Alcohol addiction, stress and anxiety have long been bedfellows. Long before we even understood what alcoholism is or treated anxiety with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). How does the cycle of alcohol addiction and stress or anxiety begin? How can you escape it?
This Tribe Intensive NJ article seeks to answer this question and a few others and provide the reader with insights and actionable information.
How Alcohol Addiction Fuels Anxiety and Stress
Alcohol might feel like a quick fix for stress or anxiety, a lot of people definitely treat it that way. But, drinking to relieve stress or anxiety as a habit almost always makes things worse. Alcohol might help you fall asleep, but it degrades the quality of that sleep.
That low-quality sleep helps lower mood-boosting chemicals like serotonin, and cause withdrawal symptoms that leave you feeling more anxious. As your body builds tolerance, you need more alcohol to feel calm, which just deepens the cycle.
Once the effects wear off, stress and anxious feelings often hit harder than before. Over time, this can lead to bigger emotional struggles and more drinking. Now the alcohol addiction itself is causing a lot of that stress and worry that you were trying to escape.
This alcohol and anxiety/stress cycle is tough to get out of and a lot more common than most people realize. We see it all the time at our drug and alcohol rehab in NJ. Fortunately, that also means we know how to treat it.
How alcohol makes anxiety and stress worse:
- Alcohol harms your sleep, which affects your brain chemistry making you feel worse.
- When alcohol wears off, the anxiety returns and the source of stress is still there.
- You develop tolerance over time, meaning you need more alcohol just to feel calm.
- This vicious cycle of alcohol and stress never helps. It only gets worse until you get help.
Why Do Anxiety and Stress Lead to a Drinking Problem?
Anxiety and stress can push people toward alcohol as a way to cope or calm down. The sedative effects and disinhibition can seem to take the edge off of the physical symptoms of stress and worry in the short term. That’s why some people keep returning to alcohol as the answer, and this is where an alcohol use disorder can take root.
The problem is, that physical relief is temporary. The sources of that anxiety or stress haven’t been dealt with—-so it will come back. What’s worse is, the body can start to rely on alcohol to manage those feelings. Healthier responses to stress, the body’s ability to find calm become weaker as alcohol fills that role.
Over time, what started as a way to unwind can turn into a habit that’s hard to break. The more someone drinks to deal with stress, the more likely they are to develop dependence, setting the stage for alcohol addiction. It’s a cycle that quietly builds and becomes tougher and tougher to escape.
How anxiety and stress prompt people to drink too much:
- People turn to alcohol when stressed or worried looking for a ‘quick fix’.
- Alcohol provides temporary relief from the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.
- Relying on alcohol makes you less able to manage stress on your own.
- You become more stressed and worried due to drinking—which makes you drink more.
Break the Cycle: What Real Alcohol Addiction Recovery Looks Like
The first thing to know about getting sober is that alcohol is only part of your problem. Real recovery from alcohol addiction isn’t just about quitting drinking—it’s about changing your whole approach to life.
That means looking at what triggers your drinking and changing the way you think and see the world. Doing that requires drug and alcohol treatment followed by committing to a recovery lifestyle.
Therapy, coping skills, and a strong support system all play a role. Recovery is a process, not a one-time fix, and it takes work, patience, and self-awareness. The goal isn’t just sobriety—it’s feeling better mentally and physically for the long haul. It’s about continuing personal growth, long after you picked up your last drink.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Breaks The Cycle and Sets You Free
Putting down alcohol is a challenge all by itself. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by that challenge. If you do, you’re not alone. So, when we talk about “changing the way you think” and your whole approach to life—-we definitely get it, if that seems like a mountain you’ll never climb.
Would it surprise you to know that pretty much everyone who ever did the work to beat alcohol addiction felt exactly the same way? If it was easy to beat booze and stay happy and free—-NJ alcohol treatment centers like Tribe Intensive wouldn’t exist!
But they do, and for a very good reason. Almost no one just stops drinking and solves their anxiety disorder and stress by themselves. Even if you could, you’d be playing the game on “impossible mode”. It makes no sense.
Substance use disorder is the answer here. This is the best place for you to get the guidance to safely and comfortably get off of alcohol and the therapy and support that help you change your thinking and resolve your stress and anxiety. As a dual-diagnosis treatment program in NJ, Tribe Intensive does all of the above.
How alcoholism treatment smashes the alcohol/anxiety/stress cycle:
- When you’re stuck in a cycle, it takes a hand from outside to pull you out.
- Alcohol treatment stabilizes you and gives you a way to process your feelings.
- Rehab teaches you about your own triggers and you learn new ways to think.
- New thinking leads to better habits and better behavior—keep it up and you’ll stay sober!
Tribe Intensive: Real Help for Alcohol Addiction in NJ
You or your loved one don’t have to let alcohol, or any other substance take control. Addiction isn’t a choice—it’s a trap. The treatment you need and deserve is just one call away.
Tribe Intensive is where NJ heals. Thousands have overcome alcohol with our help. Make the call—and we’ll fight for you, together
Addiction Treatment in NJ for Yourself
If you are ready to end the torture of addiction —- Let’s talk at 856-666-2484. Call anytime 24-hours a day.
If you’re not sure yet, but want to see what we have to offer, feel free to submit your info through our confidential portal and we’ll reach out to you.
Addiction Treatment in NJ for a Loved One
If you would like advice on helping someone you love with a substance use disorder, we’re here for you. Call anytime, 24 hours a day at 856-666-2484
