A mental health expert shares the worst alcohol for anxiety

German is famous for containing words, such as “schadenfreude,” that English cannot express.

Well, let me assure you that Irish slang can offer the same – for example, “the fear,” also called “beer-blown,” “drinker’s remorse” or “the chronicles,” is well-timed in common parlance. .

It explains what Lisa Gunn, director of mental health prevention at Nuffield Healthsaid to be a common side effect of alcohol; it makes anxiety worse.

“Alcohol is a depressant which can initially have a sedative effect,” she told HuffPost UK.

“When it’s over, we’re normal.” see the rebound effect where anxiety levels rise. This is partly because alcohol disrupts the balance neurotransmitters and chemical messengers in the brain.”

But are all drinks equally guilty?

Let’s face the facts here – no amount of alcohol will benefit our sanity, and neither will hangovers.

“One study estimates that about 12% of adult drinkers experience anxiety during a hangover, with a a further 15% experience depression,” said Lisa Gunn.

“Another study reported significantly higher numbers of 18.3% for anxiety and 29.9% for depression.”

Those who are already prone to, or have, anxiety could be especially hard hit, adds Gunn.

So it shouldn’t shock you that while “different drinks … react differently to different people,” generally speaking, the higher the alcohol percentage, the steeper the effect seems to be.

Spirits, for example, “can cause alcohol levels in our blood peak, which can lead to a marked anxiety rebound when the effect wears off.”

Cocktails combine spirits with sugar, which “can also increase anxiety by causing our blood sugar to rise and fall during the night,” says Gunnlaugur.

And if you’re choosing vino, you might want to choose red over white.

Red wine contains tyramine and histamine, Gunn says can “make red wine more likely to trigger anxiety in susceptibles.” people.”

Meanwhile, sweet wines have the same glycemic issues as cocktails.

As for beer and lager, their lower alcohol content means you can drink them over a longer period of time, which “can help with rebound anxiety,” Gunn said.

Crucially though, “it still depends on how much we consume.”

First, there is the social aspect of “hangxiety” to consider.

“Wwhen we drink, we become intoxicated and ‘carefree’, which can
cause us to say and do things we wouldn’t do when we’re sober,” the mental health expert said.

“If we go into an ‘eclipse’ (a period of alcohol-induced memory loss) during periods of acute intoxication, we are even more likely to wake up up with feelings of anxiety, fear, worry and dread,” she added.

Second, the dose makes poison; and third, those with social anxiety to begin with may be more likely to drink to relieve their anxiety when going out.

“Instead of helping with our anxiety, alcohol can make it worse, make social conditions even more difficult to manage,” said Gunnlaugur.

If you are struggling with your relationship with alcohol, she advises you to seek out services such as your GP, Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, Drinkaware, Talk To Frank, SMART Recovery, Turning Point, or We Are With You.

And if you are physically addicted to alcohol,”you should never stop drinking yourself.”

14% of Britons have cut down on their drinking this year to improve their mental health, adds Gunn.

• Mindopen Monday to Friday, 9:00-18:00 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a 24/7 listening service, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• Quiet (The Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58and online chat services.
• The mixture is a free support service for people under the age of 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Think again about mental illness offers practical help through its helpline which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More information can be found at rethink.org.