Alcohol may be one of the most socially accepted substances, but its effects on mental health are often underestimated. For many, alcohol use is initially seen as a way to manage anxiety or escape emotional pain. Over time, this relationship can change. The substance that once helped may actually make anxiety worse. At Sana at Stowe, we approach this complex connection through a trauma-informed lens, recognizing that unresolved trauma, alcohol use, and anxiety often intertwine in powerful and destructive ways.
Sana at Stowe will look at how drinking too much alcohol can change brain chemistry. This can make people more likely to have anxiety disorders. It is important to have care that treats both substance use and trauma together for long-term healing.
Can Alcohol Cause Anxiety?
For many individuals entering our luxury addiction treatment center, alcohol use and anxiety go hand-in-hand. While alcohol may initially seem to ease symptoms of anxiety by dulling emotional discomfort, over time, alcohol can cause anxiety by destabilizing the brain’s natural regulation of mood, stress, and emotional reactivity.
As alcohol’s depressant effects wear off, the nervous system can swing into overactivity. This rebound hyperarousal can lead to increased feelings of tension, restlessness, racing thoughts, and even panic-like sensations. Over time, this cycle places individuals at higher risk of developing full-blown anxiety disorders.
In some cases, individuals develop an anxiety condition during or after periods of heavy drinking, prompting them to ask: Can alcohol cause anxiety disorders? The answer is yes—and for those with pre-existing anxiety, alcohol often exacerbates the problem rather than providing long-term relief.
How Alcohol Can Cause Anxiety Disorders: The Science
Alcohol affects multiple neurotransmitters in the brain, including GABA (which promotes relaxation) and glutamate (which stimulates brain activity). Prolonged alcohol use disrupts the delicate balance between these systems. When alcohol is removed, the brain struggles to restore equilibrium, often resulting in anxiety and agitation.
This is why alcohol can cause anxiety and panic attacks, particularly in individuals with:
- A history of trauma or unresolved emotional pain
- Genetic predispositions to addiction and anxiety
- High levels of stress or burnout
- Pre-existing anxiety or mood disorders
Additionally, alcohol use can impair sleep, increase rumination, and disrupt the body’s stress-response system—all of which further intensify anxiety symptoms.
Trauma’s Role in Alcohol and Anxiety
Unresolved trauma is one of the most common drivers behind both alcohol misuse and anxiety disorders. Many individuals turn to alcohol as a way to self-soothe symptoms of PTSD, unresolved grief, or chronic emotional pain. Yet, rather than healing trauma, alcohol use typically compounds emotional dysregulation over time.
At Sana at Stowe, we often see individuals whose co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use disorder stem directly from past trauma. By applying a trauma-informed approach, we help clients understand how their drinking may have served as a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotional states rooted in early experiences.
In these cases, treating anxiety without addressing alcohol use—or treating alcohol use without addressing underlying trauma—leaves significant gaps in care. That’s why integrated treatment is essential.
The Alcohol-Anxiety Withdrawal Loop
One of the clearest ways alcohol can cause anxiety is through the withdrawal process itself. As the body adjusts to the absence of alcohol, individuals may experience profound physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Heightened anxiety and panic attacks
- Shakiness and tremors
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Racing thoughts and intrusive worries
- Rapid heart rate and shortness of breath
For clients entering our medically supervised alcohol detox, managing these symptoms safely and comfortably is a top priority. Our clinical team carefully monitors the detox and withdrawal management process to stabilize both physical and emotional symptoms, setting the stage for deeper trauma and anxiety work to follow.
When Anxiety Is the First Occurrence
Can alcohol cause anxiety and panic attacks? In many dual diagnosis cases, anxiety symptoms often emerge first, long before problematic drinking begins. Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or panic attacks may lead individuals to reach for alcohol in an effort to numb symptoms, leading to alcohol addiction and withdrawal challenges later on.
In these cases, it’s not simply that alcohol causes anxiety—it’s that anxiety was present first, and alcohol was used as an unsuccessful form of self-medication. Without professional intervention, this dynamic can easily spiral into a dangerous cycle of dependency.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Healing Both Anxiety and Alcohol Use
At Sana at Stowe, our trauma-informed model allows us to address both primary mental health conditions and alcohol use disorder simultaneously. Rather than treating one condition as secondary, we offer fully integrated care that honors the complexity of each client’s lived experience.
Our treatment model incorporates:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Nonviolent Communication
- Expressive and somatic therapies
- Holistic wellness practices
In addition to these core clinical interventions, clients benefit from nutritional counseling, movement therapies, nature-based activities, and peer recovery support. Our full suite of wellness and holistic services supports emotional regulation, body-mind connection, and nervous system stabilization—essential elements in breaking the alcohol-anxiety cycle.
The Role of Retreat-Style Healing
Choosing the right environment for treatment is equally important. Our alcohol rehab retreat in scenic Stowe, Vermont offers the privacy, luxury, and tranquility necessary for focused emotional healing. Just a short drive from Burlington, Vermont airport, Sana at Stowe welcomes clients from across New England and beyond.
For those seeking both alcohol addiction treatment and support for anxiety, our luxury retreats for depression and anxiety offer a calming sanctuary for intensive work on emotional regulation, relational healing, and post-traumatic growth.
Comprehensive, Personalized Care
Every client at Sana at Stowe receives a personalized care plan that addresses their unique needs and history. This includes:
- A full assessment for alcohol use disorder and anxiety
- Medically supervised detox protocols
- Integrated trauma therapy and anxiety management
- Ongoing psychiatric care
- Family therapy and education
- Peer support and alumni programming
Our clinical team works closely with clients to build long-term resiliency, equipping them with tools to manage triggers, cope with stress, and maintain lasting recovery.
A Client’s Story of Healing
“I came to Sana overwhelmed by my anxiety and alcohol use. I never realized how much my drinking was actually making my anxiety worse until I started treatment here. The way they integrated trauma work with anxiety care made all the difference. I finally feel in control of my life again.”
This kind of transformation embodies the personalized, trauma-informed healing approach we deliver every day at Sana at Stowe.
Why Choose Sana at Stowe
Sana at Stowe offers an unparalleled level of trauma-informed, evidence-based care in one of the most beautiful destinations for healing. Our addiction treatment center proudly accepts insurance through in-network providers such as TRICARE, and we specialize in serving veterans, active-duty military, and their families.
From holistic treatment for alcohol withdrawal to long-term support for anxiety and addiction, our high staff-to-client ratio ensures every individual receives the customized, compassionate care they deserve.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol and anxiety, know that help is available. Learn more with our AUD quiz to begin better understanding alcohol and addiction. Lasting recovery begins with integrated, trauma-informed treatment that addresses both substance use and mental health together.
Contact Sana at Stowe today at (802) 566-5906 to learn more about our luxury residential programs and begin your path toward lasting healing.
