A drink to unwind after a stressful day, or to take the edge off in a social situation, is common. For some people, though, drinking becomes the main way to cope with anxiety or low mood, and that can quietly make things worse. The connection between alcohol, anxiety, and depression runs in both directions, and understanding it can be the first step toward feeling better. This guide explains how drinking affects mental health, why drinking to cope backfires, how alcohol interacts with psychiatric medications, and when to seek help.
How Alcohol, Anxiety, and Depression Are Connected
The connection between alcohol, anxiety, and depression is two-way: people with anxiety or depression may drink to cope, and heavy or regular drinking can worsen mood, increase anxiety, and disrupt sleep. Over time, each can feed the other.
Alcohol problems are common. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 48.5 million people aged 12 or older, or 17.1%, had a substance use disorder in the past year, including 28.9 million with an alcohol use disorder. Rates were highest among young adults aged 18 to 25, at 27.1%.
Share of people with a substance use disorder in the past year, by age group.
Why Drinking to Cope Backfires
Drinking to cope backfires because alcohol brings short-term relief but, as it wears off, can leave the nervous system more agitated, worsen sleep, and lower mood, so the original anxiety or sadness returns stronger. Relying on alcohol can also crowd out healthier coping skills.
Anxiety and depression are common starting points. NIMH estimates that 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year, and NIMH reports that 8.3% had a major depressive episode in 2021. When either is present, alcohol can make symptoms harder to treat.
Social anxiety is a common example. A drink before a party may make conversation feel easier, but it can also prevent the brain from learning that social situations are manageable without it. Over time, the anxiety can grow and the reliance on alcohol with it.
Alcohol can feel like relief. Over time, it often borrows calm from tomorrow and pays it back as more anxiety.
What Is Hangxiety?
Hangxiety is an informal term for the anxiety, restlessness, or dread many people feel the day after drinking. It can include a racing heart, trouble concentrating, irritability, and worry about what happened while drinking. For people who already have anxiety, it can be especially intense.
Poor sleep adds to it. Alcohol can help people fall asleep but disrupts sleep later in the night, leaving them less rested. Our guide to anxiety and insomnia explains how sleep and anxiety affect each other.
| Short term | Long term | |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | May feel calmer | Often more anxiety, including hangxiety |
| Mood | Brief lift | Lower mood and more depressive symptoms |
| Sleep | Easier to fall asleep | More disrupted, less restful sleep |
| Treatment | Masks symptoms | Reduces how well treatment works |
Is drinking part of how you cope?
A judgment-free evaluation can help. By telehealth across South Carolina and New York.
Alcohol and Antidepressants
Alcohol and antidepressants don’t mix well, because alcohol can worsen depression and anxiety, reduce how well treatment works, and increase side effects such as drowsiness and impaired coordination. With some psychiatric medications, including benzodiazepines, combining them with alcohol is dangerous.
The FDA has warned that combining benzodiazepines with alcohol raises the risk of serious harm. Our guide to benzodiazepines for anxiety explains why. If you drink, tell your psychiatrist openly how much, so your treatment plan can be safe and effective.
Cutting back, even without stopping entirely, often improves sleep, mood, and anxiety within weeks. Many people are surprised by how much better they feel. Tracking how you feel on days you drink versus days you don’t can make the connection clear.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Getting Help
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition marked by difficulty controlling drinking, continuing despite problems, and sometimes cravings, tolerance, or withdrawal. Most people with alcohol use disorder have a mild form: in the 2023 NSDUH, 58.6% of people with past-year AUD had a mild disorder and 19.4% had a severe disorder.
Among the 28.9 million people with a past-year alcohol use disorder.
Help works, and it doesn’t have to start with a crisis. Treatment can include counseling, medications that reduce cravings, and treatment for co-occurring anxiety or depression. Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, so medical guidance is important.
- Track your drinking. Note how much and when you drink for a couple of weeks.
- Notice the pattern. Look for links between drinking, mood, anxiety, and sleep.
- Talk openly with your psychiatrist. Share how much you drink so treatment is safe.
- Build other coping tools. Try exercise, therapy skills, and social support.
- Get guidance before stopping heavy drinking. Sudden withdrawal can be dangerous.
Drinking to take the edge off
Alcohol has become the go-to for stress, anxiety, or low mood, and it’s not working anymore.
Integrated care
An evaluation that looks at mood, anxiety, sleep, and drinking together.
Coping that lasts
Less reliance on alcohol and more effective ways to manage anxiety and mood.
Dr. Gabriella Farkas, MD PhD
Board-certified adult psychiatrist with a PhD in neuroscience. Dr. Farkas treats anxiety and depression with attention to alcohol use, without judgment.
About Dr. Farkas →When to Get Help
Get help if you’re drinking to manage anxiety or low mood, if you’re drinking more than you intend, if others are concerned, or if drinking is affecting your work, relationships, or health. You don’t need to label yourself to ask for support.
A comprehensive adult psychiatric evaluation can look at mood, anxiety, sleep, and drinking together. Our guides to anxiety and depression together and psychiatrists vs therapists cover related topics. If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the US. If you have severe withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, seizures, or hallucinations, call 911.
Key Terms
- Alcohol use disorder
- A medical condition involving difficulty controlling drinking despite problems.
- Hangxiety
- An informal term for anxiety felt the day after drinking.
- Drinking to cope
- Using alcohol to manage stress, anxiety, or low mood.
- Withdrawal
- Physical and mental symptoms when heavy drinking stops suddenly, which can be dangerous.
Common Questions About Alcohol and Mental Health
Can alcohol make anxiety worse?
Yes, alcohol can make anxiety worse; it may bring short-term relief, but as it wears off it can leave the nervous system more agitated, disrupt sleep, and cause next-day anxiety, sometimes called hangxiety. Over time, anxiety often increases. Drinking to cope can become a cycle. Treatment helps. Other coping tools work better.
Does alcohol cause depression?
Alcohol can worsen depression and contribute to depressive symptoms, especially with heavy or regular drinking, and depression can also lead people to drink more. The relationship runs both ways. Cutting back often helps mood. Treating both is best. An evaluation can clarify it. Support is available. Small changes help. Treatment works.
Can I drink alcohol while taking antidepressants?
It's generally best to avoid or limit alcohol while taking antidepressants, because alcohol can worsen depression, reduce treatment effectiveness, and increase side effects like drowsiness. Some medications are dangerous with alcohol. Ask your psychiatrist. Be open about how much you drink. Plans can be adjusted safely. Support is available. Small changes help.
What is hangxiety?
Hangxiety is an informal term for the anxiety, restlessness, or dread many people feel the day after drinking, often with a racing heart, trouble concentrating, and worry. It can be intense in people with anxiety. Poor sleep adds to it. Cutting back helps. Treating anxiety helps too. Support is available. Small changes help.
How common is alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is common; SAMHSA's 2023 survey found 28.9 million people aged 12 or older had one in the past year, and most cases were mild. It often occurs with anxiety or depression. Treatment works. Help doesn't require a crisis. Many people improve. Support is available. Small changes help. Treatment works.
Is it safe to stop drinking suddenly?
Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures, so it's important to get medical guidance before quitting if you drink heavily every day. Lighter drinking is usually safer to stop. Ask a clinician. Severe symptoms need 911. Support makes quitting safer. Support is available. Small changes help. Treatment works.
Can I get help for alcohol use and anxiety by telehealth?
Yes, Dr. Farkas evaluates anxiety, depression, and alcohol use together by secure telehealth for adults in South Carolina and New York, and can coordinate additional support when needed. You'll need a private space. A device with a camera works well. Care is judgment-free. Follow-ups use the same platform. Support is available.
There are better ways to find relief.
Judgment-free care for mood, anxiety, and drinking.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Key substance use and mental health indicators: 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (main highlights).” SAMHSA, 2024. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH%202023%20Annual%20Release/2023-nsduh-main-highlights.pdf?utm_
- National Institute of Mental Health. “Any Anxiety Disorder.” NIMH Statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health. “Major Depression.” NIMH Statistics, 2021 NSDUH data. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
Educational content only. This article does not constitute medical advice and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified clinician familiar with your circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026.