People with social anxiety disorder — like those who think others are constantly criticizing them — often drink to self-medicate.
Most, if not all of us, feel anxious from time to time. Perhaps we're running late to work, or we have an urgent deadline awaiting us once we get there. But in any given year, about 40 million adults are dealing with a more serious level of anxiety called an anxiety disorder. And in many cases, people with an anxiety disorder also have a problem with alcoholism.Anxiety and Alcoholism: The Connection
A type of anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder appears to have a particularly strong link to alcohol abuse. Nearly half of all people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder also meet the definition for so-called "alcohol use disorder." And women with social anxiety disorder appear to be more likely to have an alcohol problem than men.
Social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. People with this problem have an unusually strong sense of anxiety while they're out in public. Although many of us have a fear of speaking to large groups, people with social anxiety disorder may even have trouble eating, having a conversation, or doing other everyday activities in public without having the sense that they're being watched or judged.
A recent study that tracked adolescents into adulthood over roughly 14 years found that those with social anxiety disorder at the beginning of the study were roughly 4.5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Most, if not all of us, feel anxious from time to time. Perhaps we're running late to work, or we have an urgent deadline awaiting us once we get there. But in any given year, about 40 million adults are dealing with a more serious level of anxiety called an anxiety disorder. And in many cases, people with an anxiety disorder also have a problem with alcoholism.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: The Connection
A type of anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder appears to have a particularly strong link to alcohol abuse. Nearly half of all people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder also meet the definition for so-called "alcohol use disorder." And women with social anxiety disorder appear to be more likely to have an alcohol problem than men.
Social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. People with this problem have an unusually strong sense of anxiety while they're out in public. Although many of us have a fear of speaking to large groups, people with social anxiety disorder may even have trouble eating, having a conversation, or doing other everyday activities in public without having the sense that they're being watched or judged.
A recent study that tracked adolescents into adulthood over roughly 14 years found that those with social anxiety disorder at the beginning of the study were roughly 4.5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: Deepening Disorders
However, alcohol use can add to people's overall problems rather than relieve them. People who have social anxiety disorders plus alcohol problems are more likely to have more severe symptoms of anxiety, other emotional problems and health conditions, and more difficulty interacting with other people than individuals who only have the social anxiety disorder.
It's possible that if you have social anxiety disorder, alcohol use can also interfere with your ability to successfully treat the condition. One study found that people who drank less before being treated for anxiety showed greater improvement in their social interaction anxiety, which means tasks like dealing with authority figures or talking to someone of the opposite sex.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: Getting Treatment
Doctors can recommend a variety of therapies to treat social anxiety disorder, which may help lessen people's desire to quiet their anxiety with alcohol. Medications commonly used for the condition include the antidepressants paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Patients may also take benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), or beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal), which can reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and rapid heartbeat.
A mental health professional can also offer cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches patients how to change their ways of thinking about being in public and how they behave in the face of situations that trigger anxiety. In some cases, patients may first need to be treated for alcoholism before addressing the anxiety disorder.
With the right health team and treatment plan, ultimately both conditions can be resolved, enabling you to get back to enjoying your life.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: The Connection
A type of anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder appears to have a particularly strong link to alcohol abuse. Nearly half of all people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder also meet the definition for so-called "alcohol use disorder." And women with social anxiety disorder appear to be more likely to have an alcohol problem than men.
Social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. People with this problem have an unusually strong sense of anxiety while they're out in public. Although many of us have a fear of speaking to large groups, people with social anxiety disorder may even have trouble eating, having a conversation, or doing other everyday activities in public without having the sense that they're being watched or judged.
A recent study that tracked adolescents into adulthood over roughly 14 years found that those with social anxiety disorder at the beginning of the study were roughly 4.5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: Deepening Disorders
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People with social anxiety disorder may use alcohol to dampen their anxiety when they have to appear in public. Over time, they may feel a greater need to drink to cope with anxiety, and they may choose alcohol over taking healthier steps to ease their anxiety. However, alcohol use can add to people's overall problems rather than relieve them. People who have social anxiety disorders plus alcohol problems are more likely to have more severe symptoms of anxiety, other emotional problems and health conditions, and more difficulty interacting with other people than individuals who only have the social anxiety disorder.
It's possible that if you have social anxiety disorder, alcohol use can also interfere with your ability to successfully treat the condition. One study found that people who drank less before being treated for anxiety showed greater improvement in their social interaction anxiety, which means tasks like dealing with authority figures or talking to someone of the opposite sex.
Anxiety and Alcoholism: Getting Treatment
Doctors can recommend a variety of therapies to treat social anxiety disorder, which may help lessen people's desire to quiet their anxiety with alcohol. Medications commonly used for the condition include the antidepressants paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Patients may also take benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), or beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal), which can reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and rapid heartbeat.
A mental health professional can also offer cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches patients how to change their ways of thinking about being in public and how they behave in the face of situations that trigger anxiety. In some cases, patients may first need to be treated for alcoholism before addressing the anxiety disorder.
With the right health team and treatment plan, ultimately both conditions can be resolved, enabling you to get back to enjoying your life.
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