Both anxiety and depression have been associated with a poor response to treatment in heart patients. Similarly, another study reported that young girls with anxiety disorder were three times more likely to have chronic headaches than those without the disorder. No hard evidence exists, however, that anxiety causes these physical problems or that treating anxiety alone will benefit the patient's physical health. This information is brought to you by Well Connected . You may order this complete guide or choose to subscribe to the complete library covering over 90 health and mental health problems.
Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent among people with alcoholism.
Among the anxiety disorders, social phobia appears to pose a particular risk for alcoholism. One study suggested alcohol itself, however, has no direct beneficial effect on anxiety, but that many belief it does. They experienced less stage fright than those who knew they were not drinking alcohol. Self-medicating anxiety with alcohol, then, has to do with the belief in its benefits rather than any true chemical effects. It should be noted, moreover, that long-term alcohol use can itself cause biologic changes that may actually produce anxiety and depression.