| Many people use alcohol to self-medicate. They may | | | | more confident and at ease in social situations without |
| drink to help them deal with anxiety, stress and other | | | | having a drink. |
| problems. They may drink to help them forget their | | | | If you use alcohol to treat your anxiety, you could |
| problems and to feel more at ease in social situations. | | | | become addicted to alcohol. In the end, you could end |
| Many things in life seem like "quick fixes" to our | | | | up with another problem that could be worse than |
| problems. People often look to alcohol as a "quick fix." | | | | having an anxiety disorder. By choosing to |
| But some of these "quick fixes" could end up hurting | | | | self-medicate with alcohol, you could be creating a |
| us more than helping us | | | | "bigger monster" for yourself. Is this what you want? I |
| Drinking alcohol may temporally make you feel better | | | | doubt it. |
| and less anxious. But it is only temporary. It is not the | | | | But whether you have anxiety or not, you shouldn't be |
| "solution" to your problems, and it should never be the | | | | abusing alcohol. Are you drinking excessively or |
| "solution" for treating anxiety. | | | | self-medicating? If you are, you may not be able to cut |
| We all know that drinking alcohol makes you feel less | | | | back or quit on your own. If this is the case, contact |
| inhibited. You may feel more confident and out-going | | | | your doctor and an alcohol treatment facility. It's |
| after drinking alcohol. You may feel like you are being | | | | important for you to know that if you have anxiety as |
| witty, charming and funny. But you could actually be | | | | well as an alcohol problem, it may be necessary for |
| making a fool out of yourself and don't even know it. I | | | | you to get treated for alcohol dependency before you |
| personally don't drink. It's really nice that I don't ever | | | | can be treated for anxiety. |
| have to worry about making a fool out of myself from | | | | There are many places to find out if you are abusing |
| drinking and then not remembering what I did the next | | | | alcohol. The problem is that most people who are |
| day. But I have certainly watched others make fools | | | | abusing alcohol don't think they are...But it is in your best |
| out of themselves from drinking! | | | | interest to find out. |
| Here's something you need to keep in mind. Real | | | | Remember, there are healthy, effective ways to treat |
| confidence does not come from drinking alcohol, or | | | | anxiety disorders that don't have negative side effects. |
| taking any other substance. You can learn to become | | | | Alcohol is not one of them! |