Three Things That Might Be Worsening Your Anxiety

Three Things That Might Be Worsening Your Anxiety

Many people in Foxborough suffer from anxiety. For some people, it’s a normal emotional response to life stressors and will subside over time; for others, it’s a chronic state and is part of a full-blown anxiety disorder. If you are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, or even if you’re just acutely stressed out from work, school, or relationship problems, you may be making your anxiety worse. There are three common things that can increase your anxiety: caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. These can be particularly problematic if you have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or panic disorder. Fortunately, by reducing your use of these three items, you may be able to improve your symptoms.

#1: Caffeine

Almost all adults in Foxborough consume some amount of caffeine on a daily basis, often without thinking about it. Some of us can’t get our day started without that morning cup of coffee; others prefer tea or energy drinks. Even if you’re not a caffeine junkie and don’t care for coffee, you may still be caffeinating without even realizing it. Many sodas, including colas, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, and even Sunkist, contain a significant amount of caffeine. If you’ve ever had one too many shots of espresso, than you know firsthand that caffeine can make you jittery and on-edge. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and too much of it can worsen anxiety symptoms. You may be able to keep your anxiety and tension at bay by being mindful of how much caffeine you’re ingesting. A cup of coffee has an average of 80 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces. Sodas generally have 30-40 mg, and green tea has about 60 mg. Keeping it under 200 mg per day is a good rule of thumb, if you really feel like you need caffeine.

#2: Nicotine

Like caffeine, nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant. If you smoke, chew tobacco, or use other tobacco products, which contain nicotine, it’s probably a habit and you may not realize its stimulant effects. Some studies have shown that nicotine increases the risk of someone developing an anxiety disorder, as well as worsening the symptoms of anxiety. Quitting smoking is quite difficult, but reducing how much you smoke (or chew) per day can be a step in the right direction and can help calm your nerves and prevent anxiety symptoms from flaring up. You may also want to talk to a doctor in Foxborough to see about getting help to quit smoking for good.

#3: Alcohol

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that produces feelings of ease and mild euphoria. Alcohol in moderate amounts, consumed relatively infrequently, may appear to ease anxiety; however, this effect is largely illusory. In the longer term, alcohol exacerbates anxiety. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may want to be careful with your alcohol consumption. There is a high correlation between alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder, which may be due to underlying genetic factors that predispose an individual to both conditions. Because alcohol can temporarily relieve anxiety, a person may fall into the habit of using alcohol as a coping mechanism. This is neither healthy nor effective. This isn’t to say that you can never drink at all, but moderation is a must. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “at-risk drinking” can be defined as a woman who drinks more than seven drinks in a week or more than three drinks on one occasion; for men, the numbers are 14 drinks per week or more than four drinks on one occasion. Having a glass of wine or a cocktail every once in a while is generally okay, and may even have positive effects on cardiovascular health. However, excessive drinking can cause heightened anxiety and increasingly negative emotional states. If you suffer from anxiety, remain mindful of how much and how often you’re drinking. Also, it may be wise to pay attention to your reasons for drinking. A drink or two as a “social lubricant” is one thing, but if you drink for the purpose of relieving your anxiety, you may be at risk for developing alcohol abuse or dependency.

 If you have anxiety in Foxborough, or even if you’re just suffering from normal levels of stress, you could inadvertently be making it worse by excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol consumption. Taking care to reduce your caffeine and nicotine usage, as well as avoiding excessive alcohol, may help reduce your anxiety symptoms.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY