Author: Gary Jackson

Why do I get so anxious after drinking? Heres the science behind hangxiety

The withdrawal period normally peaks 72 hours after the blood alcohol level drops. The effects of withdrawal often ease 5 to 7 days after drinking ends. While everyone may experience anxiousness from time to time, a person who has an anxiety disorder often finds their anxiety doesn’t go away and may actually get worse with, or without provocation. Drinking can also cause hangovers, which usually consist of symptoms like nausea, dizziness and headaches.

How alcohol worsens anxiety

  1. When these symptoms become overwhelming, the person might have an alcoholic drink to try to calm down.
  2. Alcohol has an effect on brain chemistry – it can induce panic because of its effects on GABA, a chemical in the brain that normally has a relaxing effect.
  3. Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose an alcohol use disorder or an anxiety disorder.
  4. Self-medicating your panic attacks with drink can leave you psychologically dependent on alcohol because the short-term sedative effects can be addictive.
  5. If you are not struggling with alcohol addiction, cutting out drinking is more of a personal choice.
  6. A hangover is the body’s way of recovering after drinking alcohol, bringing with it a range of symptoms.

A rise in BAC levels leads to temporary feelings of excitement, but feelings of depression occur as BAC levels fall. As a result, it’s possible that having a few drinks that make your BAC rise and then fall back to normal again can make you more anxious than you were before. All our psychiatrists (and all psychiatrists in general) are medical doctors with additional training in mental health. They can prescribe any medication they think can help their patients.

The Risks of Using Alcohol to Relieve Anxiety

So you tend to avoid these situations and may not even venture out from home. Treatment options include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and medication, usually with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Panic attacks are episodes of extreme anxiety that typically last between 5 and 20 minutes.

Alcohol can decrease your blood sugar levels

But hangovers aren’t just physical – there’s a strong mental side too. At CalmClinic, we believe that information is only as helpful as its accuracy. That is why all of the content that we publish is always reviewed and analyzed by professionals in the psychology and healthcare fields.

Psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized training in diagnosing and treating complex mental health conditions through medication management. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or similar, a psychiatrist may be a good place to start. If you are not struggling with alcohol addiction, cutting out drinking is more of a personal choice.

If you think you have a problem with alcohol, seek help from your doctor right away. In the United States, “moderate” typically refers to two drinks a day for adult men and one for women. Older adults metabolize alcohol faster, so if you’re in this age group, limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage per day. Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety. For most patients, Talkiatry treatment is just as effective as in-person psychiatry (American Psychiatric Association, 2021), and much more convenient. That said, we don’t currently provide treatment for schizophrenia, primary eating disorder treatment, or Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders.

Anxiety and depression

Someone who experiences multiple panic attacks for no apparent reason may have panic disorder, a form of anxiety. If you’re drinking more than the UK low risk drinking guidelines (no more than 14 units a week for both men and women) try to cut down. In fact, if you’re experiencing anxiety, drinking alcohol could be making things worse. Long-term heavy drinkers may be predisposed to developing an anxiety disorder. However, there is no evidence that moderate drinking will cause anxiety. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also have noticeable physical and mental consequences.

Alcohol and anxiety: Panic attacks after drinking

If you experience sudden, intense anxiety and fear, it might be the symptoms of a panic attack.13 Other symptoms may include a racing heartbeat, or feeling faint, dizzy, lightheaded, or sick. It’s a natural human response and usually passes once the situation is over – for example around a job interview. But if you have feelings of anxiety that are constant, overwhelming, or affect your daily life, there are things you can do, and support that is available to help you manage. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), about 7 percent of Americans have this form of anxiety. Occasionally unwinding with alcohol isn’t necessarily dangerous if your doctor approves. But once you start drinking, you can build a tolerance to the de-stressing effects of alcohol.

This can definitely cause anxiety and worsen any existing phobias or overthinking tendencies you may already have. One theory of why this happens is called the “tension reduction hypothesis.” This theory suggests that alcohol is used as a self-medicating method to reduce stress and anxiety. Specific support is also available if you need help with your drinking. However, you can make lifestyle changes to help you reduce your anxiety as well as learn to cope with it. Discuss these concerns with your doctor first to see if alcohol is safe for you. For some, a hangover is simply a matter of how much they drank or how hydrated they are.

How alcohol impacts anxiety

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. 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.” Other researchers have proposed a genetic link influencing a person’s anxiety level and alcohol consumption.