Self-Medicating for anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia and depression.

When you suffer from anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia (and for that matter depression) alcohol and drug abuse can be a very dangerous thing. Although some people find short term relief from their symptoms it is NEVER a solution.

Let’s take anxiety. If one is going through an anxious time a night out involving the consumption of large amounts of alcohol can bring temporary calm. It can also improve mood, raise self-esteem and provide courage. I stress again, all of these things are temporary! They do not last more than a few hours and as the effects of the alcohol wear off symptoms worsen once more. Indeed typically symptoms are worse than they were before the alcohol binge started. Making yourself feel worse isn’t the only danger, it is also possible that in order to battle the new strong symptoms you turn again to alcohol. This is how addiction starts. Some research has suggested that a vast majority of substance addiction started as an attempt to self-medicate for anxiety and depression.

So, although it might be tempting, and although it might seem to be a cure, self-medicating for anxiety, panic and agoraphobia does not work and will not help in the long term!