Anxiety and alcohol are linked. There’s even a term for the feelings of stress, low mood, and worry that come the day after drinking — hangxiety (hangover + anxiety).
But you don’t actually need to have a hangover to experience anxiety due to alcohol. Alcohol affects your brain chemistry, and after one or two drinks, a neurological shift takes place that can increase the sensation of anxiety. Different factors influence how big the shift is and how severely you feel anxious.
It’s important to note, though, that people who already suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions are more likely to be anxious after drinking alcohol [1].
Why Does Drinking Alcohol Make Me Anxious?
Alcohol is a depressant; it slows down processes in your brain and central nervous system [2]. Alcohol increases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that makes you feel calm and uninhibited, and decreases glutamate, which slows down your thoughts.
Initially, you feel good after drinking alcohol. However, as the effects wear off, your body has to work hard to restore the chemical balance. When you start to become more alert, feelings of fear or panic can surface. This process, alongside dehydration, low blood sugar, and poor sleep, is what makes you feel anxious.
Anxiety after drinking may manifest as:
- Fast heartbeat
- Sweating
- Restlessness
- Difficult concentrating
- Irritability
- Feeling sad, regretful, or shame
- Feeling a pit in your stomach
Research suggests that symptoms of hangxiety affect 22% of people who drink alcohol socially [3].
Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?
If you already have anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health disorders, drinking alcohol can worsen your symptoms [4]. The GABA increase and glutamate decrease can temporarily lower anxiety, but as the balance is restored, the negative feelings can come rushing back, often feeling more intense.
There’s an interconnected relationship between alcohol and anxiety. One study revealed that having an anxiety or mood disorder can increase your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder [5]. Approximately 20-40% of people with a mental health disorder have an alcohol use disorder [1].
Meanwhile, consuming large amounts of alcohol can increase your chance of developing an anxiety disorder [6]. More than one in three people with an alcohol use disorder has experienced episodes of intense depression and/or severe anxiety [7].
Some people who have a mental health disorder may drink alcohol to try to mask discomfort. If they drink regularly and heavily, they can build a tolerance to the depressant effects of alcohol, but when their alcohol level drops, the brain enters into ‘fight or flight’ mode (the same response as an anxiety disorder), causing stronger feelings of panic [8].
People suffering from mental health disorders may fall into a cycle of harmful alcohol use, where they drink more, hoping to cover their anxiety. This loop makes them more susceptible to addiction, exacerbates anxiety, and can lead to other serious health concerns.
Drink alcohol → Temporarily feel calm → Anxiety rises as alcohol levels drop → Repeat
What Factors Make Anxiety Worse With Alcohol?
There are a number of factors that can heighten anxiety after drinking alcohol. These apply to both people with preexisting mental health disorders and people without.
- Volume of alcohol — high alcohol intake can make hangovers worse and increase anxiety
- Drinking frequency — drinking often can cause chemical imbalances that worsen anxiety as the body tries to regain balance afterward
- Age — as people get older, they can’t metabolize alcohol as efficiently, so they tend to have stronger, more anxiety-filled hangovers
- Stress — alcohol triggers the stress hormone (cortisol), which can intensify anxiety and panic
- Preexisting conditions — people with mental health and mood disorders are more likely to experience anxiety and have more severe anxiety, after drinking alcohol
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines heavy drinking as [9]:
- For men: 5 or more drinks on any day, or 15 drinks or more per week
- For women: 4 or more drinks on any day, or 8 or more drinks per week
How Can I Reduce Alcohol-Induced Anxiety?
The most effective way to prevent alcohol-induced anxiety is to not drink alcohol. Stopping or gradually lowering your alcohol intake helps restore your brain’s chemical balance and lets neurotransmitters regulate, which not only lowers anxiety but also improves sleep, mood, and overall well-being.
Cutting back on alcohol can similarly boost mental clarity, which can lead to building healthier coping mechanisms. Without relying on alcohol as a tool to mask anxiety, you can explore better strategies to address the root cause of your responses and feelings, and heal on a deeper level.
It’s normal that people with an alcohol use disorder, or people with a mental health disorder, who lower their alcohol intake experience some anxiety at the beginning of the process. The symptoms in this stage are normal and can be successfully managed.
Overcome Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder With Caring Professionals
At Trinity Wellness Group, our team of licensed medical professionals and counselors guide you through treatment for anxiety and alcohol use disorder. Our facilities are calm and clean, and our licensed staff provides a non-judgmental space to find mental and physical stability.
Our treatment approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These help you better understand the thought patterns that drive alcohol use and anxious behaviors. Our dual diagnosis programs are specifically designed to treat addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, and help prevent relapse and teach critical coping skills.
We’re committed to high-quality clinical treatment, while still being deeply human-centered.
Start feeling better, as you deserve to. Speak to our admissions team now.
FAQs
Does alcohol make anxiety worse?
Yes, alcohol can make anxiety worse. It increases a neurotransmitter that initially makes you feel calm, but once your alcohol level drops and the body tries to restore balance, anxiety returns and often feels more intense.
Anxiety due to alcohol can include sweating, irritability, sadness, fast heartbeat, and other symptoms. People with pre-existing mental health disorders are more likely to experience more severe anxiety symptoms due to alcohol.
Why do people with anxiety drink?
People with anxiety may drink because it temporarily numbs uncomfortable feelings. Alcohol is a depressant and so in the short-term creates a sensation of calm and uninhibitedness in the body. When the alcohol starts to wear off, however, anxiety not only returns, but can seem more severe as the body works hard to recalibrate chemically.
What is the connection between anxiety and alcohol use disorder?
People with pre-existing mental health disorders are at higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. At the same time, people with an alcohol use disorder are more likely to have a mental health disorder, too.
Anxiety and addiction often go hand-in-hand and require treatment that addresses both conditions. Dual diagnosis programs are designed for this purpose, looking at the root causes of addiction and anxiety.
Can you treat anxiety and alcohol addiction at the same time?
Yes, treating both disorders at the same time is more effective than treating them individually. At Trinity Wellness Group, we have a dual diagnosis program that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. These approaches address the thought patterns that can drive addiction and anxiety. Meanwhile, we offer Medication Assisted Treatment to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Our aim is to support people in building coping healthy mechanisms and constructing happy lives and relationships.
What actually helps anxiety without alcohol?
Stopping or reducing alcohol intake is the best way to reduce alcohol-induced anxiety. Treating anxiety outside of alcohol should include evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. These therapies teach you to tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and rewire negative thoughts that fuel anxiety. Meditation and exercise are more holistic activities that contribute to improving anxiety, too.
How do I know if my drinking is related to anxiety?
Research shows that drinking does exacerbate anxiety. However, if you drink ahead of social situations to calm your nerves, use alcohol to sleep, or feel stressed when you haven’t consumed alcohol, your anxiety may be alcohol-dependent. Speak with a doctor to understand how your anxiety and alcohol use are connected, and when you’re ready, consider treatment to guide you to calmer, healthier behaviors.
Sources
[1] Smith, A. (May, 2023). People with anxiety and mood disorders more likely to experience alcohol use disorder symptoms than others who drink at the same level. University of Minnesota, Medical School. Med.umn.edu.
[2] Gan, G. et al. (November, 2014). Alcohol-Induced Impairment of Inhibitory Control Is Linked to Attenuated Brain Responses in Right Fronto-Temporal Cortex. Biological Psychiatry. Volume 76. Issue 9. Biological Psychiatry Journal.
[3] Van Schrojenstein Lantman, M. et al. (July, 2017). The impact of alcohol hangover symptoms on cognitive and physical functioning, and mood. Human Psychopharmacology. Wiley Online Library.
[4] Gorka, S. Luan Phan, K. (August, 2017). Impact of anxiety symptoms and problematic alcohol use on error-related brain activity. International Journal of Psychophysiology. Volume 118. Sciencedirect.com.
[5] Anker, J. et al. (April, 2023). Evidence for an alcohol-related “harm paradox” in individuals with internalizing disorders: Test and replication in two independent community samples. Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research. Volume 43. Issue 4. Wiley Online Library.
[6] Anker, J. Kusher, M. (December, 2019). Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Anxiety. Alcohol Research. PubMed Central.
[7] Schuckit, M. (1996). Alcohol, Anxiety, and Depressive Disorders. Alcohol Health and Research World. PubMed Central.
[8] DrinkAware UK. (April 2025). Alcohol and anxiety. Drinkaware.co.uk.
[9] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (January 2026). Understanding Alcohol Drinking Patterns. NIAAA.nih.gov.