During alcohol withdrawal, panic attacks could occur when you no longer having alcohol in your system or due to an underlying mental health condition. Many people have anxiety throughout alcohol withdrawal—and untreated anxiety can eventually lead to panic attacks. If you or a loved one struggle with alcohol addiction, professional detox programs can reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Tampa Bay Recovery Center offers outpatient drug and alcohol detox programs as well as aftercare services. Visit our admissions page today to learn more.
Can Quitting Alcohol Cause Panic Attacks?
The short answer is yes, quitting alcohol can cause panic attacks.
However, this doesn’t happen to everyone. Still, anxiety is a common symptom during alcohol withdrawal—and panic attacks are a symptom of anxiety.
So, if you have anxiety during alcohol withdrawal, you are at risk of also having panic attacks.
Moreover, some people drink alcohol to mask an underlying anxiety disorder. In other words, anxiety was always there and now that they’ve stopped drinking, anxiety symptoms begin to surface. As a result of underlying anxiety, symptoms like panic attacks can accompany alcohol withdrawal.
What is the Connection Between Alcohol Withdrawal and Panic Attacks?
There is a connection between alcohol withdrawal and panic attacks. Oftentimes, quitting alcohol will cause you to have withdrawal symptoms like panic attacks. This is because long-term alcohol abuse causes you to become physically dependent on having alcohol in your system.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be distressing and sometimes dangerous. So, the distressing nature of these symptoms can cause you to worry to excess—thus, resulting in a panic attack. Alternatively, an underlying panic disorder could be a driving factor of alcohol abuse.
25% of People in Treatment for Panic Disorders Have History of Alcohol Dependence
According to The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, “approximately 25% of persons seeking treatment for panic disorder had a history of alcohol dependence.”
Therefore, some people have had panic attacks before they quit drinking alcohol. As a result, during alcohol withdrawal, panic attacks recur and could even be more severe because you no longer have alcohol to blunt your attacks.
What Does a Panic Attack Look (And Feel) Like?
Panic attacks can appear differently for each person having them. However, there are several common signs that you’re having one.
Signs of a panic attack during alcohol withdrawal include:
- Hypervigilance
- Irrational thoughts and fears
- Intense feelings of dread and overwhelm
- Feeling light-headed
- Fear of dying/feeling like you are dying
- Chills
- Tingling sensation in the arms and hands
- Profuse sweating
- Tremors and shakes
- Accelerated heart rate
- Hypertension
- Tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and dizziness
- Tension throughout the body
- Feeling detached from reality
These symptoms contribute to the stress of quitting alcohol. In fact, many people avoid treatment because they don’t want to endure withdrawal symptoms. But over time, untreated alcoholism can cause detrimental effects on your physical and mental health, as well as, significant issues at work and home or legal consequences.
Therefore, it’s important to reach for professional help when you decide to quit drinking.
How Do You Treat Panic Attacks During Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol detox programs help to reduce withdrawal symptoms, including panic and other symptoms of anxiety.
During a detox program, you get the medical and psychological support you need to manage withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, if you experience panic, you’ll have both professional and peer support to learn new coping skills.
In addition, some treatment centers treat panic attacks during alcohol withdrawal with psychiatric medications. These include benzodiazepines, like Ativan or Valium. Alcohol detox also includes psychotherapy and holistic approaches, like yoga, meditation, and nutritional counseling.
How to Deal With Panic Attacks During Withdrawal (Our Top 5 Tips)
Lastly, you can use the following tips to deal with panic attacks during alcohol withdrawal:
- Learn the signs of a panic attack. Being aware that you’re having a panic attack when it occurs can help you get through it. Oftentimes, not knowing what is occurring worsens the attack.
- Prepare mentally for withdrawal symptoms. Since alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be distressing, be prepared for what’s in store for you during detox. That way, when you have challenging physical and mental symptoms, you aren’t surprised by them.
- Remember that this will pass. During a panic attack, it feels like the world is closing in. You might lose your sense of time—worrying that your panic is never ending. But, panic—and withdrawal symptoms—don’t last forever.
- Talk to someone. Reaching out to another person during a panic attack can help you feel grounded. It’s also important to talk to someone afterward to process what you’ve experienced.
- Focus on something else. One of the worst things about a panic attack is the loss of control. You can regain a sense of control by directing your focus away from the attack. Common examples include taking deep and controlled breaths, feeling the fabric of your clothing, and looking at the scenery around you.
Get Help for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Today
If you or a loved one want to quit drinking, but aren’t sure where to start, Tampa Bay Recovery Center is here for you. We can help you manage withdrawal safely to reduce the severity of symptoms, such as anxiety, panic, and stress. That way, you can start your recovery from alcohol addiction off right—and give up drinking for good.
Contact us today to get help for alcohol addiction and underlying panic disorders.
