Panic attacks can be devastating to a person’s health – physical as well as psychological. It can deprive a person of the simple joys of living, reducing the personality to a bunch of fears. For obvious reasons, people try to do everything in their power to get rid of panic attacks.
Unfortunately, because of the lack of good advice, many turn to the wrong solution to their problems. Some try to overcome their fear and anxiety by using mood changing drugs. Others abuse alcohol in a desperate bid to ‘get away’ from their fears. In fact, alcohol is among the most abused substances among anxiety sufferers and it is easy to see why: for a few minutes, alcohol can fill a man with the feeling of invincibility. But the after effects are usually worse as it can leave you feeling even more depressed. Even worse, it can easily cause dependence and make your anxiety attacks even harder to get rid of.
Alcohol in moderation may have several health benefits. But if you find yourself reaching for more than one drink a day, and you suffer from panic disorder, you’re much better off without drinking. More than one drink a day can trigger off anxiety attacks by inducing depression.
This is especially true for people who drink solitarily (as is often the case with panic attack patients). Drinking in a social group may cause different feelings and emotions than drinking alone. In the latter situation, one is much more likely to dwell on negative feelings and thoughts, which, of course, can lead to an anxiety attack.
It is important to remember that alcohol is not a remedy for anxiety. Many people will tell you to ‘man up’ and have a drink, but please understand that an anxiety disorder is a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment. Alcohol is certainly not an effective solution to this problem.