Alcohol and Anxiety: How Drinking Affects Anxiety

Alcohol can worsen anxiety for many people, even if it feels calming at first. While drinking may seem to help you relax in the moment, alcohol can disrupt sleep, affect brain chemistry, and lead to increased anxiety later on. For some people, this shows up as next-day anxiety, panic symptoms, or what is often called hangxiety. If alcohol use and anxiety start feeding into each other, alcohol addiction treatment may be an important next step.

While occasional or moderate drinking may not trigger anxiety attacks in everyone, a clear relationship has been established between excessive alcohol consumption and increased anxiety levels. By exploring the underlying mechanisms of these interactions, individuals can better understand how alcohol causes anxiety and make more informed decisions about their drinking habits. Read on as we explore the link between anxiety and alcohol abuse.

Does Alcohol Cause Anxiety?

Alcohol does not affect everyone in exactly the same way, but it can contribute to anxiety symptoms in many people. A drink may initially create a sense of calm or relief, but once the effects begin to wear off, many people notice that they feel more restless, uneasy, or emotionally overwhelmed. If you already live with anxiety, alcohol may make your symptoms harder to manage over time.

What Is Anxiety and How Can Alcohol Affect It?

Many of us encounter anxiety at various stages of our lives. Anxiety is a common human reaction to situations that evoke fear or stress. Typically, feelings of anxiety would diminish once the distressing situation or stressor has been addressed. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, it can lead to overwhelming fear or worry that lingers without clear ties to external stressors. If these symptoms disrupt your ability to function effectively in daily life, it may indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder.

Signs and Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder

If you have been dealing with ongoing feelings of anxiety and recurrent fears that seem to lack a specific trigger, you may be struggling with one of the types of anxiety disorder, particularly generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This mental health condition is marked by continuous, overwhelming, and often irrational concerns about various events or activities that can impact your daily life.

What Is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, refers to heavy drinking behaviours that result in serious and negative health and social consequences, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse. 

For some people, alcohol also increases regret, low mood, guilt, or social worry after drinking, which can make anxiety feel even stronger the next day.

Signs and Symptoms Of Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD manifests through problematic drinking patterns, persistence of alcohol consumption despite adverse effects, and experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In addition, they may also develop a tolerance, which leads to requiring larger quantities of alcohol to achieve the desired effects.
Read our full guide on the signs and symptoms of alcoholism.

If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms or feel unable to stop drinking safely on your own, a medically supervised alcohol detox may be necessary.

Why Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

Alcohol can make anxiety worse for several reasons. It can interfere with sleep, affect mood the next day, and place extra stress on the nervous system once the short-term calming effects wear off. Drinking may also cause a racing heart, shakiness, sweating, nausea, or dizziness, all of which can feel similar to anxiety or make anxious feelings more intense.

The Link Between Alcohol and Anxiety

Anxiety after alcohol consumption can be understood as a result of the impact that alcohol has on your brain’s chemical balance and neurobiological functions. 

The process begins when alcohol enters your brain, which initiates a chemical response in the brain’s pleasure centre. This response results in a surge of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin. Furthermore, alcohol enhances the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, which are crucial in regulating anxiety. The stimulation of GABA induces sensations of calmness and relaxation.

Considering that alcohol serves as a depressant that slows down your brain, it can provide a sense of relief from anxiety. However, as the effects of alcohol diminish, GABA levels drop significantly, which can lead to an increased state of anxiety.

Why Alcohol May Seem to Help Anxiety at First

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down activity in the brain and nervous system. Because of this, it can create a short-lived feeling of relaxation or relief. That temporary effect is one reason some people start using alcohol to cope with stress or anxiety.

The problem is that this relief does not last. As alcohol leaves your system, anxiety symptoms may return more strongly, creating a pattern where drinking seems helpful in the moment but may worsen anxiety over time.

Understanding Hangxiety

Hangxiety is the term many people use to describe feelings of anxiety after drinking alcohol, usually the next day. It can include nervousness, racing thoughts, dread, irritability, shakiness, a pounding heart, or a sense that something is wrong. For some people, hangxiety passes within hours, while for others it can last much longer, especially after heavy drinking or poor sleep.

Since alcohol affects neurotransmitter activities in your brain, alcohol consumption can result in depressed mood and anxiety symptoms. These effects can persist beyond the drinking period, which can affect you the following day as your body metabolises the alcohol. Unlike the typical hangover symptoms such as headaches and nausea, hangxiety focuses on your mental wellness. 

How Long Does Hangxiety Last?

Similar to the physical symptoms of a hangover, hangxiety affects individuals in different ways. Hangxiety symptoms are usually most intense the day following alcohol consumption. The symptoms can persist for 24 hours up to a few days, or even longer, depending on the amount of alcohol you consumed, your body size, and liver health.

Who Are At Risk Of Hangxiety?

Hangxiety can affect anyone, but it tends to be more prevalent among those who already experience or have existing anxiety. Specifically, people with a social anxiety disorder may be particularly susceptible to hangxiety. Those who feel anxious in social situations might resort to alcohol to reduce their discomfort.

Can Drinking Trigger Panic Attacks?

In some cases, yes. Alcohol can increase physical symptoms such as sweating, a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shakiness, and poor sleep. If you are already prone to panic attacks, these sensations may trigger panic symptoms or make them feel more intense. This can be especially difficult if you were drinking to relax but end up feeling worse once the effects wear off.

Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment

If anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse are both present at the same time, they are known as co-occurring disorders. The most important step you can take to get professional help for these conditions is to obtain a comprehensive evaluation from your healthcare provider.

To effectively break the cycle of anxiety and alcohol abuse or any other substance use disorders, it is essential to utilise various approaches that address both disorders concurrently. Implementing a combination of the following interventions at the same time has proven to be beneficial:

Medication

Several medications are being used as treatment for anxiety and alcohol addiction. Specifically, acamprosate and naltrexone are prescribed to reduce cravings and lessen heavy alcohol use. In some cases, disulfiram is used to prevent drinking by causing unpleasant reactions when consuming alcohol, such as nausea, vomiting, and headache. 

Meanwhile, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically given to manage anxiety and related symptoms.

Psychotherapy

Both anxiety and alcoholism highly benefit from psychotherapies. Typically, these interventions teach coping and life skills, prevent relapse, and foster peer support. Among the effective therapeutic approaches are cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT), and group therapy. 

Lifestyle Change

To effectively address both excessive alcohol and anxiety issues, you need to consider making lifestyle changes. Enhancing one’s diet, practising regular physical activity, and having adequate sleep can significantly reduce anxiety. 

Engaging in new hobbies and connecting with family members can also be beneficial in preventing compulsive alcohol use.

When To Reach To A Healthcare Provider

Many individuals experiencing anxiety may find themselves attracted to alcohol due to its immediate calming effects. Although some individuals may find temporary alleviation of anxiety symptoms through alcohol, the long-term consequences can intensify anxiety and lead to the emergence of additional issues, including both alcoholism and anxiety disorders.

If feelings of anxiety following alcohol consumption interfere with your daily life, it is advisable to seek professional support for anxiety treatment. A healthcare provider can evaluate your mental health and may recommend evidence-based treatments to promote recovery and prevent relapse.

Get Help For Anxiety And Alcohol Use Disorder

The connection between alcohol consumption and anxiety is complex, encompassing various dimensions that go beyond the short-term effects of drinking. When anxiety and alcohol misuse become linked, effective treatment often needs to address both issues together rather than treating them separately. This is sometimes called dual diagnosis or co-occurring treatment.

We understand that the weight of worry, fear, and stress you carry can be overwhelming, and reaching for a drink might seem like the easiest escape. However, you deserve more than just temporary relief. There is hope when you take the first step of asking for professional help from Liberty Home Clinic. Our dedicated team comprises people who care, understand, and want to walk this path with you.