A Look at Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Alcohol addiction and dependence is not always a singular issue for a person. There may be underlying mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, heavy alcohol consumption or drug use can also trigger substance-induced disorders. According to Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders there are nine (9) substance-induced disorders, which include:
- Substance-induced delirium
- Substance-induced persisting dementia
- Substance-induced psychotic disorder
- Substance-induced mood disorder
- Substance-induced anxiety disorder
- Hallucinogen persisting perceptual disorder
- Substance-induced sexual dysfunction
- Substance-induced sleep disorder
Many people believe that alcohol can relieve stress and in some ways it does give a mild sense of euphoria, however excessive alcohol use can have the opposite effect. During withdrawal from alcohol, anxiety can worsen significantly. Anxiety disorders can be serious, affecting every aspect of your life.
The connection between alcohol and anxiety is astounding. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America around “15 million U.S. adults or 7 percent of the population have social anxiety disorder” and “about 20 percent of people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence.”
Heavy drinking or binge drinking has a number of adverse health effects. In the short-term you could experience impaired judgment, slurred speech, headaches, depressed reflexes and vomiting and in the long-term you could suffer from high-blood pressure, liver disease or even brain damage.
If you believe that you are suffering from alcohol use disorder, the most important thing is to seek help. Heavy or excessive alcohol use can damage your health, your mind and your relationships. It is important to know that there are options for treatment.