People who suffer from anxiety are in a constant state of worry and stress.
The apprehension leads them to experience the various physical manifestations of their irrational fear such as dizziness, nausea, increased heart beat and pulse rates, which may worsen into feelings of dying, fainting, or going insane.
Furthermore, the experience of anxiety can be debilitating to their attitude and lifestyle.
The fear of experiencing anxiety causes them to anticipate it.
As such, the anxiety is further reinforced.
The harrowing feelings brought by anxiety push people to resort to various mechanisms for security or defense.
At this point, one of the major consequences brought by anxiety is how it leads people to resort to abusive means.
One of the most common scenarios: Non-users introduce alcohol into their lives while users spiral down into alcohol addiction.
Alcohol abuse is detrimental to a person's health in several levels and ways.
As such, it is important to realize how anxiety leads to alcoholism not only to help them avoid this self-medication; but also for them to be compelled to treat their anxiety through appropriate methods.
Alcohol use as a coping mechanism It is common for people to abuse substances like illegal drugs and alcohol because of various psychological conditions, which includes anxiety.
As in the case with depression and other disorders, people normally use alcohol to cope with their anxiety problems.
A general overview of how anxiety leads to alcoholism: Stress is one of the essential components of anxiety.
People are inclined to resort to substance abuse in order to deal with stress and anxiety.
In particular, the calming effect of alcohol enables the anxiety-ridden individuals to relax and feel at ease.
It is able to distract their thoughts from provoking anxiety-related feelings and attacks.
At certain periods while using alcohol, they feel invincible from stress and other anxious feelings.
It provides a sense of security against the insecurity brought by anxiety; thus, it is normal for anxiety-ridden people to develop a dependence and addiction to alcohol.
The need for appropriate treatment However, the sense of security that alcohol provides is temporary and insignificant, as compared to its consequences.
The grave effects of alcohol on a person's mental and physical health, and his relationships with other people, are commonly known.
Because of how anxiety leads to alcoholism, what needs further emphasis is the detrimental effect of alcohol on anxiety in particular: Alcohol contributes to reinforce and worsen the condition.
For this reason alone, people should already know that alcohol use is likely to be destructive for someone who copes with anxiety: While it may seem effective, it is not the proper treatment.
As such, it is important to know that other treatment methods are available out there that are easily accessible and effective, which mostly do not even require the use of medication.
If people do not do anything about their anxiety as soon as possible, they become more and more inclined to abuse alcohol.
They should just know that there are several natural ways to address the situation that can ensure success in just a matter of seconds.