Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Panic Attacks?
Understanding Panic Attacks During Alcohol Detox: The Importance of Supervised Care
Alcohol and anxiety are deeply intertwined. Many individuals turn to alcohol as a way to manage their anxiety, mistakenly believing that drinking will help calm their nerves. However, when they attempt to stop drinking, they may experience severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, including panic attacks. These symptoms are not just uncomfortable—they can be dangerous and warrant close professional monitoring.
Panic Attacks During Alcohol Withdrawal
For individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), the process of detoxing from alcohol can trigger a range of withdrawal symptoms, including panic attacks. Research has shown that those who attempt to withdraw from alcohol often meet the diagnostic criteria for panic attacks, panic disorder, and even agoraphobia. This anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, or finding oneself in places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helplessness or embarrassment.
A panic attack is often marked by intense fear of losing control, even when there is no actual danger. These attacks can manifest physically, with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and a racing heart. Symptoms of a panic attack can be mistaken for a heart attack.
Does this sound familiar? Book a free information session with our team to learn how we can help.
Serving San Francisco and the Bay Area from our office in Mill Valley, CA, and treating patients from all over the country, our staff includes a physician, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychotherapists, and recovery specialists who take a holistic approach toward developing customized treatment plans to help you end your dependence and regain control.
Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol Withdrawal
Anxiety is a pervasive mental health condition characterized by feelings of nervousness, restlessness, fear, dread, rumination, and other obsessive tendencies. These feelings can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, gastrointestinal distress, and muscle tremors. While most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives, for some, anxiety becomes chronic and severe enough to interfere with daily functioning. When this occurs, it may be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder.
The American Psychiatric Association recognizes several types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Social anxiety disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
For individuals who already suffer from anxiety disorders, the process of detoxing from alcohol can exacerbate their symptoms. This is why it’s crucial for individuals entering a detox program to inform their treatment team of any pre-existing physical or psychological conditions. This information is vital for creating a personalized and effective treatment plan during the detox and ongoing recovery process.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
When someone stops drinking after prolonged alcohol consumption, their body and brain undergo significant changes, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Common symptoms of withdrawal include insomnia, trembling, anxiety, and panic attacks. In more severe cases, individuals may experience delirium tremens (DTs), a life-threatening condition characterized by extreme agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.
The brain, which has become accustomed to the depressant effects of alcohol, overcompensates by producing stimulating chemicals in higher-than-normal amounts. When alcohol is suddenly removed, the brain becomes overstimulated, leading to withdrawal symptoms, including panic attacks.
The Critical Need for Supervised Detox
Attempting to detox from alcohol without professional supervision can be dangerous, especially for those at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms like panic attacks. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening, particularly for individuals with a history of long-term alcohol use, which may have caused damage to their heart, gastrointestinal tract, or liver.
Supervised detox provides a safe environment where both the mental and physical health of the individual can be closely monitored. In a medically supervised setting, healthcare professionals can manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure the individual’s safety and well-being.
The Role of Psychiatric Medication Management in Detox
For individuals with a history of anxiety and/or benzodiazepine dependence, managing psychiatric medications during alcohol detox is crucial. Benzodiazepines, often prescribed for anxiety disorders, are themselves addictive and can complicate the detox process. Abruptly discontinuing benzodiazepines can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, including panic attacks, seizures, and even death.
In a supervised detox setting, healthcare providers can carefully taper patients off of benzodiazepines while managing their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This approach minimizes the risk of severe withdrawal effects and helps stabilize the individual’s mental health during the detox process. Additionally, other medications may be prescribed to help manage anxiety and panic attacks, ensuring a safer and more comfortable detox experience.
It is potentially extremely dangerous to combine benzodiazepines with depressants, including alcohol.
Comprehensive Treatment Programs for Alcoholism
Recovering from alcohol dependence is a complex process that often requires a combination of therapies, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Benzodiazepines may be used temporarily during detox to manage severe anxiety and panic attacks, but their use must be carefully monitored to prevent dependency.
Every individual’s recovery journey is unique, and treatment plans should be tailored to meet their specific needs. This is why self-treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) is not only ineffective but also dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal should always be conducted in a rehab facility, where individuals can receive the care and support they need to achieve and maintain sobriety.
Contact Recovery Without Walls for Safe Alcohol Withdrawal
At Recovery Without Walls, we understand the challenges of alcohol withdrawal and the importance of a safe, supervised detox process. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing individualized addiction treatment based on evidence-based research, exceptional psychotherapy, nutritional support, and integrative healing methods. We are committed to helping you achieve lasting sobriety and improved mental health. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you on your journey to recovery.
Recovery Without Walls is a private mental health practice operating in the San Francisco Bay Area of California specializing in pain, addiction and integrative treatments including ketamine-assisted therapies and psychedelic integration services.
With decades of experience helping patients find relief for chronic conditions, the Recovery Without Walls staff is here to provide compassionate, personalized care for recovery, mental health, and pain treatment.
The Recovery Without Walls team is capable of facilitating care protocols remotely for certain conditions and treatments, but does require an initial, in-person appointment for new patients.
Contact our team to book a consultation, or to discuss accommodations for out-of-state patients facilitated by our extended provider network.
Or explore our pain, addiction and integrative mental health services and learn more about us and our practitioners.
Additional Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6876499/
