Proven Risks: Alcohol and Anxiety

Alcohol and Anxiety: Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment

Abusing alcohol can be extremely harmful to a person, both physically and from a mental health perspective. When you combine alcohol and anxiety disorders, it can lead to an addiction that is hard to recover from.  

The physical ramifications are obvious —the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 88,000 people die annually from alcohol, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

But understanding the relationship between alcohol and anxiety, not to mention mental health more widely, is key to knowing why some people become addicted. 

Alcohol as an Anxiety Cure

In a lot of cultures, alcohol is viewed as a stress reliever. Think about people heading out for drinks after a stressful day of work or drinking alcohol to calm their nerves before an unpleasant conversation.

You’ve probably even heard the term “liquid courage” to describe how inhibitions disappear when people are under the influence of alcohol. 

People drink when they need to unwind or when they’re sad or when they’re feeling anxious. Some see it as a cure-all for all of these situations. But excessive drinking over a prolonged period of time can actually have the opposite effect. It can increase your anxiety. 

So while some see alcohol and anxiety as a relationship that is improved by drinking, it may only make your anxiety worse. Using alcohol in this way is dangerous and can cause issues like addiction and alcohol use disorders down the line. 

Alcohol and Anxiety: The Connection

In order to treat alcoholism, it is important to know the underlying cause of addiction. In other words, to treat addiction, you may also have to sometimes treat related mental health conditions. 

As we stated before, in many cases, people drink to treat symptoms of anxiety. This approach can be harmful to both your physical health and mental health over long periods of time. It

Alcohol rehab can eliminate the need to drink that is associated with anxiety by treating both the alcoholism and the anxiety with. Here’s what it can do for you if you are relying on alcohol to help you deal with your symptoms of anxiety.

If you are suffering with anxiety, you may be dealing with symptoms like heart palpitations, breathing disorders, sweating, high blood pressure, sweating and fainting. These symptoms are not to be taken lightly. They can present serious health issues and even lead to life threatening situations.

Many may turn to alcohol to lower inhibitions and temporarily reduce symptoms of anxiety. However, long-term alcohol use exacerbates these symptoms. Reliance on alcohol can lead to a multitude of problems in personal and professional life.

Other Issues Related to Alcohol and Anxiety Disorders

These range from financial and relationship issues, loss of employment and an inability to function on a daily basis. All of this can increase anxiety in the long run and, in turn, increase the dependence on alcohol in addicted individuals.

Residential detox addresses anxiety, and works on the root of the problem. We will present you ways to deal with stress in a healthy manner, eliminating the need to turn to drinking. These are tools you will need to overcome drinking and prevent chances of relapse.

The idea of treating both the addiction and the underlying cause of the addiction is rooted in a form of treatment called dual diagnosis. This sort of treatment can address co-occurring disorders of anxiety and other behavioral issues that may be leading to addiction. 

Treatment methods may include personal and group therapy as well as guided meditation and yoga. If you are struggling with addiction, the right alcohol detox center or alcohol rehab facility can help, whether it is anxiety related or not.

We can create a specialized treatment that is best suited to your needs. We have addiction specialists on hand 24/7. They are ready to start taking steps to get you the help you need quickly and make the process as stress free as possible. 

All you need to do it pick up the phone and call our treatment hotline to take the first steps towards treating your addiction and making a better life for yourself and your loved ones.

The recovery representatives at Find Addiction Rehabs are ready any time of the day to discuss alcohol and anxiety, what it means to consider dual diagnosis treatment, and any other concerns your might have related to treatment for you (or a loved one).

Don’t hesitate to call and speak to them about insurance for rehab coverages, fast verification, and same day placement at top facilities across the country. 

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