Alcohol consumption in the United States is widespread and often celebrated. Unfortunately, this popular substance can also be extremely damaging. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder in the world. Many people who consume alcohol will experience heightened feelings of anxiety. These feelings are frightening and can easily get worse the more you drink.
Anxiety and Alcohol Use
Alcohol and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. According to Alcohol Health and Research World, alcohol “affects the brain in many ways, and it is likely that high doses will cause feelings of sadness (i.e., depression) during intoxication that evolve into feelings of nervousness (i.e., anxiety) during the subsequent hangover and withdrawal.” The more a person consumes alcohol, the greater the chance that symptoms of anxiety will intensify.
Anxiety and Alcohol Withdrawal
When an individual stops drinking, anxiety symptoms and panic attacks can arise. Even more, many people do not even realize that alcohol consumption could be the explanation for these intense symptoms.
According to a 2008 study in the Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, individuals who experience panic attacks will “continue to drink heavily to escape or avoid such aversive alcohol-related internal states.” This creates a dangerous cycle that can lead to even more consequences, even death.
Dangers of Alcohol Withdrawal
When a person starts to experience alcohol withdrawal, they can experience a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and include tremors, anxiety, irritability, hallucinations, and even seizures. This withdrawal may even cause death.
Alcohol Health and Research World state that these withdrawal symptoms are the result of “alcohol-induced imbalances in the brain chemistry that cause excessive neuronal activity if the alcohol is withheld.” For these reasons, alcohol dependence is a very tough cycle to break. Each binge or relapse makes the next withdrawal process more complicated and painful.
Alcohol and Anxiety Treatment Options
Trying to overcome alcohol addiction can be extremely dangerous on your own. At The Guest House, we offer a comprehensive plan that starts with the initial stages of withdrawal. If a medical detox is necessary, our program will help you end your physical dependency as alcohol is cleared from your body.
After detox, The Guest House will help you move forward in recovery with a seamless transition into our program. Even if detox is not needed, our holistic treatment plan will help you get down to the core of your addiction while providing you with the support you need as you go through your journey of healing.
Anxiety is one of the main symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Many people will fall into a cycle of dependency. The more they experience anxiety, the more they drink. The more they drink and withdraw, the worse the anxiety gets. This dangerous cycle can lead to tremors, seizures, and even death. The Guest House will help you break the cycle of alcohol dependency, starting with medical detox. After detox, we aim to help you get to the core of your addiction to heal your mind, body, and soul. For more information on our program, call us today at (855) 483-7800.