THE ROOTS OF ANXIETY

One gets stressed over different life problems or situations that hinder the mind. The reaction of our body or mind in response to stress creates anxiety. Constant anxiety or recurring anxiety can further cause severe disorders like- panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety is the inability to feel calm and restlessness to relieve. One may get dependent on mediums like Alcohol consumption for reducing their anxiety at such points. However, making this a habit can turn your life into chaos and only worsen your situation. Consuming alcohol might relax you momentarily, but actually, it is a double-sided blade. You will be trading a few seconds of calm in exchange for destruction for the rest of your life.

Alcohol: a stress reliever?

According to scientists, alcohol is a sedative and a depressant that affects our central nervous system. Thus, it has some true theories regarding stress-relieving properties. Drinking calms down the fear and boosts your mood. It acts similar to anti-anxiety medications and makes you feel relaxed or distracted from your troubles. However, it is a temporary feeling that may relax you due to High Alcohol Content(HAC) in your blood. When the impact of HAC gets normal, you may experience severe anxiety, worse than ever.

Alcohol can create noticeable physical and mental changes. Consistent drinking can make your system tolerable to the Alcohol effects. Thus, it can make the situation more difficult to heal anxiety. Alcohol can cause additional impacts to our body which may worsen the situation. Overconsumption of Alcohol or its addiction can lead to:

Nausea
Vomiting
High Blood pressure
Headaches
Dizziness
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
High body temperature
Low level of glucose(sugar)

How is Alcohol an anxiety booster?

Long-term alcohol consumption can make it difficult for one to recover from traumatic scenarios. Alcohol consumption can affect your brain. Long-term consumers or heavy drinkers are likely to suffer from anxiety. Apart from this, people who stop drinking experience severe anxiety issues due to withdrawal and might require Alcohol Addiction Treatment.

Alcohol withdrawal includes many side effects like:

Over sweat
No control over trembling hands
Anxiety
High Heart rate (over 100 beats per minute)
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Hallucination

Is Alcohol Consumption a trustworthy treatment for anxiety?

Two drinks a day signifies moderate drinking for adults. The elder you are, the slower the metabolization is. So, it is important to recommend a doctor to know whether moderate drinking is safe for you. Though Alcohol drinks have some benefits, one must not ignore the risks that they raise –

Depression
Obesity
Liver disease
Cardiovascular damage

Alcohol reacts differently to different people. It may cheer up one or act as a sedative for another. One must avoid Alcohol consumption if :

You are suffering from aggressive tendencies,
You have severe mental health disorder,
You have low drinking tolerance.

Alcohol is not a reliable treatment for anxiety. One must seek a therapist or psychiatrist regarding mental disorders like hypertension, anxiety, depression, and more.

Types of anxiety and medication

Your medication for anxiety depends on the type you are suffering. If you are a patient with social anxiety, therapy can help you relieve your anxiety disorder. A feeling of worry or stress without any specific reason is an indication of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). One can share his thoughts with a therapist or adapt to changes that can stop your Anxiety behavior. As we know, every medication plays a different role and acts distinctively over anxiety. Antidepressant is an efficient medium to treat anxiety whereas Benzodiazepines help minimize uncontrollable feelings of anxiety. Do not use any medication without a doctor’s recommendation. Such medicines can interact with alcoholic drinks and cause harmful effects in your body.

https://pixabay.com/photos/man-alcohol-hangover-428392/

Another life lesson to reduce anxiety

1. STAY ACTIVE

Regular Exercise and meditation are good for health. Regular Exercise brings calmness to our mind and body and relieves us from anxiety. It is not a temporary solution that brings hours of relief. Mediation reduces chaotic feelings and brings peace to our minds and soul. Refer to thoughts on life for a better positive response to your anxiety treatment.

2. AVOID CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL

Caffeine and Alcohol consumption both are mediums that boost up anxiety. One must not rely on alcoholic drinks to relieve anxiety issues as once the impact is over, you may experience worsen anxiety.

Switch your priorities to a healthy life. Else you might get alcohol-dependent which is a natural sedative. Likewise, Caffeine can cause severe anxiety issues and even panic attacks. It makes one prone to nervousness and triggers one’s mind that is visible as jitter effects.

3. HEALTHY ROUTINE

Some eating habits can affect anxiety too. Mood changes may occur due to dehydration, disbalance in blood sugar level, or chemicals present in food for artificial taste. So, one must check if their eating habits are responsible for anxiety. Eating healthy and sleeping well go hand in hand. Make a routine and sleep at the same time daily. Avoid heavy eating, nicotine, and caffeine consumption before sleeping. Write down your stress always before you sleep. A calm, peaceful sleep will boost you up for a happy, new day.

4. THERAPIES YOU MUST OPT FOR DAILY!

Anxiety can lead to breathlessness, leading to dizziness, and even panic attacks. So, one must practice deep breathing exercises that can lower your heart rate and maintain the consistency of your breath. It will ultimately reduce your anxiety.

One can often opt for Aromatherapy to reduce anxiety. Aromatherapy includes the consumption of fragrant essential oils in two distinct ways:

Simple Inhaling procedure
Used In bath or diffuser

It can boost one’s mood and reduce heart rate. It can calm the stress and help you sleep well. Thus, it is a good source of medication for people with panic disorders or anxiety disorders.

alcohol

https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-despair-alcohol-bottle-glass-3319540/

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to relieve your anxiety. However, alcohol consumption or anything harmful to your health is not a solution to resolve your anxiety disorder. Alcohol is a temporary solution that prompts obesity, depression, and other severe diseases. One must consult a doctor before drinking in case of mental disorders. Apart from this, one must understand that drinking alcohol, being a natural sedative, is not a treatment for anxiety and would instead worsen your health. So, one must refer to a mental therapist to resolve their stress and anxiety. Opting for natural methods can relieve your stress. Avoiding Caffeine and Alcohol is the first step towards success. One must adopt deep breathing practices and eat a healthy balanced diet. We are the bag of choices we make; therefore, choose wisely.

Early interventions are just as, if not more, effective than waiting until someone hits “rock bottom”. An alcohol hotline can help you find the most appropriate treatment options based on your struggles or a loved one’s struggles.

Author: Mandy Kloppers

Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.