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/