Why does alcohol make you more anxious as you get older?

It’s the morning after a night out, and you… I can’t stop stressing. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to get done, or you can’t shake the embarrassment of making rash choices.

This is a common experience, and you may have noticed that this happens more as you get older. “I can’t drink like I used to,” you’ll hear people say.

Case in point: One social media user shared how their anxiety was affected by alcohol as they got older. TikTok creator and therapist Amanda White respondedExplaining that as we age, our bodies become less efficient at breaking down alcohol, especially when we reach our 30s, 40s and 50s.

Welcome, “com. hangxietyOr anxiety caused by alcohol. Terry WilderThere’s a real connection between the two, said a licensed mental health counselor with Thriveworks in Lafayette, Indiana, who specializes in addiction and anxiety.

“Alcohol tolerance actually decreases as you age, leading to increased symptoms of anxiety and a decreased ability of the liver to manage alcohol effectively,” she explained.

What’s behind it? according to Josh Newclinical director at Renewal Lodge by Burning Tree in Texas, “This can be a mixed bag of things for different people.” He and Wilder share some of those factors below.

We have less muscle mass as we age.