Self Esteem - Building self esteem and self confidence...

Many people find that alcohol makes them feel better and increases their confidence. It is not unusual for someone to have a few drinks to become more comfortable at a social event; as we mentioned earlier, some people have a few drinks before the event even starts. Despite some temporary reduction of symptoms, however, using alcohol to relieve anxiety can lead to alcohol abuse.

While alcohol's immediate effect is often to reduce anxiety, later that day or the next it can produce feelings of increased anxiety, irritability, or depression. This can happen even at moderate levels of social drinking. The person may not consume enough to experience a hangover, but mood and anxiety may still be affected. The person may not notice this pattern because the sick feelings that accompany a hangover may be mild, or even absent.

One warning level that has been established is regular consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks in a day. This level of consumption puts you at risk of motor vehicle accidents, interpersonal problems, and needing increasing amounts of alcohol over time to produce the desired relaxation effect. People are strongly encourage to limit their alcohol intake to one or two drinks at a social occasion and to avoid using alcohol to reduce anxiety.

If you think you are using alcohol excessively, you should do something about it. If heavy alcohol use has become a part of your routine, you are likely to find it tough to stop drinking on your own. There are many excellent organizations whose mission is to help people quit drinking and regain control of their lives.

The best known, of course, is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There are AA groups in virtually every city, town, and hole-in-the-wall in the United States, Canada, and around the world. You can also seek help from mental health counselors (if you are still in school); from your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization; and from employee health organizations. The bottom line is, if you're motivated to deal with your drinking problem, there is a group out there eager to help you accomplish your goal.

If you have a drinking problem, it is wise to try to tackle it before you invest much effort in dealing with social anxiety. The reason is simple: if you're still drinking, particularly as a crutch to cope with anxiety, you're unlikely to get better until you can give it up.