Alcoholism | Common Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Diagnosis, Risk Factors, Complications, and Treatments

• They need something to feel less anxious

Alcohol is an inhibitor of the nervous system and has anxiolytic effects. In other words, it calms down anxiety. Thus, people who often feel anxious can start using alcohol to overcome these uncomfortable situations, especially if anxiety is associated with social situations. They may feel the need for alcohol if they want to create new bonds and connect to other people. The opposite happens, though, and alcohol starts affecting our social relationships as it becomes a problem.