Skip to main content

What You Need to Know about Alcohol and Anxiety

TV commercials encourage you to have a drink to relax. However, the relationship between alcohol and anxiety can be more complicated than that. Many adults can safely drink in moderation. For others, alcohol may cause anxiety or aggravate pre-existing conditions.

 

There are several reasons why alcohol tends to disturb your peace of mind.

 

Embarrassing yourself at an office party may be an obvious danger, but there's also a molecular explanation. Alcohol causes changes in your brain chemicals, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is involved in regulating anxiety.

 

Your brain adjusts to the sedating effects of alcohol but may have trouble balancing itself again when your blood alcohol content starts to fall. That could leave you feeling more anxious than when you started, and that uneasiness may last for a day or more. Prolonged heavy drinking often contributes to anxiety.

 

Lifestyle changes and professional help can make a big difference if alcohol and anxiety are disrupting your life. Learn what you can do to turn things around.

 

Tips to remove alcohol from your life

 

  1. Plan ahead. Decide what you're going to drink ahead of time. Maybe a virgin fruity drink, a new lemonade, some herbal tea. My fav a virgin blueberry mojito. Sometimes I bring my own herbal tea; a lot of places have a limited variety.

 

  1. Back-up plan. Or as I like to call it, "escape route." Have a way to leave a situation you may find yourself uncomfortable in. "My child needs assistance," "I need to prepare for an upcoming project," etc. If you plan ahead of what you are going to say, it will be easier to deliver. And knowing you have an escape plan, you'll feel more relaxed at the event or activity your partaking in.

  2. Enjoy other activities. If you're used to bar hopping on date nights, go for a hike or visit a science museum instead. Spend your leisure time working on hobbies rather than drinking beer while watching TV.

  3. Resist social pressure. Rehearse what to say if someone asks why you're turning down a drink. Let your family and friends know you're trying to cut back if that is comfortable for you. Again, if you can, tell people ahead of time. It will avoid being put on the spot while at the event or gathering.

  4. Make it a team challenge. Celebrate Dry March or the abstinence days of your choice. Encourage people in your group, whether it be family, friends, or coworkers, to participate in the no-drinking challenge. Host non-alcoholic parties or events. Have the team come up with ideas for challenging times, like a group chat or a FB group.

 

Other Tips for Coping with Anxiety

 

Using alcohol to manage anxiety is likely to backfire.

 

Replace cocktails with strategies that are safer and more effective, such as these:

 

  1. Take sensible risks. Avoiding things that scare you may be adding to your anxiety. Facing your fears teaches you that you're strong enough to handle life's challenges. Start with small projects and work your way up.

  2. Get enough sleep. You're more resilient when you're well-rested. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of high-quality sleep each night.

  3. Eat healthy. Your diet can help you to relax. Use foods rich in fiber to stabilize your blood sugar. Experiment with foods high in certain minerals, like leafy greens for magnesium and egg yolks for zinc.

  4. Exercise regularly. Working out is a great way to use up nervous energy and benefit your mood.

  5. Seek help. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues, affecting almost 20% of the adult population. Search for therapists who have experience treating anxiety and substance abuse issues. You may need to target both areas in order to avoid relapses.

 

If you're struggling with anxiety, a glass of wine may relax you in the short term, but it doesn't deal with underlying issues. Adopt healthy habits for managing stress and talk with a professional if you need more help.

 

Like my posts? Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram under Recovery Enthusiast. I also have a podcast on Anchor and Spotify under Motivations 4U. And if you really can't get enough of me, you can check out my courses on recoveryenthusiast.com

 

As always, stay blessed and live your life Enthusiastically!!

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strolls amidst nature are therapeutic

When it feels like I have very little steam left in my engine, I head to nature. I find an outdoor environment and get lost in it. There is something healing and renewing about fresh air. Inhaling the scents of the elements of nature connects me to my origin. I am reminded that I am naturally strong and capable.   Outdoor time allows me to heal difficult relationships with friends and family members. The fresh air gives me a clear mind and a shift in perspective.   The same is true when I am searching for new business opportunities at work. I am more innovative when I seek inspiration from nature. I become creative by observing the intricate patterns on leaves and the precision with which nature feeds itself each day. Strolling through the forest nearby teaches me that it is possible to live well with others.   When I see the plants sharing the same resources each day, I know I am capable of living in harmony with my colleagues at work. There are enough opportunities to ma
Post a Comment
Read more

What Baby Shark Can Teach You About Success

 What makes Baby Shark so catchy? It’s a children’s song and a top 40 hit that appeals to kids and adults around the world. It has spawned dozens of variations and its own line of toys. It’s been viewed more than one and a half billion times on YouTube.   By now, you’ve probably seen the video regardless of whether you have any small children at home. Maybe you’ve even danced along as the family of sharks goes hunting and cheered for the happy ending where everyone winds up safe.   There’s plenty of unpredictable magic behind any internet sensation. However, you can tap into some of the ingredients that make these little sharks such a success and apply them to your recovery, starting with these 3 basic principles.   The Value of Simplicity The song is only 1 or 2 minutes long, and most of the lyrics consist of repeating the sound DO . Free up your time, save money, and reduce stress by getting down to basics. There is a lot of meaning to the old saying, "Keep It Simp
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Streamline Your Daily Schedule and Increase Efficiency

 Do you usually feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do? Sometimes it seems like the laundry or the dishes will just have to wait until later. I know for me, when I let things accumulate, I get overwhelmed, and then I either don't do anything at all, or I look for a distraction, usually food or shopping. The thing still doesn't get done, and it's a perpetual cycle.    That's why   as hard as it is, we must do things when we need to. Otherwise, they don't get done at all. Or we find ourselves having to do them when we truly don’t have the time for them. Then, inevitably, something else has to be put off.   This scenario also applies to work. When a project has a deadline, it’s important to devote all of your undivided attention to it, or it won't get completed. Time management is a critical aspect of every job – from planning to executing.   Your schedule needs to be structured to support efficiency and
Post a Comment
Read more