Anxiety ruins many people’s lives, and lessens the enjoyment of it for most of us. It’s focus can be anything, from the seemingly trivial to the life-threatening. Threat and fear can thread their way into many aspects of our lives.
Of course the solution that many people find is through alcohol. This can provide temporary but effective relief – allowing us to relax again and get on with life without being so preoccupied. But alcohol does not actually allow us to deal with our anxiety or manage the situations provoking it, so we fail to develop our resources.
Anxiety arises as a result of our interpretations of a situation as being in some way threatening or unpleasant. This is then combined with our perception of our ability to cope with that threat.
For example, two people are experiencing the exact same event – the possibility that they will lose their job. The anxiety prone person might think –
“but I’ll never find another job, I’m not good enough. I won’t have enough money, I won’t be able to cope – I’ll lose my house”. Obviously thoughts like that will tend to create anxiety.
The other person facing the same situation might think –
“I can get another job easy enough, I’m adaptable. Money might be a bit tight for a while, but I can cope with that”.
So if the first person can learn to adjust their perception of their abilities, they might not get so anxious, and they might not feel the need to drink so much alcohol as a result. Those perceptions and beliefs happen so automatically, we often forget that we have a degree of choice over them.
Unfortunately alcohol consumption tends to exacerbate anxiety levels subsequently – firstly by causing disruption to the nervous system, secondly by creating behaviour likely to induce further worry. A spiral of increased drinking causing increased anxiety can develop.
Anxious people tend to have a central belief about themselves as being helpless – they underestimate their ability to cope. Although, they are often aware that their fears are exaggerated.
Five key questions can be used to challenge the initial perception of threat and the appraisal of your coping ability:
- What alternative interpretations could I make about this situation?
- What concrete, factual evidence do I have to back-up or deny these beliefs?
- What is the worst that could really happen, and how would that ultimately affect me?
- What positive action can I take to manage this?
- What are the pros and cons of me continuing with these catastrophic thoughts I’m having?
Coupled with some simple relaxation techniques like keeping aware of your breathing, you can soon lessen your anxiety to a tolerable level. If you can adjust the way you interpret the world, and thus not feel so worried about it, then you may not need to drink so much alcohol to cope.
I tend to agree with Dr Jazz on this one. Keeping a positive outlook has really changed my life. My anxiety is now 95% better without taking pills that have nasty side effects 🙂
It also helps to have a good diet with plenty of fruit and veg, no junkfood and do regular excercise.
Cat if the pills work for you then thats good, but can you cope without them or are you now reliant on them? I’ve heard of cases where people go back to square one after quitting pills and the anxiety is then far worse… Its a deadly spiral.
Guys stay positive and away from the pills if possible as they will only make matters worse in the long run.
Hi Lou. I can’t really tell as my doc has advised that if i am comfortable or ok now on the medication, he says i should stay on them forever. I think my panic or anxiety was just so bad that now that i am on the meds, i am ok, so i don’t really want to take the chance and go off them. I understand though that some people diasgree about relying on meds completely, especially if they have a history of drug abuse too. I feel ok and don’t have any side effects. My weight has not changed, except i did loose the alcohol belly thank goodness! It’s a tough decision i suppose, but for me personally i would rather not risk ever ever getting so panicky again, as that is when i will most certainly relapse (as alcohol was definitely a way of self medicating myself towards then end of my drinking career). Positive thinking is definitely a must too though, no doubt. xx
Sorry Dr.Jazz i disagree with you. I am an alcoholic in recovery and i have been diagnosed with severe panic disorder. I can totally relate to all the posts above how people talk about feeling dizzy when leaving the house, panicky, worried, numbness, fear of big open spaces, driving and the list is endless. I had such severe panic that i eventually became agoraphobic – i could NOT leave my house, and i drank all day everyday, and if i had to leave the house, i would drink even more to try and overcome the panic. “Positive thinking” alone will not solve the problem entirely, but it is a step in the right direction. I have been put on “Cilift” which is the generic of citalopram and i believe that this medication has been my miracle drug. It has helped me to live an anxiety free life since, not needing to self medicate myself with litres and litres booze every minute of the day. I have been clean for 8 months and i never thought i would live a normal life without crippling anxiety. So i say, if a person is suffering so badly, try the medication.. It might just be what you need. Positive thinking comes afterwards, once you are able to start living normally…Good luck to all the panic/anxiety sufferers, it is awful i know, but, there really is a life after it. xx
Hello my friends,
Anxiety and Alcohol seem to go hand in hand, it is a vicious circle trying to self-medicate with alcohol.
The problem nowadays is that a lot of people do not understand how anxiety works and a lot of websites are there just to make money from anxious people.
The idea to curing anxiety is to tackle the root cause of the problem by re-training the brain with positive images and positive thoughts (yes this really works!)
In Anxiety the brain ‘falls’ into the wrong pattern and anxiety becomes repetitive as the thought pattern is Negative. Negative/fearful thinking will result in high anxiety levels.
So to the people who read my post please give POSITIVE thinking a try.
Within a month you will see definate improvements and believe me your life will change for the better, the brain will no longer function in ‘negative’ mode.
Everytime you think of 1 negative thought/image change it with 5 positive ones of yourself.
This is the only solution to cure Anxiety you do not need to buy any pills!
This is not a bodily ilness/problem but one that can be fixed by using positive mental power.
Dr Jazz
Hey i’ve been suffering from anxiety since i was 14(now 18), i could no longer go out because i’d feel dizzy, see lights and go into a huge panic attack. I’d try to take my mind off it by looking around shops but it didn’t work eventually i’d end up with the jelly legs feeling totally helpless. Taking medication only made me worry more. Only things that seems to calm my anxiety is online gaming+alcohol
Hi all,
Also extremely glad that I found this thread. Some people suffering with the same thing. Im actually seeing a doctor this afternoon.
My last episode, on the weekend resulted in me waking up in bed not remebering almost the entire evening before.
I find myself to be an extremely anxious/paradoid/worried/depressed person at the best of times, and when I go out, after having a few drinks, I become my old self, the one that I know. Have a great time. And then wake up with the above symptoms times ten. Just wanting to sleep and not see the light of day, worried as to who may have seen me, what I may have done. If im in trouble with the law. Are people looking for me. Are people laughing at me.
I call the guys that I was out with to find out what happened, and im worried, just to be told that dont worry man, we all had a jol.
Because I cant remember, I cant believe them and will actually persist in asking people what could have possibly gone wrong, or what I did, surely this guilt cant be for nothing.
I am currently on contract in another country than my girlfirend, and although she knows I suffer and suffer on a higher level after been out, she is very understanding. I cant understand why, I love her but have huge amounts of guilt, What if I cheated or tried to cheat or etc etc. I will never know if i did or didnt, and will worry for the rest of my life. And feel quilty. Did I get into any fights, be horrible with anyone. Jeez I could go on forever. I know I wouldnt do these things sober and to think i may have whilst out drinking kills me.
Obviosuly Alcohol exaggerates the symptoms, but when out having a few beers I do feel better. I dont feel that im an alcoholic, although drinking to feel better is not an option. Need to try treat the anxiety, and if drinking will still cause this problem If a feel even okay sober, then the drinking will stop.
Would rather live a life without alcohol, than sit worrying, anxious, and guilty for the rest of it.
Just hoping to find a way to recover this time, treat it, and be gone with it.
Good luck everyone.
Anxiety and depression is one hell of a nasty disease. even if you have everything but if you have clinical depression, you are still nothing.~:,
I writing this is a middle of a crisis. I have been an anxiety sufferer for as long as I can remember. At times im overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, depression, fear and guilt. I find alcohol a reprive but sometimes I take it to far and the feelings im left with after a night out are devestating. For years I have been taking Lexapro the antidepressant. Lately I have switched to Lustral. The combination with alcohol in recently weeks has really screwed me up. My Girlfriend of eight years left to go abroard for a year and I have hit the bottle bad. On nights out my behaviour is more and more risky.Picking fights and waking up with things that dont belong to me, clothes, alcohol, ashtrays out of bars. This is completly against my character. I wouldnt harm a fly. The guilt and paranoia im left with after a weekend on the beer is overwhelming. Im trying to combat this with sleeping tablets and valium but im sleeping all day and when im awake I can’t eat and im in a permanent state of worry. I feel like im falling head first. I feel old. Im 34 this month.
i have just spent the last couple of hours looking into drink related anxiety. I get it bad, after a very heavy all dayer with my girl friends on sunday i spent most of yesterday not being able to move off the settee and to worried to step outside my front door, the reason i cant remember getting home, i go out every other weekend and drink i go into town have a great time with my friends, but more increasingly spend the next few days after with palpations and stress that everyone hates me i must of upset someone said something wrong became really loud and very annoying, i dont know where all that comes from as my friends tell me that this so isnt the case, sunday in particular was bad as i cannot remember getting home, i have obviously fallen over as i am covered in bruises, i left my friends and they made sure i got in a taxi they say i seemed absolutley fine but i cant remember anything about it, i convinced myself yesterday that terrible things had happened to me, i have been able to piece timings together i think altho still not sure, i left the girls at 10 and was definatly home by 10.20 as i must have attempted to call a take away as when i did 1471 on my phone they were the last ppl to call back, but i have no recollection of this whaat so ever and its really freaked me out, i am glad that im not crazy and other ppl suffer with this in the same way, but after the umptenth time i actually feel scared and i am never doing that again, im nearly 34 years of age and a mum what a stupid thing to do. anyway just felt i needed to add these comments and to be honest i feel a little better now, i binge drink i dont think that qualifies me as having a problem with drink, im not sure but i do know that feeling this way is not good. i have a huge group of friends around me who all do the same but never ever feel the way i do and think im daft for getting so upset but on the same token although i have been friends with these girls for years they always tell me how boring i am when i go out and dont drink and i do feel sometimes that i am the life and soul of the party as i like being centre of atention at the time and entertain everyone and make sure that everyone is ok and enjoying themselves, anyway thats enough from me, but i hope by explaining a little how i feel may help others to realise that they are not mad its just alchol has different effects on different ppl and it obviously isnt good for me,
Hi Toni,
Sounds like you are a similar character to myself!
Experience has told me to listen to your body and remember how bad you’ll feel the next day. It’s all about reducing your intake – whether that’s having singles instead of doubles, shandies instead of pints or whatever…
you sound exactly like me.
the better time i have the more remorse and guilt and anxiety i suffer sometimes for up to a week after. i had to go to the doctor for some sedatives this week as i got myself in to a right state wondering what folk thought of me and the paranoia of if i’d be fine for work in a few days . the best thing to try to remember is that you are not that important in others views but it doesn’t work with my self although thats what i say to others .
this is gonna sound very strange but reading all of ur problems has made me feel so much better knowing that im not on my own with this! i have been drinkin for 10 yrs now and have really bad anxiety for the same amount of time, i drink everyday and have done for the 10 yrs, im 28 and already feel really old. ive nearly lost everything good in my life so 2day is the day when its gotta stop, been on my comp for 2 hours looking at self help stuff for alcohol addiction and anxiety and am amazed how good i feel about trying to do this! have a doctors appointment 2mrw and mite mention the 5htp’s someone was talking about? what are they, are they like beater blockers? been on them b4 on the past and found them very helpful. good luck everybody, WE CAN GET OVER THIS! keep u updated on my progress.
Hi there. I’ve just stumbled on this board and can’t believe how much better I feel already as I can relate to lots of the content!! I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the message I am about to post and I do apologise for the length of it, I just need to give a background…….
A couple of years ago, I went on holiday to Spain, got a horrendous chest infection but the symptoms eased considerably when I drank alcohol (like you do, for medicinal purposes!!) as it seemed to soothe my throat/chest. I drank a fair bit on this holiday, plus it was all inclusive so I definitely had way over my limits! Anyway, soon after it was Christmas and I drank more than normal, then I went through a stressful period at work (job can be very stressful some days) and I fell into the habit of having a couple of glasses of red wine most nights. This then turned into every night and pretty soon I realised that I was having way too many alcohol units in a week and it would definitely do me harm in the long run.
I was VERY rarely drunk on these occasions, I never craved a drink it was simply a habit I had fallen in to.
Anyway, I decided just not to have anything alcoholic at all to drink. No problems, it was an easy decision and I was happy. However, after a few days I began having palpitations and had the most horrendous chest pressure. I really thought I was having a heart attack one night! I saw my GP and after telling him all the above, (and after he’d listened to my heart, done an ECG, and taken bloods……all normal….) he vaguely mumbled something about withdrawal symptoms.
I’d never even considered this so started looking it up. I suffer only from a FEW palpitations and to be honest they are getting rarer now I’ve discovered that chocolate and coffee also trigger them, so I avoid both as much as possible now. I have no other symptoms of withdrawal, I don’t crave alcohol, I’ve gone 6 weeks or more without any alcohol and it hasn’t bothered me a bit….but I STILL get this chest pressure from time to time which drives me crazy. It feels like someone is sitting on my chest some days and others it just feels a little tight or like there is a bubble of air in the centre of my chest and I have to keep burping to relieve it. This is usually coupled with aches in my shoulders and back. But then, some days I don’t get those feelings at all and it can feel perfectly fine for days or even weeks……then it comes back. It isn’t during stressful or busy periods either, it’s just out of the blue!
I KNOW that if I went back to my old habits of drinking daily again, I wouldn’t get this pressure, I know because I tried the theory a few months back!!! What I’m saying is that alcohol seems to stop me getting this chest pressure.
That leads me to think it IS like a withdrawal effect….or is it anxiety???!! Finding this board is making me think it’s anxiety, your stories are ringing similar to mine!!
I don’t want to drink daily, that was a thing that I did for just over a year, then I realised one day that is was WAY too much and it was simply a very bad habit.
Just to end, I’m female, 39, live in the UK, don’t smoke and never have, don’t do drugs, I AM a bit overweight, my cholesterol level was bordering high when it was taken so now I’m going down the sensible eating route and it’s coming down. As I said, my blood tests and ECG came back ok (that was a year ago though) and my blood pressure is normal (not even high normal!) and my resting pulse rate is generally around 80 on average (high would be about 98 for me) I have my own blood pressure monitor and it’s always stable although sometimes it feels like my heart is racing and I can feel it almost in my throat. There’s no history of heart problems in my family either.
Is something that anyone can relate to??? Quite simply, I’m sure that if I’d have carried on drinking as I was, I wouldn’t be typing this now as I wouldn’t have the symptoms!!
I’m very confused and would love someone to share their opinions!!
Thank you SO much!!!!
i would say that it probably is anxiety, anxiety comes in many different ways to different ppl. why not try consulting the doc about it again and asking him about the anxiety theory?? good luck
Just thought I’d drop back in.
I’m actually doing much better now – the anxiety and paranoia have subsided massively. I’ve started taking 5htp tablets – I recommend them to anyone!
On the alcohol front, I still feel dreadful the next day, even if I know 100% that I’ve been well behaved. I’ve only had 1 bad alcohol experience since I last posted in October – 1 too many for me though. I’m finding I can deal with things much better now and not let problems grow in my head.
I’m still finding my way though. Best of luck to everyone!
hi carl did you have any side effects from the 5htp tablets and what strength were you taking
been suffering from alcohol props for a while now and have come to conclusion that the drinking with me is just a sympton . use it as self medication to overcome anxiety and stress situations in my life . so anything that releives these feelings are worth a try and your recomendations sound promising.
Brian
Hi Brian,
No side effects whatsoever. They just give me a boost. I can’t say they’ll work for everyone but I definitely feel calmer after taking them.
Here’s the company I use – the link explains what they do better than I can:
http://www.healthspan.co.uk/mood/happy-days-5-htp-tablets/ProductDetail-p211-c115.aspx?_s_ref=G56w5QP4S&kw=%5B5htp%5D&creative=4118214142&gclid=CJmHhf_2hqECFQRd4wodOAwVAA
I should add that I’ve also spent some time reading self help books (Paul McKenna is a good starting point), exercising and generally taking time to try and work things out in my head. I try to limit my alcohol and at least remember getting home of an evening. I have the odd set back but try not to dwell on it as much as I used too.
I think I used alcohol to give me a confidence boost. So it makes sense that being more confident naturally should reduce the need for booze!
I still enjoy a few drinks, I just can’t allow myself to get steaming drunk!
Good luck. Please let us know how you’re doing.
this website is great,1 of the things that makes me so paranoid the day after drinking is the thought that i am going crazy,the fact that i can relate to every post on here comforts me cos i know now im not alone & not going crazy!
hello to every1 this site is great. its nice to here there are people with the same condition as me, i to have very bad anxiety the next day after drinking iam currently on beta blockers off my doctor ,do any of you get like little bursts of addrenaline rushes throughout the day when feeling like there anxiety is realy bad. iam 26 and had it since i was 18 ive been trapped in my house for 8 years as fearful of the outside world also when i have gone outside my head feels in a spin and i feel very confused i feel like iam on a different planet. been to to the sychotherapist and it nevar worked also the bad thing about anxiety is when we do get rid ov it ,it can come back wich isnt very comforting has any1 got rid of it for long then its came back ?
jj
my birthday today im on this so u guys will know how i feel
i wrote comments on this a month ago not had results never turned up arguments between me n my girlfriend not doing tht good been drinking she has left me on my 25th birthday drink fur yeee
not worth it
i am f**ked
lost my girlfriend and my life
Hello all.
This web sight makes me feel like I am not alone in my struggles with alcohol induced anxiety. I am a 35 year-old male and will be graduating with an associate degree in business this Dec. (I say this because this disorder seems to not care who it attacks) I recently quit a job because I felt that my co-workers were out to get me, I now know that it was probably just the anxiety. I work out every day so I can become an officer in the Army, but even with running a mile and a half every day I still feel the need to get drunk about 3-5 times a week. I am trying to curb my drinking and grow the hell up so my wife will not think I am a looser. I hide my drinking from her, she is only aware of about 25% of what I actually drink.
Thanks to this sight I am now aware of the connection that alcohol has with anxiety. I think that Steve Clark (the original guitarist for Def Leppord) had this distorter. He was an amazing guitar player, but he would try to break his hands so he didn’t have to play, eventually he drank himself to death.
I will add more latter (sorry my post is not very organized it was just some things that are on my mind right now) thanks for letting me communicate this!
Hi,
I have a problem as well with anxiety and alcohol. I would go at it hard on a sat night and wake up depressed and worried about everything. I have questioned whether it is actually worth it anymore and i know that it is nt but what else would i do.
I was out on the piss last night and feel hungover and anxious today. I’m 43 and have had these symptoms since my early twenties. It all started when I split with a girl who I had been with for three years I was broken hearted. Life moves on I have a great partner and three kids and a busy job. My anxiety has never left me but I do cope better and have recognised things that make it worse. Alcohol is the worst thing ever for my anxiety but I still drink the bloody stuff. All my friends don’t have these symptoms just me. Give yourself some praise that you’ve stopped the heavy drinking its the first step to getting better,well done. All the very best for 2012.
Anxiety attack can be lessened by learning relaxation techniques like those used in meditation. some food supplements like 5-HTP helps in easing the symptoms of anxiety attack
Hi folks just found this website i have suffered from anxiety since i was about 13 i think due to mental and physical abuse at home i am now 24 i started drinking from the age of 15 gradually found myself drinking more and more losing friends along the way as i get older.alcohol is like superman juice without it i wouldnt say boo to a fly but with it i think i can fight the world been battered around and got in troulble alot with the police
unfortunatly for me 3 nights ago i had to phone an ambulance 4 myself because i coudnt stop being sick from the night before i had been coughing up blood 4 months and shiting blood but this time i couldnt stop they took blood tests and told me my liver had taken serious damage if i carry on i be dead in within 10 years im only 24 and shiting myself now i have to go for more tests in 1 week 4 cameras n stuff down my throat its the wake up call ive needed hopefully ill be ok by this discovery this will be my first time tackeling my depression and anxiety without alcohol doctors always been telling me i ll never get better if im drinking so this time i ll try.i should tell yous that i am a binge drinker normally 3 days a week o drinkin u dont need to drink every day 4 it to get u i hope you read this and if this hasent already happened to u u realise tht drink aint your friend its your enemy holding u back from opportunitys in life i will post a note on thursday about my tests n stuff and will keep on updating yous on how my battle with anxietys going without drink
good luck
dj.norzie@googlemail.com
Hi,
John N – I read your story and thought how its so true, you don’t have to drink every day for it to damage you beyond repair. I drink 2-3 days a week and drink so much I can’t stop throwing up, obviously alcohol poisoning. I’m on day 3 of my 7 day sobriety challenge and hope to carry it on ibndefinately as I don’t want to die young or become really sick.
Lou – I read what you said about the bubble in your chest. I get this when I’m anxious and feel like I’m swallowing air and have to burp to relieve it. My husband goes mad with me burping but if I don’t I feel my chest will explode. I think mine is definately related to my anxiety.
Toni – you sound eactly like me. A mum who thinks she should no better but keeps up this cycle of binge drinking, blanking out and the spending the next few days with palpatations wondering if I upset anyone or said anything stupid and that everyone hates me. I’m glad I’m not alone and it makes me see its just the drink.
Kelly – yourt story also resonated with me. I went out on Friday, drank a bottle and a half of wine, missed my train home, spent another £25 on a taxi, then realised I’ve lost my purse with two checques for £70 in which were wedding presents. Too scared to tell my husband and ashamed of myself.
As I say I’m doing a 7 day sobriety on day 3 now. Wish me luck
i understand no person should have to suffer like this keep your heart up and i will pray for you to get better we are a very unforgiving nation who do not realize drinking is an illness i suffer so bad myself you are not alone chating here keeps me sane i so want to stop drinking my mum would die if she knew but if i can stop she will not need to why are drinkers treated like vile people we all did it because we have unsolveable problems we all want to live happy lives but the stesses of life debt and partner problems take some of us down a long lonely road try to look and think what in the past has made you happy do the best to create this i know it may be hard with little money i had to give up my job but god feeds the birds and they dont earn a penny if you ask him for help he will answer good luck
Just an update – I told my best friend my situation about suffering from anxiety and being paranoid about what people think about me. He was very supportive and assured me that no-one thinks bad of me, although he did admit that it’s not healthy that I get blind drunk every now and then. This has given me a boost and for the first time in ages my mind wasn’t wandering during the week and thinking up ridiculous scenarios.
The next step for me is to be stronger and watch my alcohol intake. Then after that I hope to conquer the anxiety and paranoia! Unfortunately, I was out boozing the past friday. Luckily, I was half sensible and didn’t have a black out – still felt the blues on saturday though.
Guys, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement and wish you all the best.
The mind is a complex thing!
Its good to hear that people feel the same way as i do. My paranoia and anxiety the day after drinking is terrible. Worrying about what you have said or done the night before. Drinking way too much and blacking out. Waking up after only a couple of hours sleep and worrying yourself sick. Always seeing the worst in every situation.
Probably every sticky situation or times when i have made a proper idiot of myself has been down too alcohol. I’m thinking now that it just isn’t worth it. Ive been pretty much a weekend binge drinker since i was 18. I’m 31 now and although i wouldn’t say i have a drink problem i have started to notice the need for a stiffener in the morning sometimes plus not being able to go out for a couple of drinks without wanting more and more. Added to the fact my dad is an alcoholic(although dry for over 20 years) i think its time for me to stop before i get into trouble.
Carl, its sounds like you are on the right path. my advise to you since i have been there too is not to worry about what people think of you in the past show them ypu are a changed person and you will find out who are your real friends. Your real friends will help you and be there for you when needed. As for the other people don’t worry about them only you know who you are inside and if you are trying to be a better person then better people will be around you. good luck.
I also suffer from anxiety and I stopped drinking for a few months and felt a lot better in fact the last few weeks I have had no symtoms of anxiety. i thought I was out of the woods but I went our drinking this past weekend and now i am feeling edgy agian. I know now that acohol is not the answer only the enemy. it will now take me a few day to get back to myself. but I know I will get better agian. and alcohol is not an option for me anymore. Its is hard since I always like to hang out and have a few(to many) I hope this helps someone and know that we are are own worst enemy and our own best friend. God bless and hope al is well with everyone
I probably should have added that I constantly worry about what friends/people that I used to go drinking with,who have seen me in a bad way, think of me now.
When this happens I get a feeling of dread and feel pretty quesy. I’d love to get this under control. I’ve been reading books on self confidence, which help but this appears to me to be a slightly different issue.
I always imagine the scenario’s to be the worst case, and for the people involved to be disgusted by my behaviour. I know I’m exaggerating the situation but I really can’t help it. I’d describe it as a snow ball getting bigger and heavier with every passing month.
Only one friend has ever commented on my drinking )although a good few have slagged me off for being too drunk before) and I guess my paronia stems from that. That happened over 18months ago and although it has left me paroniod, it got me to look at my behaviour and improve my life.
Cheers!
Hey guys,
I also suffer from severe paronia after a heavy night on alcohol.
My hangovers have always been ‘worse’ than what most people seem to suffer but recently it is the mental aspect that has got me down.
I used to be a really bad binge drinker. This would consist of going out, getting hammered with my mates and then waking up the next morning wondering how I got home. At the time I didn’t think anything of it, as everyone around me seemed to be in the same boat. However, recently (after a couple of bad incidents last year) I’ve realised my drinking was out of control and I must have looked like an idiot to everyone who witnessed me in my drunken state.
I’d say my drinking is under control now – I have no desire to get steaming drunk anymore – however I can’t stop worrying about past experiences. This covers daft/stupid things I’ve said to people, to drunkenly (and annoyingly) trying to chat up women. I once also ended up in hospital after tripping up and banging my head! Luckily, I never get violent, although I was attacked once for saying something unappropriate (it didn’t merit being assaulted but could have been avoided).
In reality I know I’m a nice guy, but the anxiety and paronia is making me feel like a bad guy and it’s getting worse! Can anyone offer advice as to how I can forget about my past drunk experiences?
I’m 25 at the moment and recently came out of University, where heavy drinking was fairly common.
I accept I’ve been stupid in the past but really want to draw a line now and get on with my life!
Kind regards
Carl
I am so grateful to have found this website!
First, Kayleigh, I sincerely hope you have found the help you need, someone to talk to and help you through your pain right now. As for me, benzos (e.g., valium or xanax–the fastest) can definitely stop those excruciating feelings of anxiety and panic. Unfortunately, like all quick fixes, benzos become addictive too, and coming off of them suddenly can bring all the anxiety back even worse. Plus they make me too drowsy to function well. I just want to sleep. But at least they don’t destroy one’s body organs like alcohol can.
Matt W and Phil G, I identify with your stories very much. I have suffered from bouts of painful anxiety since I was very young (I think from my being raised by an abusive psychotic alcoholic), long before I started alcohol. I didn’t really get into drinking heavily until I was 28, when I was “outted” as gay and disowned by my family…and was suddenly all alone and stayed extremely anxious about everything all the time. The relief and the pleasure of alcohol was instantaneous way back then. But as so many of you have said, the anxiety the day after drinking was FAR worse, with added headache, nausea, fatigue, social phobia, on top of it!
But it gets you into the vicious cycle. Instead of working on where the anxiety is coming from or on how to deal with it, you just keep drowning it with booze. And it just keeps coming back up worse than before. And you drown it again, and you get sicker and sicker.
I had severe anxiety yesterday but had so many things that needed to be done. “One little drink will help me get through this,” I told myself…so wrong! I ended up drinking so much without even thinking that I got puking sick last night and today has been pure hell. I still feel like crap more than 24 hours later. But strangely, I’m actually happy I got so sick because it convinces me that I want to stop this totally useless and increasingly destructive way of “coping”–now!
I’m signing up for online counselling here as soon as I know my schedule for the next few weeks. I’ve tried everything else.
Thanks to everyone. Reading all your comments and stories really helps. Let’s keep talking.
Byron
Kayleigh, hope your better. See your doc for some valluim. They take the edge of all of that. I drink about 8 pints during the day and usually a bottle of red with my food at night. Weekends i drink about 18 pints. just need to cut down. Was feeling terible yesterday after my birthday weekend. Just lay on the sofa all day feeling terrible! Yesterday never had a drink. had trouble sleeping even though i did a valluim in the day to cope with my anxeity. Feel a bit better today. I have had a drink every day for 4 years apart from yesterday. You just need to be head strong. i’m gonna try and not drink during the day now. or maybe just 1 at night. Take care. Robbo
Kayleigh – Follow this link for the Samaritans
hi im feeling really low had a really heavy drinking session and said some really horrible things I actually feel suicidal right now! I go through this a lot! I think I have lost my job as I can’t face anyone I keep having panic attacks can someone help me please
Wow. Richard (23rd FEb 2009). You could have written that submission for me.
I too keep fit and go to the gym 3 times a week. I eat healthy and I drink very little during the week, maybe one beer while cooking my food, but come the weekend I drink way too much. Every Friday I tell myself I’m going to go out for three or four beers and then home early with a takeaway, but every Friday I roll home drunk at midnight and often more of the same on Saturday.
On Sunday I’m just kind of generally low and depressed and can’t stop ruminating constantly about everything that’s wrong, but I don’t have to function mentally. I always sleep badly on Sunday and come Monday I have a responsible job and need to be able to function but instead I’m really tense and my brain is soggy and slow and I find it such an uncomfortable ordeal dealing with people.
I get away with it because I do just enough on the other days to make up for it and though I’ve never taken time off, I now avoid at all costs arranging a meeting or anything requiring mental agility on a Monday. I hate this feeling and I’m not dependent upon alcohol but I’ve tried staying in on a Friday, and I get bored and lonely and miss the jovial social interaction of the local pub. Problem is with me it seems to be all or nothing, no half measures.
hey guys, its realy comforting to know that im NOT the only one that feels like this! after a heavy night on the drink the next day i feel awfull, i feel as if i cant breath (it actualy feels like im breathing underwater???) and i suffer from depersonalisatoin (its as if my arms arent part of my body?) weird…. ive suffered like this for a long time now and today im suffering with it badly, i was out lastnight and wasextremely drunk, when i woke up i was fine, no headache or sickness etc but i never suffer from hangovers anyway, then after about an hour the much feard panicky anxious feelings started to creep up on me, i felt like i couldnt breathe but deep down i knew i could, every slight pain or muscle spasm i have panicks me and i actualy feel like im gonna drop down dead! it awfull but after reading these replies and realising im not the only one and it is “just” anxiety im feeling much better, THANKS GUYS!!
I Know how you all feel, last week i had my first anxiety attack on a sat night. (Im 29) Unbelievable right?! It was just myself and my friend drinking at a pub, all of a sudden i got this chill that ran through my body, my mind felt like it shifted abit and i experienced a sensation of panic and fear but cause I was drunk i thought the drink was just messing with my head so i carried on drinking as usual then went home as usual.
The next day sunday morning, I felt this unbelieable sense of anxiety and depression, i couldnt eat, was feeling really down, didnt want to talk to people even on the phone, I just layed there helpless just wondering what the hell was going on?? and why i’m feeling like this.
For some reason I was panicking about being gay?! my friend that i was with the night before is gay and i think this must of left a stigma or some sort of image in my brain somehow of being homsexual? weird, not only that i began to get really irratable with people that were trying to speak to me that sunday and i felt lost.
I’ve been out with my friend many times (and i’ve known him since we were kids) and felt nothing like this before and with plenty of reading on the net it seemed i’ve developed this sort of anxiety called Obessive compulsive disorder, which is based on the situations/subject that has happened recently, ie drinking with my friend who is gay. This has left me with unwanted thoughts in my mind about homosexuals and at time I wonder if it will ever go away. I’m not gay but the situation where I had my anxiety attack sort of left an imprint on my mind only because I was with my gay mate.
Throughout the week I went to work as usual, Monday was bad. Still depressed from the day before I lack in energy and had mass confusion about the whole situation. But what did happen was the anxiety attacks and depression gradually faded during the week and by friday I was certainly 90% back to normal. (apart from a few glitches of unwanted thoughts but i didnt let it bother me)
It wasnt till sat night again when i went to a party and had a heavy drink session, the night was normal as usual, was with a big crowd and everything seemed fine. The next day I felt the same symptoms again as last week but not as heavy as it was before. My anxiety feelings were hightened the moment i woke up at about 5am to get a glass of water, when i actuality got up at about 10 ish I am now beginning to wonder if this is alcohol related, or why hasn’t this happened in the past? or just a phase i’m going through?
Hey folks,
I reconise all of the above symptoms and know how dark and lonely and awful those through the night ‘fears’ are. Waking up, withdrawing and worrying until living seems like a nightmare.
8 years agoo, I was at my worst mentally and not co-incidently was at my worst in terms oof alcohol abuse. I gave up drinking as i had no choice. It was life or death and I have 2 amazing daughters. I was so far gone that I don;t remember much about it but my friends stayed with me and moved in and supported me. After a short period of sobriety I started feeling better and that multiplied agan and again and today, I realise I am a worthwhile person and have everything to live for.
I recently broke up with my partner and slipped up. I thought I could drink alcohol given it had been such a long time since I had been addicted. The mind can be your worst enemy. The panic attacks and deep anxiety were back – with interest and the shakes, avoidance, feeling lousy etc etc etc were all there and at work, where I had really turned things around, I found myself wanting to go home and hide.
There is no doubt that the only course is zero tolerance. Please, please, give it a try. It is hard but the best things in life don;t come easy and we have all spent years setting up our neurological pathways to expect the worst and often realise self fulfilling prophecies.
I know for certain that my anxiety was due to my abusive father and a troubled upbringing surrounded by alcohol and alcoholics.
Until you get clean, delve into what is making you hate yourself and ultimately understand why you are committing a lingering suicide, all the meds and counselling in the world will only give you temporary respite.
I am sobre again and not yet back to normal. I had a sweating attack in front of my boss only this week and I was mortified. It helped me see that alcohol is our worst enemy disguised as our friend.
I have written this in the hope that my experience can help you.
Stop drinking alcohol people. It is honestly a new and different, enjoyable and normal life. Don’t look back when you are 60 and regret wasting this opportunity.
I’m sitting here wantiing a beer but knowing it’s gonna do me no good. I’ve suffered with anxiety for 10 years I’m 26 and never had a proper girlfriend because I cannot function socially without being drunk,I just go to bits and start sweating like you wouldn’t believe witch then makes people ask if im alright witch makes it worse. I get so pissed off with myself because I turn down dates with hot women because of the fear. I’m of 2 Ibiza in 2 weeks and have to fly alone witch I am absolutly dreading, hoping that knocking the alcohol on the head till then will make it bareable. Does anyone know if it will help because I can’t remember the last time I went 3days without a drink? Really pleased I found this post.
It is good to see that im not alone.Im sitting on a sunday afternoon suffering the tight chest,believing i could drop dead,the mental torture.I had a heavy session yesterday and these are hughly magnified today.I have been suffering from anxiety for several years now and for the past 3 years i have suffered badly after a drinking session.I do drink alot,sometimes up to 4 nights a week so am in a really bad cycle and believe the depression is worse because of this.It can be such a lonely place.My family are very supportive but its hard for them as they probably struggle to understand what its like to suffer from this.I sometimes struggle to understand whats wrong with me.
Should have been out buying new furniture today but lasted half an hour and my wife had to drive me home and go and buy it herself.I thought i was going to have a heart attack inthe store,my chest tightened up and i couldnt concentrate on anything.I just new i couldnt be there anymore and had to get home.I feel like i let her down by drinking yesterday when i knew what would happen today as im like this every day after a drink.Im sure she really feels let down and probably alone too as i cant be there for her.I want to stop drinking to see if i feel better but it would take a month for that to start happening and i never get that far.Drink is the only thing that takes away the edge. Maybe i owe it to my family and to myself to give it a serious go.
I was first amazed when other people knew how I felt when I had anxiety. Now reading that others feel the same way I do after drinking, blows me away. I havent had my usual six pack after work for the last 7 days and actually feel like a real person when Im at work. I still have some body syptoms but as soon as I decide to not let them take over my mind, they subside. I know I bring on the negative thoughts and guilt because my mind is weak from the alcohol therefore I can through 5 to 6 working hours of wondering if I’m going to pass out or just die all the while hiding my feelings from the people around me. By the end of the day I’m exhausted from all the adrenaline I’ve used up. well I wish everyone luck. Lots of long walks and hot showers have helped me get through this week and I even slept a lot better without the alcohol. I hope I can survive another weekend!!! all I know a peace of mind on monday beats a few drinks anyday!
Jennifer thanks for your very helpful email. I just wondered how things have gone – are you still not drinking?
Every Monday I find myself driving to work telling myself that all the binge drinking and money spent is totally not worth the way I feel. Yet by Thursday evening I gradually start to drink myself into the weekend by starting with a six pack. I’d love to say that I’m not self medicating myself, but I know that I am. Come Monday I’m paying for it again. I too have almost lost my job do to attendence by needing the Monday off to recoop, I don’t even want to leave the house. I just can’t function properly. It’s going on a little over 10 yrs. now that I’ve been dealing with this and I’m 30 now. My biggest fear is turning into an alcholic. My girlfriend and I just recently had a baby boy and I have to be there for them…
I talked to my doctor and he recently put me on a prescription drug called Buspar, which does not conflict with alcohol if you decide to have a couple drinks. It seems to be helping me some when it comes to the way I feel the next day after drinking and also helps me through the week when I’m not drinking. On Sunday’s I used to crack open a beer before noon to feel better. Now if I feel the need to I take a Xanax which was also perscribed to me for those just incase moments when you know the attack is coming, which I’m sure you all know that moment when it’s out of your hands and you feel helpless. Meds are not for everyone and you should definitely not take anything unless perscribed, but they have helped me cope some. But yet I still seem to not be able to break that weekend cycle. I’m just happy to know I am not alone. It also feels good to share a little bit of my problems with others that understand. I just sometimes find myself envious of those that have none of these problems and don not understand how I do. If I could switch shoes with them for a day, they would be begging to switch back. And I agree with Phil G, we should definitely keep this going for all the others out there that feel alone and may stumble upon this thread as I did…
I have suffered with anxiety for at least 10 years now and have used alcohol to take the edge off (although in fairly modest amounts) particularly at weekends.The result now is that after a saturday night session I am shot to pieces on a sunday, and drink again to reduce the anxiety to manageable levels. This means that Monday is an absolute nightmare of fear, guilt, anxiety and depression – that tapers off until wednesday or thursday when I feel fine again.
I have now stopped drinking again (for the umpteenth time) and am sat here on a saturday evening with unbelivable cravings for a drink and twinges of anxiety that I know would be instantly settled by a cold beer or two. I am trying to tell myself that I will feel so much better tomorrow and that monday will not be the misery that is always is but its so hard!! I have got away with my lack of productivity at work during the beginning part of the week for years, but now it starting to tell and I just feel like I am cheating myself out of living a full and even-keel lifestyle.
I have also found that as the years have gone by ( late 40s now) it only takes a couple of beers or half a bottle of wine to trigger the next-day paranoia. The only anwer for me is to quit completely, last time I quit for four months and by the end of the period my anxiety was at least at a manageable level although not completely eliminated. When you look deeper into why we drink to manage our anxiety levels it opens up a whole host of issues that go right to the core of who we are and what causes us to feel the way we do – maybe that’s the starting point rather than the instant-fix of a drink coupled with the horrific aftermath.
Hi all,
Just stumbled on this article typing in ‘alcohol & anxiety’ to Google like Jay did. It’s a great relief to find several other people with the same problem. I’ve had anxiety and an entrenched drink problem since about aged 19 (I’m 36 now), and have never felt anyone else understood the anxiety element driving the drinking. It’s a very lonely situation, and is eroding my self-esteem. …I used to be an anxious heavy drinker but quite optimistic. Now the optimism has been chipped away.
The combination of anxiety and drink has wreaked havoc with my working life, losing me temp jobs in my twenties, and almost losing me my last proper ‘career’ job. My current employer is supportive, and via HR I’ve been to various couselling – Occupational therapy, drug /alcohol abuse counselling and even paid for a psychiatrist for a while. While every piece of advice they’ve provided has been sound, it hasn’t helped me to break any cycles because in my ingrained routine of drinking, hangover and anxiety, opening a bottle of wine in the evening is my only respite from edginess. Yet it obviously contributes hugely to the problem. And tolerance increases of course.
Last November I went into hospital to detox for a week – it was so stupid and embarrassing! But when I came out, the moment I stepped out the door I felt lost and worried again.
To my understanding, I must just be a very anxious person – like a permanent baseline of anxiety – which leaps up to unmanageable levels after heavy drinking. I hate driving to work if I’ve drunk the night before (I always check I’m not over the limit) as my nerves are wired, my clutch-control appalling. But I do wonder if the years of alcohol-abuse aren’t actually increasing my nervousness permanently.
A couple of you mentioned heavy drinking on a Saturday night. I reckon a Saturday night out has got to be the worst time not to be drunk, as everyone else is drunk and venues are over-crowded. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be drunk on a Saturday night out in town, with everyone elbowing and shouting. I’m trying to avoid them.
Anyway, it was very helpful for me to read all your experiences. I feel slightly less alone and odd. Might I suggest if anyone’s still visiting this article we keep the conversation going?…
Hi there Steve. What you described above describes alot of my symptoms. Especially the breathing problems. That is the worst symptom, its a hellish feeling that is hard to describe. Only that when im laying down in bed, it feels like each breath feels like theres no oxygen. That along with the insomnia for the next 3 days after having even moderate amounts of alcohol. I drink every few days and then take Nytol or any sleeping pill i can find to try to get some sleep but its stil hell. My doctor doesnt seem to be taking me seriously as Iv had problems with anxiety in the past but not like this and with the alcohol. I’m 27 years old and this is ruining me terribly. Cannot think clearly or think very logically. Any suggestions pls ? Glad Im not the only person to feel like this. Typing this late at night, often gets a very lonely avenue.
ive been getting panic attacks/anxiety since i was 14 when things at home were’nt good and thats when it started im now 24 and i still get them on a regular basis.i feel as if i cant breath and get dizzy and numb hands and like think im weezing when i know im not.ive lost jobs and a good career through it but when i have a alcohol drink it seems to disappear.and ive become dependent on drink because it helps and found myself drinking on dinner times at work just so it goes away its made my life hell and people lose to me think i got im a alcholic but 90% time i dont want to drink its just that it gets rid o the breathing problem ive been to the doctors but they never really helped so ive changed my doctors and am now finally gun get help that i should of chased 10 years ago.
CBt helps with anxiety, even though it is time intensive. Try it. Dr. Burns, “Feeling Good’ should get you started if you are interested.
Hey Richard
I get the exact same problem, I was out drinking on Sat night, felt awful wen I woke up Sunday & like you I can not face anyone when hungover, it’s impossible to make eye contact and just wanna get home ASAP.
I’ve had anxiety problems since the age of 18ish and I’m almost 27 now but it’s just recently that alcohol is really becoming a problem. Hence why I searched anxiety & alcohol into google today & found this.
I think I will stop drinking now, which wont really bother me as I keep fit & go gym 5 times a week so will work out for the best.
Just concerned I might get labelled as boring.
I have suffered from anxiety and ‘Panic attacks’ for as long as i have been consuming alcohol.
I am relatively fit as i go gym three times a week, during which i seldomly touch alcohol. On a general day to day basis, during this non drinking period i am quite a confident person and am not afraid to socialise and communicate with with people, even strangers as it is part of my job to liase with clients. I would however find dealing with a crowd of people quite intimidating and nerve racking.
On the weekends i tend to go out on a two day binge drinking bender after which, come monday, i feel that facing the world would be intollerable not due to a hangover. I feel a real sense of fear and panic, i have the ‘shakes’, sweats, can hardly breath, and have palpatations.The though of even passing a stranger on the street would send me into a panic. Its like my confidence has just been completely stripped. I hardly get any sleep on the sunday night and these feeling can continue right through monday. I have often called in sick and even lost jobs due to this.
I know for a fact that this is alcohol induced but have spoken to friends who have consumed the same amount and have explained that they cannot relate to the feelings that i am expressing. Other people i have spoken to about this and experiance similar effects do not generally wish to analyse it to much, excepting that it is part of the parcel.
I enjoy my weekends out, but do i have to give them up? I thinks that i am unfortunate that it effect me in this manner and have to except defeat and stop the binging.
I totally agree Richard. Anxiety has been the bane of my life. I’ve just gone many years with no anxiety but as for the past few months its been hell. I cant breathe or think rationally. I am a confident person but when in the grip of anxiety i would gladly lose a limb to make it go away.
Analysing the past few months i have burnt the candle at both ends and am now reaping what i have sown. Time for a reality check.
Despair is hell but i know their is a way forward. Its about choices.
I have suffered from severe anxiety and depression for 5 years. I drink socially at the weekends and sometimes this can be quite a heavy session (sometimes not). My anxiety goes through the roof the following day however. I convince myself that I must have made a fool of myself or offended somebody else and no matter how much my wife and close friends try to convince me otherwise it can take several days to to get over it which leaves me feeling utterly exhausted and angry that I’ve lost all that time over nothing.
I agree with RickyQ. I know for a fact anxiety is connected if you have a drink problem. For me, anytime I have a heavt bout of drinking, I know I will suffer the next day…I wake feeling terrible, convinced I am about to have a heart attack any moment. I try to mentally fight the feeling but its awful, my heart beats – I feel dizzy and cant communicate with people properly..My brain feels ‘slow’ and Im terrified. I think its partly guilt because deep down you know you shouldnt be drinking. I realise people that dont drink can get anxiety but almost all heavy drinkers / alcoholics suffer some degree of anxiety. The saddest thing is that you keep going – so your life becomes one big circle of alcohol / thinking… / anxiety / and so it goes on. The only thing I know for sure, if I dont drink I NEVER get anxiety. Does anyone undersand?
It is anxiety and you really should tell your GP so that he/she may refer you to a specialist. I have given up alcohol for a long time but the anxiety is always there like it was there from the age of 13 onwards and I did not experience alcohol until I was 18. Anxiety is an awful thing and I am still not out of the woods after over 10 years of treatment. I wish you all the very best, it’s quite a nightmare.
Cheers mate thanks for replying, it’s just i start worrying what it is, or if it is some really bad, but doctors say it is anxiety because have had blood test for my throid and glucose etc so should just listen to what the doctors say. but when reading anxiety websites they say fast heartbeat etc all i fill is very nervous and edgy around chest area and not stomach area and get a tremor in my hands, its like there is to much adralnline in my body. anyway Thanks mate.
I suffer from acute bouts of anxiety after drinking heavily and I know for dure that the 2 are related. I’m 42 and in a difficult marriage and use alcohol to cope although I know I will feel really awful and panicky the next day or so. The only real cure is stopping drinking.
Hi there hope you can help, but i get anxiety but when drinking it goes but next morning i am fine because drink is in my system i think but when not drinking i start to sweat underarms really bad and fill nervous around the chest area and start belching quite abit and my legs cant stay still and in morning when first getting in work i start to get hot flushes and start to sweat. i notice when talking to someone new my sweat underarms get worse and drips. Does this sound like anxiety or is there something else because i worry alot about it.