This article explores the reasons people use alcohol to cope with anxiety and the effect it may have. It also discusses how to recognize when you have an alcohol problem and how to get treatment for anxiety and alcohol use disorders. Seek help from a mental health professional if you have anxiety.
Alcohol use can cause new onset anxiety and worsen pre-existing anxiety symptoms. Many individuals will use alcohol as an unhealthy coping tool to reduce symptoms of anxiety. Individuals struggling with a phobia may attempt to cope on their own and commonly turn to alcohol as a method of self-soothing. ADAA warns that someone who struggles with an anxiety disorder is around 2-3 times more at risk to also battle an alcohol or drug abuse disorder as well. It’s possible to have anxiety after drinking alcohol without having an anxiety disorder.
Psychological Symptoms
Before long, I was sinking Absolut Citron martinis and pints of Stella with the best of them. And so my “cocktail girl” persona was born, one that culminated in a summer where I edited a glossy magazine in Ibiza, with my name on every club guestlist, and a fistful of free drinks tickets to fuel the fun. The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University is focused on using research findings to improve health and well-being of people at all stages of life. There’s some truth to the idea that alcohol can reduce stress. Alcohol is a sedative and a depressant that affects the central nervous system.
When you do start to deal with your problems in healthier ways (and you will), you are going to feel completely transformed and unstoppable. There are plenty of things people do that do not involve or center around alcohol. You might be a little bored at first, but with time, you’ll discover new and more fulfilling things to do with your time.
Alcohol and Anxiety
The treatments mentioned below are for informational purposes and not specific to Methyphobia. Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.
- Many times, panic attacks are dismissed as an overreaction or attention-seeking behavior.
- As the initial calm feeling fades you can feel anxiety as the effects of the alcohol wear off.
- Getting sober means replacing your primary coping mechanism – drugs and alcohol – with new, unfamiliar ones.
- In addition, if you’re noticing your anxiety levels increasing after drinking, try cutting down on how much you drink.
- You’re not obligated to drink just to make others feel good about their drinking.
- Cultural and social factors, family upbringing, or learned behaviors can also contribute.
It is easy to notice someone who has an irrational fear of drinking alcohol. FearAZ.com is an easy-to-use online resource helping you overcome fear and achieve personal growth. With our range of tools and resources available, you can confront and learn to manage your anxieties in fear of being sober a safe, supportive environment – your own. FearAZ.com offers education, expert guidance, and exercises geared toward conquering your deepest fear or phobia. We also provide a growing community where you can connect with others like you, share experience, and find encouragement.
What are the causes of Methyphobia?
By Sheryl Ankrom, MS, LCPC
Sheryl Ankrom is a clinical professional counselor and nationally certified clinical mental health counselor specializing in anxiety disorders. If you suspect that you have an alcohol use problem, effective treatments are available. Talk to your doctor about medications, therapy, and support groups that can help you manage your alcohol consumption. If you are using alcohol as a self-medicating measure, you might feel it “works” to help you cope with your symptoms. While you might feel that it works in the short term, it’s more likely to cause you problems in the long run. If you have an anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse and withdrawal can make your symptoms worse.
- The researchers note that the findings will make way for the development of new treatments to assist patients with anxiety disorders and high alcohol consumption.
- Moderate drinking is not the same for all genders and age groups.
- In some cases, people with certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety or panic disorder, might develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
- Irrational fears not only create day-to-day difficulties in life but also affect the person’s self-confidence.
While the specific prevalence of Methyphobia is unknown, it is important to remember that any level of fear or anxiety towards alcohol can be distressing and impact an individual’s quality of life. Seeking support from mental health professionals can provide guidance and assistance in managing and overcoming Methyphobia. The causes of Methyphobia, the fear of alcohol, can vary from person to person. It may stem from personal experiences, such as witnessing alcohol-related problems or traumatic events. Cultural and social factors, family upbringing, or learned behaviors can also contribute. Additionally, underlying anxiety disorders or genetic predisposition may play a role.
Coping Mechanisms for Anxiety
Distilled spirits usually have an ethanol content of 20% to 40%. If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol there is a lot of help available. Here you can find useful links and phone numbers to get the support you need.
- Methyphobia (from Greek methy, “alcohol”), or potophobia (from Latin poto, “drink”) is a fear of alcohol, such as beer and wine.
- One very effective DBT skill for helping someone with dipsophobia is half-smiling.
- This is due to the numerous amount of coping skills you can expect to learn in a DBT group.
- FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any “fear of” or phobia.
- So, if you’re committed to overcoming your methyphobia then get in touch to arrange a free consultation with us to discuss your options.
So, in effect, alcohol can actually intensify anxiety and symptoms of a specific phobia, making them worse than they were before. Someone who suffers from a phobia may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism, as a way to self-medicate the difficult symptoms of anxiety. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means that it slows down the “fight-or-flight” stress reaction that is often heightened in someone who struggles with intense anxiety.
Decades of research suggest we can feel some of the effects of alcohol without the alcohol.
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you lose water through peeing, so it’s very important to drink plenty of water as well when you’re drinking alcohol. There are many available treatment options for methyphobia, including talk therapy, support groups, exposure therapy, hypnotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. For severe sufferers, anti-anxiety medication can be used ever independently or together with other methods listed. They can indeed help prevent panic attacks from occurring, but they are more so used to help reduce people’s daily anxiety. Talk to your doctor to see if taking antidepressants can help to reduce your symptoms of dipsophobia, as well as whether or not it is safe to do so. One major concern voiced by methyphobics is the fear of loss of control when drinking alcohol.