Panic Disorder After the End of Chronic Alcohol Abuse: A Report of 2 Cases PMC

The historical roots of this treatment modality largely can be traced back to the development of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in Akron, Ohio, in the 1930s and 1940s. It has been estimated that nearly 1 in every 10 Americans has attended at least one AA meeting, and it is “the most frequently consulted source of help for drinking problems” (McCrady and Miller 1993, p. 3). Taken together, the epidemiological and clinical literature describing the relationship between anxiety and AUDs shows that this comorbidity does alcohol cause panic attacks is both prevalent and clinically relevant. The following sections will review fundamental concepts related to how these disorders co-occur and describe approaches to diagnosing and treating comorbid anxiety and AUDs. Studies report an increase in anxiety and agoraphobia in alcoholic patients.15,20 Although some experimental research indicates that alcohol reduces panic in patients affected from PD,18 it is important to differentiate the short-term from the long-term effects of alcohol.

Admittedly, there are some evidences that booze helps reduce stress, which is down to its sedative properties in the central nervous system. Occasionally “unwinding” with small amounts of the substance may not necessarily be dangerous, but there is a certain tolerance that builds up when one starts to use alcohol. These can lead a person who is already slightly anxious to worry that something terrible might be wrong with them, like a brain tumor.

Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Anxiety

It’s also why your body becomes so flooded with stress and anxiety that you may begin to experience panic attacks. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. This is characterized as the impulsive stage of addiction because the goal of increasing pleasure, rather than avoiding or escaping discomfort, motivates seeking alcohol or other drugs.

If you are more prone to these disorders, you may have a more extreme reaction to alcohol withdrawal than someone who does not suffer from panic attacks. These effects are particularly visible the day after drinking when the hangover begins to set in. As the sedative effect of alcohol wears off, you may experience a spike of anxiety or panic as your body begins to withdraw from the substance.

‘Unwinding’ with alcohol

This is especially true when coupled with the physiological symptoms of drinking. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor.