Clinically Reviewed on 01/12/2023 8:57 am by Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner) All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
While anxious feelings may be normal while faced with a nerve-wracking, new, or serious situation, to experience prolonged, intense levels of such feelings are instead concerning, reflecting the diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.
As symptoms of anxiety can be unbearable to control, can present themselves without a significant trigger, and can engulf the body and mind, it’s justifiable that personal coping and relaxation methods are required.
For some, exercise will offer stability, for others, deep breathing exercises will promote balance and perspective, and for a number of people, alcohol will offer peace and steadiness.
Down to its harmless image, alcohol will be latched onto by some individuals, to navigate through their symptoms of anxiety. Yet, unknowingly, they will in fact be intensifying their symptoms, while increasing the risk of addiction. Are you unknowingly fuelling both addiction and mental health issues?
As alcohol is a sedative, a toxic substance, and a suppressant, it also causes significant changes in the brain. This is evident, down to the level of intoxication that can be reached through consumption.
If enabled through heavy consumption, the development of alcohol and anxiety problems are familiar results, churning the brutal cycle of dual diagnosis.
A dual diagnosis can start from either feeling, stimuli or condition, which can develop into dual suffering over time. Avoid such likelihood by seeing the essentiality of treatment, here at Asana Lodge.
Overcoming alcoholism alone will be unlikely. Overcoming anxiety alone will be unlikely. Combined, overcoming a dual diagnosis alone will be impossible. Receive the right support and treatment to recover.
To feel anxious, to feel on edge, to feel irritable and to feel controlled by such feelings may seem normal when faced with a scary or nervous situation.
However, experiencing such feelings to such heights, on a consistent level or for an unexplainable reason reflects anxiety as a mental health condition.
While anxiety can present itself at different levels and through varying visible signs, many symptoms are psychological, which of course cannot be viewed by the eye.
However, engulfing anxiety, where individuals do turn to coping strategies, such as alcohol and drugs can be spotted with awareness.
Symptoms of anxiety include:
Experiencing a wide range of the above symptoms showcases how chronic anxiety can be a mental health issue, and why many individuals do attempt to suppress such symptoms, highlighting the link between the use of alcohol and anxiety.
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The above note of anxiety symptoms showcases how incredibly hard the condition can be to live with. Through such turmoil and health issues, alcohol is used by many individuals as it can help to stabilise such panic and nervous energy.
When alcohol enters the body and connects with the brain, it sends suppressing signals down the central nervous system, which will naturally ease the symptoms of anxiety.
However, usually with a short lifespan, alcohol withdrawal should be expected which is found to intensify symptoms, increasing the needs for further alcohol exposure.
The connection of alcohol and anxiety is therefore a common mix, yet can not only worsen mental health but also increase the risks of addiction.
If addiction is experienced, a multitude of further health problems, symptoms and negative results are expected, which will turn the management of anxiety into a life-limiting dual diagnosis.
Alcohol is one of the most consumed substances as it’s very accessible, as heavy drinking is normalised by society, and as it also carries a harmless image down to its legal status.
However, with that comes greater risks of excessive consumption, which if enabled consistently will develop into the addiction cycle.
Experiencing an alcohol addiction can be just as challenging as a drug fixation, no matter its legality. Targeting the central nervous system, suppressing organic functioning of the body, and decreasing quality of life, alcoholism can be extremely testing to live with.
The inability to stop consuming alcohol, the withdrawal symptoms, the mental health issues that follow and the priority that alcohol becomes are all exhausting to experience for the long term.
Through abusing alcohol, as significant physical and psychological pressures are likely, the development of an anxiety disorder is one probability, whether down to the encounters of withdrawal, down to lasting effects of drugs, or down to the outcome of maintaining an addiction.
Through dual diagnosis, symptoms of anxiety or symptoms of addiction will at some point be present, feeding one another.
If a connection is present for you between alcohol and anxiety problems, treatment, support and interventive steps should be your next journey.
Treating both alcohol and anxiety is possible via rehab. However, different treatment services will be appropriate for singular conditions, ensuring that safe and effective recovery can be aimed for.
Withdrawal from alcohol will be a must, followed by further therapeutic and holistic treatment services, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and group therapy to treat alcoholism.
Working through mental health issues, such as anxiety will require a significant focus on psychological restoration, where stress management, anxiety management, wellbeing management and dialectical behavioural therapy will be suitable.
In both cases of alcohol and anxiety problems, understanding causations, suppressing symptoms, managing triggers and planning for relapse prevention will be key here at Asana Lodge.
Your physical and psychological health is very important. If you are at all neglecting, ignoring, or abusing your wellbeing, there is a risk that mental health issues can arise, also leading to further problems, such as alcoholism.
In the event of any vulnerabilities, getting mental health support, the right way will be recommended. Self-medicating through symptoms, ignoring symptoms or denying symptoms will not be feasible or safe.
Such behaviours through excessive alcohol consumption will also be ineffective. Instead, opt for dual diagnosis treatment here at Asana Lodge, to work through alcohol and anxiety problems.
We are here for you, to enhance and strengthen your mental wellbeing.
Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner) - Clinical Reviewer - Last Reviewed: 01/12/2023 8:57 am
Dr. Otulana is a highly skilled General Practitioner and Addiction Specialist. He possesses extensive expertise in the field of Substance Misuse Management and boasts a diverse background in evaluating, overseeing (including detox procedures), and overseeing the residential recovery of individuals grappling with various drug and substance addiction issues. His primary goal is to conduct thorough assessments of patients dealing with addiction issues and determine their medical detoxification and psychological treatment requirements. Dr. Otulana is well-versed in caring for patients who need dual drug and alcohol detoxification therapies.
In addition to his medical qualifications, Dr. Otulana is a proficient healthcare professional who holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from the prestigious Cambridge University Judge Business School.
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