Relaxing with a drink might seem like a good idea if you’re feeling anxious. After all, people drink to unwind, right? However, this could actually make you feel more anxious instead. This kind of alcohol anxiety might end up making you feel worse in the long run…
Alcohol Anxiety: Where Does It Come From?
Relaxing with a drink?
At first glance, it’s understandable to think that alcohol would reduce anxiety. Alcohol is known as a depressant. That means you might feel more relaxed after a drink or two. However, it doesn’t take long for problems to arise.
Drinking can lead to both immediate and future health problems. Worrying about this can quickly increase your anxiety levels. Additionally, you can get more anxious as your BAC level lowers. As your body starts feeling “normal” again, your anxiety will come back much quicker than you expected.
Worsening of anxiety
Alcohol anxiety can happen even after you’ve stopped drinking. Drinking changes the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, like serotonin. This change can make your anxiety feel worse than it did before. This feeling can also last hours or even a whole day since you’ve last drank.
Hangovers can also make your anxiety worse. Hangover symptoms already make people feel miserable after a night of heavy drinking. Now, think about these symptoms with anxiety. It’s easy to see how they could make someone’s anxiety worse.
Better alternatives
There are many different ways to reduce anxiety without using alcohol. Anxiety medications can help you with controlling your anxiety levels. Therapy is also another useful tool in coping with anxiety. There, you can learn strategies for how to manage in the day-to-day.
Even small lifestyle changes can help reduce anxiety. Getting plenty of sleep and eating healthy are just a few of the ways you can reduce anxiety on your own. Whichever way you prefer, you’re reducing your anxiety without alcohol being involved.
Knowing about alcohol anxiety is important for smart drinking. If you know excessive drinking makes you anxious, then you’ll be more likely to drink within your limits. That way, you can still enjoy a drink with others while not getting overly anxious.