Help is on the way for shy, anxious drinkers

Jul 20 2009

In life today alcohol plays an enormous part in many people's social activities and is often an essential part of a night out with friends.

Alcohol is widely considered to be a social lubricant, so it comes as no surprise that social phobia, or extreme shyness, and drinking, frequently go hand in hand.

But according to Australian researchers instead of increasing confidence, excessive drinking can actually cause greater anxiety and agitation.

The researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney say reports of increased alcohol problems among socially anxious people is a concern as studies have revealed that people who suffer from social phobia are 2-3 times more likely to develop problems with alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence, yet historically, alcohol dependency and social anxiety have been treated as separate problems.

The researchers from the University’s Centre for Emotional Health say there is now a better understanding of how the two interact and they have developed a new treatment for adults that addresses both problems simultaneously.

Dr. Lexine Stapinski, the coordinator of the new program, says many people mistakenly believe that alcohol relaxes them when in fact, excessive drinking actually increases agitation and anxiety.

Dr. Stapinski says alcohol use and social anxiety tend to feed each other in a vicious cycle and shy people believe alcohol helps them to steady their nerves and feel more confident, but this can lead to a reliance on alcohol and ultimately a range of additional physical, social and emotional problems.

According to Dr. Stapinski the most recent ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing shows that 10.6% of Australians have problems with social phobia while 18.9% of the population drink alcohol at harmful levels.

New changes to recommended drinking levels set in the 2009 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines advise no more than two drinks per day, which will mean the number of those considered to be drinking at harmful levels will increase.

The new program developed by researchers at Macquarie offers participants 10 individual cognitive behavioural therapy sessions at no cost and medication is also offered as an option.

Treatment sessions are conducted with experienced clinical psychologists and are based on the most up-to-date research findings and knowledge of social anxiety and alcohol dependence.