It is not uncommon for people to have anxiety and depression. People who have an anxiety disorder are at much bigger risk of developing a depressive disorder. In our life there may be times when we experience depression, sadness and anxiety. Losing a job, breaking up from a relationship; these are such times.

In these instances it’s normal to feel depressed and anxious for a few days and even a few weeks. Some people may bounce back quickly and others might take a little longer to get back on their feet. Those that feel depressed and anxious for a large proportion of the time might have anxiety and depression.

Depressing and worrying thoughts are frequent and sufferers feel apprehensive. Physically, they feel tired and unable to relax or sleep properly. Many avoid social interaction and avoid going out unless they have to.

Having both disorders makes life even more difficult to cope with. Because of side effects, many sufferers rather not take prescribed medication. Also, sufferers find that when they build tolerance the drug becomes ineffective. Many sufferers go from medication to the next as each one loses its effectiveness.

Because medication rarely tackles the cause of anxiety and depression it is not a long term solution. Therapies have been much more successful in treating anxiety and depressive disorders because they often tackle the underlying cause. Changing beliefs and the way we behave can make an immense difference to our lives.

It’s easy to see how sufferers feel hopeless. They are at a greater risk of self-harm and even suicide. Many turn to drugs and alcohol to help ease their symptoms or use it as a form of self-abuse.

Excessive drinking is a common way to escape from problems. Those that suffer from social anxiety may drink for different reasons. Often when socializing they turn to alcohol as a way to help them relax and ease their anxiety.

Although alcohol might give you a brief feeling of courage it is actually a depressant. Those that become dependent find themselves with more problems than they started with. Such problems for heavy drinkers that might arise include dementia and psychosis.

Sufferers may feel severely depressed, shaky and numb once the effects of alcohol have worn off. As their tolerance builds up, they may drink more. Anxiety and depression is likely to worsen and become even more difficult to treat.

Alcohol should not be relied on to reduce anxiety and depression especially for those taking medication. People with drink problems should seek professional advice. Get the help to eliminate anxiety from your life, click here to visit the anxiety symptoms help blog.