This review broadens the psychiatric perspective on the association between diagnosable alcohol and anxiety disorders to include the psychological/learning and neuroscientific disciplines. Cross-referencing and reconciling (if not integrating) discipline-specific approaches may reveal opportunities for synergy. Alcohol consumption can have immediate effects on anxiety levels, sometimes leading to anxiety attacks or heightened anxiety shortly after drinking. While alcohol may initially induce a sense of relaxation or euphoria, especially in social settings, its impact on brain chemistry can quickly turn detrimental for individuals prone to anxiety. While some individuals may initially turn to alcohol as a means of coping with anxiety symptoms, the long-term effects of alcohol on mental health can exacerbate anxiety and lead to a vicious cycle of dependence.
Anxiety disorder symptoms can disrupt a person’s life, making it difficult to work, participate in social events, and maintain relationships. Society would have us believe that there’s no better way to unwind after a long day than by drinking a glass of wine, cold beer, or sipping your go-to liquor. But trying to relax with a drink or two may not give you the long-term anxiety relief you want.
Why do I experience anxiety after drinking?
People with AUD may have a higher risk of developing panic disorder, which can cause unexpected, recurring panic attacks. According to a 2017 review of 63 studies, reducing alcohol intake led to improvements in both depression and anxiety. Researchers in a 2017 study measured anxiety clinically and found that anxiety levels were higher in those with AUD than those without when they faced stress. Research suggests there may be a bidirectional connection between anxiety disorders and AUD. It’s also possible for chronic alcohol use to contribute to existing anxiety or lead you to develop an anxiety disorder. Some studies on mice show that alcohol-related anxiety can last anywhere from 4 to 14 hours.
- For this reason, it is necessary for the clinic to pay careful attention to the interactions and to the precise identification of the symptoms so as to be able to control the effects and risks resulting from the medication itself (98, 99).
- Contributors to this article for the NIAAA Core Resource on Alcohol include the writers for the full article, reviewers, and editorial staff.
- I still struggle with socialising a lot, and when I’m sober, I still don’t talk to countless people I do talk to when I drink.
- Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) for the management of generalized anxiety disorder.
Why You Feel Anxiety After Drinking (Hangxiety)
When dealing with stressful days or nervous situations, you may be tempted to have a glass of wine or a beer to calm your nerves. However, drinking alcohol, especially heavily and over a long period of time, can actually increase your anxiety. Let’s say you drink a beer and martini but you don’t drink any water in between. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you lose water through peeing, so it’s very important to drink plenty of water as well when you’re drinking alcohol. The prefrontal cortex, a region essential for decision-making, self-control, and emotional regulation, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of chronic alcohol use. Prolonged drinking can lead to significant damage in this area, impairing the brain’s ability to evaluate consequences or resist cravings.
Pharmacotherapy for Anxiety Disorders
Thus, this medication should be used very carefully when treating AUD patients. While some people may be more likely to experience hangxiety than others, focusing on your physical health, practicing self-compassion, and having a go-to relaxation method can all help when hangxiety hits. “Addressing the physical symptoms of your hangover can also make you feel better psychologically,” says Dr. Paul Linde, psychiatrist and medical director of psychiatry and collaborative care at Ria Health, San Francisco.
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. People with AUD and co-occurring psychiatric disorders bring unique clinical challenges tied to the severity of each disorder, the recency and severity of alcohol use, and the patient’s pressing psychosocial stressors. An overall emphasis on the AUD component may come first, or an emphasis on the co-occurring psychiatric disorder may take precedence, or both conditions can be treated simultaneously. The treatment priorities depend on factors such as each patient’s needs and the clinical resources available. Some clinical features of AUD may also precipitate sleep disorders, such as a preoccupation with obtaining alcohol and AUD-related psychosocial stressors.
Understanding the potential for alcohol-induced anxiety to linger beyond the initial consumption period what is clonazolam is essential for those seeking to manage their mental health effectively. Alcohol consumption and its potential impact on mental health, particularly anxiety, have garnered significant attention in recent years. Many individuals turn to alcohol as a means of relaxation or socialization, yet there’s growing concern about its relationship with anxiety. Mental health experts suggest that while alcohol may initially provide a sense of relief or relaxation, it can exacerbate anxiety symptoms over time. 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.
A final line of support is found in differential comorbidity rates among samples of anxiety and alcohol patients. In a seminal review, Schuckit and Hesselbrock (1994) noted that the frequency of alcoholism among anxiety patients was not markedly higher than in the general population, contrary to what would be predicted by the self-medication hypothesis. In contrast, some studies have found greatly elevated rates of anxiety disorders in samples of individuals with alcohol problems (e.g., Kushner et al. 1990). For investigators seeking to bridge the multiple disciplines included in this review, the findings concerning stress responses pose challenges and opportunities for future research.
Typologies are the oldest formal approach to categorizing alcohol misuse accompanied by strong negative affect. Similarly, people with severe anxiety disorders may be more likely to develop AUD, particularly if they use alcohol as a coping mechanism. It’s possible to have anxiety after drinking alcohol without having an anxiety disorder. While dopamine increases immediately after drinking alcohol and temporarily makes you feel good, when the inebriation has faded, whatever symptoms that were being avoided rebound. It can help you feel less shy, give you a boost in mood, and make you feel generally relaxed.
How to Overcome ‘Hangxiety’ (Post-Drinking Anxiety)
If you take medication for anxiety, or you take anti-inflammatory drugs or narcotics, drinking can cause problems with anxiety. You can become agitated and jittery because your body is busy processing the alcohol, which neutralizes the effect of these medications. We tend to pair up our vices, and not only drink alcohol but also eat highly dense, problematic foods. Your body can have an uncomfortable sensation the next day as a result, which can feel like a nervous energy or anxiety.
If you think you have a problem with alcohol, seek help from your doctor right away. Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also have noticeable physical and mental consequences. Over time, consuming too much alcohol can lead to blackouts, loss of memory, and even brain damage (especially if it causes other health problems, such as liver damage).