"But having seen Mia for almost half a year now, I know she masks the truth behind her polished facade, and I notice the subtle tension in her shoulders that gives it away. Mia tells me that the night before, she had poured herself just one glass of wine to unwind after a long day. One glass became two, then three."
"Yet while alcohol may seem to offer short-term relief, it can worsen anxiety over time, disrupting sleep, heightening physiological stress and eroding emotional resilience. Research shows that people experiencing anxiety are significantly more likely to drink at risky levels and that the relationship between the two often becomes cyclical: anxiety fuels drinking and drinking fuels anxiety. Left unchecked, anxiety can do more than cause worry. It can disrupt relationships, affect sleep and lead to harmful coping behaviours such as substance use or compulsive online habits."
A growing number of Australians are turning to alcohol to manage anxiety, often using nightly drinks as a ritual to quiet racing thoughts. 34.9% of Australian adults who drank alcohol did so to relieve stress and 18.5% to deal with anxiety. Constant exposure to global distress—crisis, conflict, financial strain, job insecurity, climate fears and emotional fatigue—contributes to pervasive worry. Alcohol can offer short-term relief but worsens anxiety over time by disrupting sleep, heightening physiological stress and eroding emotional resilience. The relationship between anxiety and drinking often becomes cyclical, increasing risky alcohol use and leading to relationship, sleep and coping problems. Early awareness and reflection are important.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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