Claim: Alcohol Causes Panic Attacks

Question

The claim that alcohol can cause anxiety attacks is true, but it oftentimes isn't directly due to the alcohol and is rather exacerbated by the effects of it. The study Alcohol hangover effects on measures of affect the morning after a normal night's drinking  notes that heavy alcohol consumption can affect mood as well as increasing anxiety and the physical symptoms of anxiety. It should be noted that this is typically seen more in heavy drinkers, not casual drinkers. In The association of alcoholism and anxiety, it's the authors note that the biggest overlap between alcohol and anxiety is during withdrawal.

Answer 1

I agree with the claim that alcohol can cause anxiety attacks, often due to the effects it has on the body rather than the alcohol itself. Alcohol impacts brain chemistry, especially during hangovers or withdrawal, which can heighten anxiety and trigger physical symptoms like a racing heart or restlessness. To back this up further, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website has more information on how alcohol affects mental health. It provides helpful insights into the relationship between alcohol use, anxiety, and the withdrawal process.

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

Answer 2

I really like how you mentioned the connection between alcohol and anxiety, but I think you could go more to depth about why this connection occurs. It is not usually the alcohol that causes panic attacks, but it is usually instead the withdrawal from it or it's impact on your serotonin levels. This distinction is important because it helps explain why individuals who drink a lot are more at risk than individuals who drink casually. so maybe, add something that clarifies this? Other than that, great work!

Answer 3

I think you were really good at getting your point across efficiently without adding too much extra information! However, I did notice that you cited a blog to support your claim. Instead next time your work will seem more reputable if you use sources such as clinical trials or medical journals, written by experts who know more about the medical impacts of alcohol rathe than a blogger. I think blogs can be useful for some evidence, but overall your claim will seem more accurate with strong sources to back it up.

Answer 4

 The case that alcohol causes anxiety attacks is also firmly established, while it must be stated that the anxiety in most instances will be a consequence of alcohol and not direct consumption. The New York Times article of February 4, 2025, "How Alcohol Affects Anxiety, Including Panic Attacks," explains how alcohol may cause anxiety, in this instance, causing panic attacks, based on a number of studies and professional affirmations. Research such as Alcohol Hangover Effects on Measures of Affect supports that excessive drinking of alcohol, even though not social drinking, exacerbates mood and induces high anxiety levels among heavy drinkers. Similarly, The Association of Alcoholism and Anxiety notes that co-occurrence of anxiety and alcohol use is most prominent during withdrawal periods. Credible sources, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the American Psychological Association (APA), also affirm this fact and explain how alcohol abuse can amplify anxiety and lead to mental illnesses, especially when in withdrawal. The first theory surrounding alcohol and anxiety can be traced to early psychology research, and studies now continue to examine the complex correlation between alcohol use, anxiety, and withdrawal.

Works Cited

"Why Alcohol Can Cause Panic Attacks." The New York Times, 4 Feb. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/well/mind/alcohol-panic-attack.html.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/.

American Psychological Association (APA), https://www.apa.org/.

"Alcohol Hangover Effects on Measures of Affecting the Morning After a Normal Night's Drinking." PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

"The Association of Alcoholism and Anxiety." PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Answer 5

The claim that alcohol causes panic attacks is not true, but it is an understandable myth. The New York Times article cited has credible information in it from an expert on addiction, Dr. Alëna Balasanova, who is a credible source and a board-certified psychiatrist and a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The study also cited in the claim was a study done on students on their alcohol consumption and anxiety levels the morning after, who's conclusion was that "Heavy alcohol consumption lowers mood, disrupts sleep, increases anxiety and produces physical symptoms, emotional symptoms and symptoms of fatigue throughout the next morning." It doesn't, however, mention that alcohol causes panic attacks. Heightened anxiety, however, can induce panic attacks, especially in people who already have anxiety or panic disorders, according to American Addiction Centers. They also say that panic disorders and alcohol abuse are often co-existing disorders, but do not say that alcohol causes these disorders or panic attacks. American Addiction Centers is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Overall, even though panic attacks and alcohol are often correlated, this claim is false.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/well/mind/alcohol-panic-attack.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16260448/

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/risks-effects-dangers/anxiety

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/accreditations#

Answer 6

Claim: Alcohol Causes Panic Attacks

The claim that alcohol causes panic attacks was posted by The New York Times on February 4, 2025. The New York Times is a reputable and long standing news organization which is known for its fact checking and accurate reporting. In this specific article, this claim is supported by expert testimony and links to other sources that contain information about how alcohol can impact panic attacks and anxiety.This claim may originated from "Alcoholism and panic disorder: is the comorbidity more than coincidence?" posted in the Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica in made in February of 1990, that is the earliest source I could find relating to this claim.

Other sources relating to this claim:

https://www.charliehealth.com/post/alcohol-and-panic-attacks

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2528232/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2183544/

Answer 7

The claim that alcohol can cause anxiety attacks, though often due to its aftereffects rather than alcohol itself, is mostly true and supported by current research. Alcohol initially acts as a depressant and may temporarily ease anxiety, but it disrupts brain chemistry, sleep, and hydration, which can all lead to increased anxiety afterward, especially during hangovers or withdrawal. Experts like Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, have confirmed that panic attacks can follow drinking, particularly in people already vulnerable to anxiety. Studies have also shown that heavy alcohol consumption impairs mood and increases physical symptoms of anxiety the next day. While this is more common in heavy drinkers, even moderate drinkers can experience these effects depending on their mental health and drinking patterns. Overall, the connection between alcohol’s aftereffects and anxiety is well-documented and supported by credible sources.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder-alcoholism-a-to-z

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/alcohol-withdrawal

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030646032300014X

https://www.self.com/story/anxiety-after-drinking

Answer 8

I would say that this claim is fairly true, in regards to the effects of alcohol on a person and how much and often they drink. According to the article “Can Alcohol cause panic attacks?” published by The New York Times, “When you drink alcohol, the brain ramps up the release of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which helps us feel calm. Alcohol also inhibits the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which is associated with anxiety,” (New York Times). This statement from the article speaks on the effects of drinking alcohol and the correlation it has with anxiety. The article shares that when drinking alcohol, it releases glutamate, which is associated with anxiety. The article highlights that yes alcohol can release chemicals like GABA, which gives humans a sense of calm, yet it also releases other chemicals such as glutamate which corresponds to symptoms of anxiety. The article greatly focuses on the fact of “heavy drinking” being the largest cause of panic attacks and anxiety. The statement “ But if you become physically dependent on alcohol — after years of drinking heavily, for example — the constant ramping up of GABA can cause the brain to produce less of it, and glutamate becomes more dominant. The brain then becomes “hyperexcitable,” which can lead to symptoms like panic attacks,” speaks on the fact that if one is heavily dependent on alcohol and drinks a lot, they are at a much larger risk of encountering anxiety and panic attacks due to the lack of Gaba and increase of glutamate from a constant binge drinking (New York Times). The article “Alcohol and Anxiety: Does Alcohol Cause Anxiety and Panic Attacks?” AmericanAddictionCenters supports this claim of a correlation found between heavy drinking and panic attacks by stating “Chronic Alcohol use affects your ability to respond to stress in healthy and effective ways, which can lead to anxiety. This may be due to alcohol’s effect on the amygdala, the area of your brain that regulates negative emotions. Brain imaging studies have found abnormalities in amygdala functioning in individuals with alcohol use disorder,” (AAC). This article backs my claim by suggesting that chronic drinking affects one's ability to respond to stress in healthy ways, making people who drink more, more susceptible to panic attacks. This is due to how the amount of alcohol and constant drinking affects the brain and how the brain reacts and regulates negative or stressful emotions and situations. I think that alcohol can definitely cause panic attacks considering the outside variables of how much a person drinks and how often. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/well/mind/alcohol-panic-attack.html

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/risks-effects-dangers/anxiety

 

Answer 9

For starters, let's define what a panic attack is before making this claim. According to the Mayo Clinic, a panic attack is, "a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying." Anxiety attacks are a completely different thing than panic attacks–both having different symptoms. Anxiety attacks don't have a set in stone definition and differ from everyone who experiences them. 

Anxiety attacks don't have their own diagnosis, rather their apart of different anxiety disorders. It stems from anxiety, "an experience usually related to the anticipation or handling of a stressful situation, experience, or event. It may come on gradually or suddenly." 

Anxiety symptoms; come on suddenly and intensely:  

- worry

- distress 

- fear 

Panic attacks can cause, mainly physical, and emotional symptoms, be unexpected, and could happen to anyone. Some symptoms include: chills or hot flashes, chest pain, fear of dying or losing control, nausea and more. 

The fine line between the two is that a panic attack is a physical and emotional state of panic while anxiety attacks are more a mental state of heightened anxiety. Anxiety can cause and trigger panic attacks. This is the article I used to gather my information. 

Now for the claim: alcohol causes panic attacks

From Charlie Health, they claim that "alcohol is a central nervous system depressant [slowing] the brain activity...however [can] backfire...as the alcohol wears off, [people] might experience rebound anxiety, where stress levels become elevated," This is because of the levels of neurotransmitters get thrown off may causing heightened anxiety.

Charlie Health also claims that the main neurotransmitter, the gamma-animobutryic acid(GABA), plays an important role in the central nervous system, helping promote feelings of calm and reduced anxiety. After drinking alcohol, your GABA increases its activity. Once the alcohol wears off, GABA decreases which can lead to an increase in anxiety. 

The claim saying that alcohol causes panic attacks cannot be true or false. It really depends on what kind of drinker you are.