Different medication types also have varied approaches to treating anxiety and alcohol abuse in relation to the medication chosen. For instance, antidepressants can be used every day, while benzodiazepines are more suitable for quick, temporary relief. Additionally, it is important to find out from the health care provider if any of these medications interact with any other drug or substance that one may be using at the time. Considering does alcohol cause panic attacks this fact, any treatment methods that would be recommended to a person dealing with addiction to alcohol and anxiety will depend on the specific type of the disorder. For instance, the type of treatment recommended for social phobia will vary from the type recommended for GAD. While therapy may be enough for the latter (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), the former would require therapy AND medication, such as Zoloft.
- Sometimes, alcohol can cause an increase in anxiety, and may even lead to panic attacks.
- For example, can individuals with AUD be distinguished meaningfully based on objective stress reactivity and regulation indicators, and do subjective anxiety symptoms mark or moderate this distinction?
- Specifically, whereas socially phobic men benefitted equally well from either cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) or 12-step facilitation (TSF), women with social phobia fared less well if they were assigned to TSF.
The withdrawal period normally peaks 72 hours after the blood alcohol level drops. Additionally, panic attacks can be triggered because of the effect alcohol has on GABA, another brain chemical that normally has a relaxing effect. In fact, drinking can change the chemistry of the brain in a way that actually makes anxiety worse.
Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorders
Small amounts of alcohol can stimulate GABA and cause feelings of relaxation, but heavy drinking can deplete GABA, causing increased tension and feelings of panic.14,15 Panic attacks can occur due to alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol-induced anxiety is the uncomfortable feeling that can happen after drinking heavy amounts of alcohol. For those who have an alcohol use disorder, it’s a symptom of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
In contrast, some evidence suggests that as an evening wears on—often after you have gone to sleep—alcohol boosts glutamate receptors, which are excitatory. This is why you may find yourself wide awake in the middle of the night if you have had a lot to drink the night before. Alcohol’s boost in glutamate may contribute to anxiety well into the following day.
Why People Use Alcohol for Anxiety
Furthermore, empirical inspection of gender differences in stress-related drinking has shown that women report higher levels of stress and have a stronger link between stress and drinking (Rice and Van Arsdale 2010; Timko et al. 2005). Together, these results suggest that women may be more likely to rely on alcohol to manage anxiety. Whether you have a mental health condition like anxiety or not, certain behaviors can signal that your relationship with alcohol could cause concern. A person with an anxiety disorder is 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. Other researchers have proposed a genetic link influencing 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.
But if drinking never ends, and the alcohol use becomes chronic, you might begin to see how anxiety and alcohol misuse can feed into each other. If you are experiencing regular panic attacks, you need to ask for support. Speaking with friends and family can help them prepare to support you when a panic attack strikes. It is also important that your seek support from your GP, who will talk you through available treatment options. Drinking is commonly used to numb anxious thoughts, and yet paradoxically alcohol can cause more panic attacks to occur.