Health Anxiety Due to Alcohol

Alcohol dependence and anxiety boils down to the chicken and egg question. Asking which came first depends upon internal and external factors. However, most research supports that alcohol only worsens anxiety symptoms.

Considerations

• The National Institute of Health states that alcohol only increases anxiety symptoms. People may use alcohol to relieve anxiety, but ironically it weakens the nervous system resulting in irritability and restlessness.

Warning

• You should not mix anxiety medication with alcohol. This deadly combination causes shallow breathing, decrease blood pressure and can possibly result in death.

Considerations

• According to Michael B. First and Allan Tasman, research psychologists of the etiology and treatment of alcohol induced anxiety, if the user abstains from the alcohol, and does not experience anxiety symptoms then it is alcohol induced anxiety. They suggest observing any changes in symptoms during abstinence from alcohol.

Expectations

• Many people claim that alcohol lessens anxiety in social situations. Sarah W. Book M.D., psychiatry professor and researcher in the effects of alcohol, states that a good portion of those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder also have a history of alcohol abuse.

Treatment

• Psychiatrists usually recommend a combination of psychotherapy and pharmaceuticals for the patient, and a period of abstinence from alcohol. Prescriptions for alcohol induced anxiety include monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOI's) such as Nardil and Emsam, benzodiazepines such as Xanax, and serotonin inducers such as Paxil and Zoloft.