It's the weekend, and you probably had plans to tie one on... or at least have a few bevs to "take the edge off." Well a bummer of a new study just came out claiming that drinking to "take the edge off" likely makes your anxiety worse...
A psychologist from Brown University that leads therapy sessions at the Veterans Affairs Center in Providence, RI has noticed a pattern linking anxiety to alcohol, and vice versa.
Many people learn eventually that, while having a few drinks can delay or reduce anxiety in the moment, it can also create a sort of loop effect—heightening the feelings of anxiety the following day and in the days after.
But the tricky thing is, it's not the same for everyone. In other words, anxiety is not a side effect of drinking alcohol for all people. It depends largely on an individual's chemical make-up and predisposition to stress and anxiety. But alcohol can disrupt your sleep patterns, which in turn, can make you much more susceptible to stress and anxiety over a period of time. This is compounded by binge drinking.
The moral of the story? Moderation is key!