or someone in your life may have made you aware of them. Signs of alcoholism can include:

Another sign to consider is external rather than internal: when the people in your life express concern about your relationship with alcohol.

Your partner, parents, children, friends, employer, coworkers, doctor, or therapist might confront you about your drinking habits or your behavior when you drink.

When they talk to you about your drinking behavior, your loved ones might:

Alcohol Use Self Assessment

Treatment for Alcohol Use and Anxiety Disorders

If you are using alcohol as a self-medicating measure, you might feel it “works” to help you cope with your symptoms. While you might feel that it works in the short term, it’s more likely to cause you problems in the long run. If you have an anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse and withdrawal can make your symptoms worse.

If you have anxiety and are using alcohol to cope, it’s important that you seek support from your doctor or mental health professional. It’s never too late (or too soon) to reach out for help if you are trying to cope with a mental health condition or substance use disorder.

There are many effective treatments for anxiety and alcohol use disorders, including ongoing individual therapy, group therapy, prescribed medications, or a combination of these methods.

Takeaways

While it might be tempting to turn to alcohol to manage feelings of anxiety, it can be a slippery slope that worsens anxiety problems and increases your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. Instead of alcohol, consider talking to a mental health professional about effective anxiety management options, which may include psychotherapy and medication.

If you suspect that you have an alcohol use problem, effective treatments are available. Talk to your doctor aboutmedications,therapy, andsupport groupsthat can help you manage your alcohol consumption.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Find Support With the Best Online Anxiety Support Groups

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dguzeh U, Haddad NC, Smith KTS, et al.Alcoholism: A multi-systemic cellular insult to organs.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6). doi:10.3390/ijerph15061083Dvorak RD, Stevenson BL, Kilwein TM, et al.Tension reduction and affect regulation: An examination of mood indices on drinking and non-drinking days among university student drinkers.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;26(4):377-390. doi:10.1037/pha0000210Anker JJ, Kushner MG.Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: bridging psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives.Alcohol Res. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.03. doi:10.35946/arcr.v40.1.03Abrams K, Kushner M, Medina KL, Voight A.The pharmacologic and expectancy effects of alcohol on social anxiety in individuals with social phobia.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64(2):219-231. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00125-9Puddephatt J, Irizar P, Jones A, Gage SH, Goodwin L.Associations of common mental disorder with alcohol use in the adult general population: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Addiction. 2022;117(6):1543-1572. doi:10.1111/add.15735Castillo-Carniglia A, Keyes KM, Hasin DS, Cerdá M.Psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol use disorder.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(12):1068-1080. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30222-6Turner S, Mota N, Bolton J, Sareen J.Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(9):851-860. doi:10.1002/da.22771Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and public health.Anxiety Disorders Association of America.Social anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse.Batchelder AW, Glynn TR, Moskowitz JT, et al.The shame spiral of addiction: Negative self-conscious emotion and substance use.PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265480. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265480

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dguzeh U, Haddad NC, Smith KTS, et al.Alcoholism: A multi-systemic cellular insult to organs.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6). doi:10.3390/ijerph15061083Dvorak RD, Stevenson BL, Kilwein TM, et al.Tension reduction and affect regulation: An examination of mood indices on drinking and non-drinking days among university student drinkers.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;26(4):377-390. doi:10.1037/pha0000210Anker JJ, Kushner MG.Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: bridging psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives.Alcohol Res. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.03. doi:10.35946/arcr.v40.1.03Abrams K, Kushner M, Medina KL, Voight A.The pharmacologic and expectancy effects of alcohol on social anxiety in individuals with social phobia.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64(2):219-231. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00125-9Puddephatt J, Irizar P, Jones A, Gage SH, Goodwin L.Associations of common mental disorder with alcohol use in the adult general population: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Addiction. 2022;117(6):1543-1572. doi:10.1111/add.15735Castillo-Carniglia A, Keyes KM, Hasin DS, Cerdá M.Psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol use disorder.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(12):1068-1080. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30222-6Turner S, Mota N, Bolton J, Sareen J.Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(9):851-860. doi:10.1002/da.22771Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and public health.Anxiety Disorders Association of America.Social anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse.Batchelder AW, Glynn TR, Moskowitz JT, et al.The shame spiral of addiction: Negative self-conscious emotion and substance use.PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265480. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265480

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dguzeh U, Haddad NC, Smith KTS, et al.Alcoholism: A multi-systemic cellular insult to organs.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6). doi:10.3390/ijerph15061083Dvorak RD, Stevenson BL, Kilwein TM, et al.Tension reduction and affect regulation: An examination of mood indices on drinking and non-drinking days among university student drinkers.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;26(4):377-390. doi:10.1037/pha0000210Anker JJ, Kushner MG.Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: bridging psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives.Alcohol Res. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.03. doi:10.35946/arcr.v40.1.03Abrams K, Kushner M, Medina KL, Voight A.The pharmacologic and expectancy effects of alcohol on social anxiety in individuals with social phobia.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64(2):219-231. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00125-9Puddephatt J, Irizar P, Jones A, Gage SH, Goodwin L.Associations of common mental disorder with alcohol use in the adult general population: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Addiction. 2022;117(6):1543-1572. doi:10.1111/add.15735Castillo-Carniglia A, Keyes KM, Hasin DS, Cerdá M.Psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol use disorder.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(12):1068-1080. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30222-6Turner S, Mota N, Bolton J, Sareen J.Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(9):851-860. doi:10.1002/da.22771Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and public health.Anxiety Disorders Association of America.Social anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse.Batchelder AW, Glynn TR, Moskowitz JT, et al.The shame spiral of addiction: Negative self-conscious emotion and substance use.PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265480. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265480

Dguzeh U, Haddad NC, Smith KTS, et al.Alcoholism: A multi-systemic cellular insult to organs.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6). doi:10.3390/ijerph15061083

Dvorak RD, Stevenson BL, Kilwein TM, et al.Tension reduction and affect regulation: An examination of mood indices on drinking and non-drinking days among university student drinkers.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;26(4):377-390. doi:10.1037/pha0000210

Anker JJ, Kushner MG.Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: bridging psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives.Alcohol Res. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.03. doi:10.35946/arcr.v40.1.03

Abrams K, Kushner M, Medina KL, Voight A.The pharmacologic and expectancy effects of alcohol on social anxiety in individuals with social phobia.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64(2):219-231. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00125-9

Puddephatt J, Irizar P, Jones A, Gage SH, Goodwin L.Associations of common mental disorder with alcohol use in the adult general population: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Addiction. 2022;117(6):1543-1572. doi:10.1111/add.15735

Castillo-Carniglia A, Keyes KM, Hasin DS, Cerdá M.Psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol use disorder.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(12):1068-1080. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30222-6

Turner S, Mota N, Bolton J, Sareen J.Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(9):851-860. doi:10.1002/da.22771

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and public health.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America.Social anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse.

Batchelder AW, Glynn TR, Moskowitz JT, et al.The shame spiral of addiction: Negative self-conscious emotion and substance use.PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265480. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265480

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