“Should I drink alcohol if I have anxiety?”

Alcohol is definitely not the treatment of choice for anxiety. You should work with a therapist to understand the source of your anxiety. Medication may be also helpful. If drinking is a problem also consider visiting AA.

No

Alcohol reduces anxiety however a person can get addicted to alcohol as a treatment for anxiety. Always seek professional help.

Having alcohol for anxiety can cause a waxing and waning of irritability and sadness along with anxiety. Would encourage you to talk to your friendly psychiatrist. Many holistic options including exercise, funny movies, social interaction, and even different supplements suggested by your psychiatrist. Then, different kinds of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, can be particularly helpful if things are quite acute or a tad resistant to these interventions, we have a multitude of medicines based upon your physiology and other medications that you may be taking.

Best of luck,

Lance Steinberg, MD, Inc.

The reason almost all physicians or healthcare providers caution against drinking when anxious is that the alcohol, especially to excess will reduce the anxiety...then the brain makes the conscious and unconscious link that the alcohol "cures" anxiety and you are off to the races....this is the pattern for many alcoholics...it appears innocuous at first and, in fact, is almost condoned by society, e.g., a young man is jilted by his girlfriend and becomes anxious and depressed and his friends invite him to "have a drink." A police officer is involved in a difficult critical incident such as a shooting, the death of a child or a horrific accident and his buddies take him to the bar on the way home to "chill out." The problem of course is that in the short run it works...but it is no different than an obese person being self conscious about their weight and eating comfort food to feel better...it begins a cycle of solving a problem while creating a larger and more difficult problem. Occasional anxiety is normal and an expected part of life...having a drink here and there can also be a positive, calming and socializing experience that rarely will lead to problems, however, using alcohol to calm anxiety, ease depression or to "cure" other mental or emotional issues is a path to more serious and dangerous behaviors. Simple answer, don't do it!

Gary M. Glass, M.D.

No, not a good idea. 

It's common for people to drink in order to combat anxiety, especially social anxiety. Alcohol is disinhibiting, so does in fact offer some relief in social situations. Definitely not a good strategy for other kinds of anxiety. Important to identify what makes you anxious. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can often help. Some people benefit from medication, but of course that requires an evaluation by a competent clinician.