{"id":250,"date":"2020-06-15T00:32:35","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T05:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/?page_id=250"},"modified":"2023-02-18T01:45:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T06:45:07","slug":"can-alcohol-help-with-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/can-alcohol-help-with-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Alcohol Help with Anxiety? What You Need to Know!"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>Looking back at my college years, it\u2019s hard for me to imagine tackling social anxiety and dating without my old friend alcohol. If you\u2019re anything like I was, you\u2019re willing to try anything to calm your nerves and reduce your anxiety.  So, can alcohol help with anxiety?<\/p>\n

Alcohol can significantly reduce anxiety when used responsibly. Used around the world for millennia, alcohol could be considered the original anti-anxiety remedy. However, overuse of alcohol could lead to addiction and dependence, which would ultimately worsen anxiety.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While occasional alcohol use for anxiety relief could help<\/em> with some anxiety disorders, it would almost certainly worsen other disorders. So, when might it be a good choice and when might it be a bad choice? Keep reading to find out!<\/p>\n

What is Alcohol, Actually?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First thing\u2019s first: You should know what it is you\u2019re putting in your body.<\/p>\n

Ethyl alcohol (the only kind of alcohol consumed in beverages) has been produced from the fermentation of grain, honey, or fruit, as long ago as 7000 B.C. By 2700 B.C. the ancient Greeks were worshiping deities of wine; so, you could say they liked the stuff, and it caught on.<\/p>\n

How popular is drinking alcohol today? A survey<\/a> of people aged 18 and older in the United States revealed:<\/p>\n

87.6% report having tried drinking alcohol at least once in their life<\/p>\n

71% reported drinking in the past year<\/p>\n

56.3% reported drinking in the past month<\/p>\n

In the United States currently, the drinking age is 21 and it\u2019s considered a huge<\/em> rite of passage to finally reach that age. In fact, that\u2019s pretty much the last birthday anyone cares about. Attempts to maintain a ban on the substance during the Prohibition through the 20\u2019s and into the 30\u2019s didn\u2019t even come close to succeeding, and even your local priests find ways to justify getting a little buzz on during their ceremonial rites.<\/p>\n

So why have there been ancient gods of wine as opposed to ancient gods of milk or iced tea? What\u2019s up with the world\u2019s long-standing love affair with alcohol?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alcohol for Anxiety Relief<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Drinking responsibly is your duty and I\u2019m by no means advising you to drink; alcohol is a drug and I am not a doctor. What I can<\/em> tell you are my opinions on using alcohol for anxiety, based on many years of my own experience.<\/p>\n

Alcohol is easily the most popular recreational drug in many countries, including the United States. As a depressant, alcohol works by calming and slowing down the nervous system \u2013 something that usually feels great for people with anxiety.<\/p>\n

People have all kinds of different reasons for drinking alcohol. The most common reasons that I\u2019ve seen, however, tend to be either:<\/p>\n

1. Loosening up in social environments<\/p>\n

or<\/p>\n

2. Numbing of emotional stress<\/p>\n

Obviously, people may have other reasons for drinking, but these seem to be the two most common. The first I consider to be reasonably healthy and normal in moderation. As long as you\u2019re not toeing the line of substance abuse, for most people there is no harm in enjoying a few drinks.<\/p>\n

The second, I believe, is what will cause problems down the road; it\u2019s one thing to use alcohol to loosen up and socialize comfortably, but quite another to use it as an escape or major emotional crutch. I\u2019ve never actually seen this kind of relationship with alcohol end well for anyone.<\/p>\n

The depressant effects of alcohol allow your brain to feel more at ease. Social and sexual inhibitions are lowered, and so it is only natural for people to want to be drinking alcohol at parties and similar social events. It allows the consumer to socialize more confidently than usual, and in certain scenarios, can allow individuals to more easily achieve social interaction-based goals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Drinking lightly to moderately<\/strong> can have great benefits from a social point of view as far as decreasing social anxiety and inhibitions goes. If you are inexperienced with alcohol but are legally old enough to drink, I would suggest starting light and working your way up each time you drink until you have an idea of what your limits are. The binge-drinking culture that some countries, such as the U.S., seem to foster, is overrated and reckless. More than half of all vehicle-related deaths in the U.S. involve alcohol, and there is no social benefit to acting like a fool and vomiting on yourself at the club. Reckless behavior is also an unfortunate possible side effect of drinking heavily, so be smart about drinking.<\/p>\n

Also, it is important to note that the effects of alcohol can vary from person to person based on individual differences as well as the amount consumed. Some people may become calm and relaxed, while others may become more upbeat and socially inclined. While intoxicated, some people will exhibit obvious symptoms of reduced motor skills and be unable to walk properly, while others may still appear sober. Some people get violent, while others remain entirely peaceful and relaxed. Personality and behavior dispositions are likely a key factor to this variation, but only time and experience can really determine how you will react to alcohol.<\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of Using Alcohol for Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n