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Alcohol is a common part of social activities in todays world, and many of us consume it in social situations or perhaps at home when wanting to relax. However, alcohol is a depressant. Alcohol slows down processes in your brain and central nervous system and can initially make you feel less inhibited. In the short term you might feel more relaxed, but these effects can wear off quickly - in fact alcohol can make anxiety worse.
Its important to recognise that health anxiety and alcohol consumption can intersect and influence each other. You may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to temporality alleviate your anxiety or distress or perhaps you may experience heightened anxiety due to concerns about the potential impact of alcohol on your health?
Many people experience an uptick in anxiety or what's been dubbed 'hangxiety' after drinking alcohol.
Drinking alcohol can also trigger panic attacks. While many people do feel some anxiety after drinking, regular alcohol induced panic attacks can become a serious matter. If you are frequently getting panic attacks after consuming alcohol, it is important to take a step back and look at your drinking habits.
I am always for 'everything in moderation' and personally I like a couple of glasses of wine every now and again, but that's just my lifestyle, and I know that that isn't for everyone. My advice is listen to your gut. If you feel that your drinking habit is having a negative impact on your life, then maybe its time to change things up a bit and have a re-group? Try having a few weeks off alcohol. There are so many organised events to help you control your drinking - right now its STOPTOBER which I am personally taking part in, but you can do you own thing as and when.
Its important to be mindful about the impact of alcohol on our bodies, but also about striking that balance between that and it creating added anxiety or worry to your life.
As always, be kind to yourself
Amy x