There are basically 6 reasons why alcohol consumption and hangovers make many people anxious and I’m going tell you what they are. I want to share this with you so that you can be more informed and avoid becoming alcohol’s punching bag.
Ever since I became sick with nervous illness I’ve heard a lot of people say that anxiety sufferers should not drink alcohol because it makes you more nervous than you already are.
I’ve always found this to be ironic because there are so many anxiety sufferers that drink alcohol to cope with their anxiety, but true it is.
Now, the fact that alcohol can cause anxiety is just that, a fact. It is a scientifically based understanding, so this is not simple conjecture on my part.
Will alcohol affect all people this way? Probably not, but as an anxiety sufferer you should be aware of the possible pitfalls of alcohol consumption, so pay close attention.
Scientists believe that alcohol causes or at least increases anxiety in 6 basic ways and here they are.
1. Mood
Alcohol can affect our mood because it can affect the level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a feel good brain chemical that when in short supply can cause feelings of anxiety and depression.
A drop in blood sugar can cause dizziness, confusion, weakness, nervousness, shaking and numbness. These symptoms can most certainly trigger a bout of anxiety.
3. Dehydration
This has been known to cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, light-headedness and muscle weakness. These symptoms wouldn’t cause anxiety per say but they add to a sense of illness which fosters anxiety.
4. Nervous System
The nervous system is affected because in order for the body to fight off the sedative effects of alcohol it puts the body into a state of hyperactivity in order to counteract this effect. This hyperactivity can lead to shaking, light/sound sensitivity and sleep deprivation.
5. Heart Rate
Your heart rate can become elevated as a result of consuming alcohol which can cause a palpitation false alarm and put you into a state of anxious anticipation. Is it a heart attack or isn’t it you might ask. This “what if” questioning can increase your general state of anxiety.
6. Concentration
A hard night of drinking can also make you hazy, bring on headaches and create a sense of disorientation.
So if you’re going to have a glass of wine with dinner I don’t think you should be concerned. On the other hand, if you’re a heavy drinker, or binge drinker, then this might cause a real problem for you.
According to The Times Online, scientists don’t know exactly why all this happens but they do suggest that you eat before drinking, drink water in between drinks, and stay in bed if you are hung over to avoid all the problems I outlined above.
Some would say that maybe you shouldn’t drink at all if you have an anxiety disorder – that’s debatable. Do you think that alcohol should be avoided at all cost when someone has an anxiety disorder?
I don’t think that alcohol should be avoided if drinking is part of your social repertoire, however, I also know that moderation and good sense should be your guide.
In addition, although alcohol does have a sedative effect it should not be used as a coping tool. This type of behavior can lead to alcoholism and worse yet, more anxiety.
So if you know that you’re a light weight, or if you already know that alcohol makes you anxious, don’t bother. Maybe I don’t need to say it, but really some people just don’t know when to say no.
Note: I want to hear your opinions. Let me know what you think about this issue – comment below.
Update
After waiting forever I finally completed a podcast for this article. Press play to listen now.
I have to say that I totally agree with this. I have had this problem many, many times. Get drunk and hours later i’ll tend to feel a bit edgey. When drunk it can have this effect too – particuarly with regards to the increased heart rate.
I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have had to quit drinking because I’m the type of person that usually can’t just have one drink. I have noticed a pattern in my life which is every time I have a big night or weekend of drinking it is usually followed by overwhelming feelings of anxiety and depression. I then would in turn drink even more to deal with these feelings. It is a vicious cycle that can only end badly. Wether a person should not consume alcohol while suffering from an anxiety disorder really just needs to be evaluated by that specific person. Take a long stint off drinking and see how you feel…… what do you have to lose?
Hey Brent,
I think you nailed it right on the head. Deciding to cut back or eliminate drinking altogether is a personal decision that should be made while sober.
And I think the heavy drinking tends to be the real problem. One or two drinks is a lot different than drinking so much that you lose your balance or any other motor function for that matter.
Using good sense will ensure that you don’t lose anything and even more importantly that you don’t ADD yet another obstacle to your anxious life.
This article is on point. I quit drinking since I noticed that even 1-2 drinks a few hours before bed time will keep me up. I also think alcohol in general is a crappy drug (hangovers & too hard on the liver) and is not an effective way to deal with chronic anxiety. I noticed even after drinking 2 drinks, I will feel slightly edgy. Also alcohol will deplete B-vitamins, and in the long run, that isn’t good for anyone with an anxiety disorder.
I do agree with everyone who has posted. Alcohol does indeed make me feel anxious the morning after heavy drinking. What I find more difficult though is when I have a drink or two on two or more consecutive days. The cumulative affect of small amounts of alcohol make me feel depressed and anxious at the same time.
With this knowledge, it would make perfect sense for me not to drink at all. The thing is, I enjoy having a few drinks now and then. It’s a constant balancing act though between enjoyment and escape and I do ‘wake up’ sometimes and realize that I’ve been drinking too much or for the wrong reasons.
I have recently experienced my 1st panic attack and have been anxious ever since, The one thing that sets it off is drinking. Even just the thought of one beer gets me anxious. Its unfortunate to me because beer tasting and brewing is a passionate hobby of mine. I don’t want to give up this craft I love.
Hey Brett, sorry to hear about the panic attack. My advice would be to to learn all you can and treat it now. The faster you step in and do something the easier this will be to manage.
And believe me when I say that not drinking because of anxiety is a heart breaker. I used to love drinking beer and because of all this anxiety biz i haven’t been drunk in 10 years. Hang in there and don’t lose your passion. Just be smart and proactive.
I too love to drink,a nice cold modelo with lemon andsalt!MMM.but know i suffer from majore anxiety and panic attacks the day after.the anxiety will last days and i get so tired of filling anxiouce that i have to have anouther drink,but i cant just have 1-2 i have to drink 6-8.This cycle is so hard to deal with because filling like your about to have a heart attack is scary.Iguess this filling is the result of alcohol and its horrible witdrawls.gotta go threw it sometime.
Hello I used to drink a lot but only occasionally. 8 months ago, I had a first panic attack and I was admitted to ER thinking I’m going to die. They did chest xray, cardiac markers the whole nine yards and found nothing so they gave me ativan to relax and the doctor have told me im suffering from anxiety attack. Ever since then it really scared me to the point that I dont even wanna drink, workout, or just about anything that would trigger my heart to beat fast. Now i’m still paranoid of consuming at least one cause it scares me I might get panic attack after having one. I wish I can handle one drink without being scared.
Hi DJ, I know what you mean. Something very similar happened to me. Although now I can have a few drinks without too much trouble. Haven’t been drunk in 10 years though. And even though drinking too much is not a good thing, not being able to have a drink when you want one can be frustrating. Go slow, and over time you’ll get back to were you were. Just remember anxiety alone will not harm you.
Hows it going Paul? Thanks. I actually tried having one this halloween and I ignoring the palpitations which is normal if you consume one beer. I just hate the feeling that once you start thinking about not able to control the palpitations after consuming one. How we’re you able to start drinking without worrying about your anxiety? what did you do for you to at least handle couple?
Hi guys, great topic. I experience very bad anxiety when drunk or especially the next day when hungover. I find it hard to rationalise how I am feeling and think horrible stuff happened in the times I cant remember. I think it generally runs the nervous system down and is underated as an anxiety causer. These days I see alcohol as poison, liquid anxiety. I avoid it completely as i could become 20-30.
Hey DJ, I can’t say that I’ve gone back to my old ways but I can certainly have 2-3 drinks. A few weeks ago I even went a little overboard and had 3 shots of brandy.
Now in terms of how I got to that point has everything to do with me doing many things that make me uncomfortable. I frequently do things that I know will make me anxious because I know, at least in part, that this will help me heal my overall anxiety.
I think Justin has a point though in saying that alcohol produces anxiety, sure can. But my whole issue was getting to that anxious place and attempting to overcome it. And remember you don’t have to just drink alcohol to challenge your anxiety. It can be flying on a plane, going to a busy bar, or whatever.
For me its more about not allowing anxiety to rule my life and not so much about getting drunk. Once you see things in terms of an ‘anxiety challenge’ that is when things start to change for the better. Slowly of course.
Hi Robert,
I can relate to what you are saying there.
Can I please add that it seems that there is a popular belief in terms of a ‘ one size fits all relationship between alcohol and anxiety’. Whilst I am sure that there are people out there that are anxious about something and drink to attempt to overcome that…. What I am saying is that I actually think this chemical creates it even in people without anxiety, much the same as dope does.
How so?
Well, It decreases serotonin, which is the feel good chem that keeps us from anxiety and depression.
Also..It alters our sense of reality when we have enough of it. (There’s a situation where we may not feel in control).- not in control- anxiety.
Whilst I try to avoid drinking I agree it’s bloody hard. But it did and still does add water on the fire when I avoid it. Now that I know that that hard earnt cold beer after work could be the start of a downward spiral (agree with the acuumulative thing Rob.)
Look its not easy, but overall I think if you notice the grog makes you’re anxiety worse and you want to keep drinking when you are having problems from the booz, you’d be the equivelant of beating you’re head with the same big stick.
So if the booze makes you anxious kick it, you dont need it.
Cheers (but not in the literal sense)
This is so true. I am suffering from alchol anxeity right now. I keep slipping up and having a drink just to loosen up but the next day is hell. It causes me horrible anxeity and over all just feeling like something is wrong even when nothing is.
Stay away from alchol if you have anxeity it WILL make it worse.
Hi Kenny, if quitting altogether is getting hard at the moment, find a level of drinking whic casues none or minimal anxiety ie 4 beers create a rule and stickj to it. hope this helps.
Im with you on this one Kenny. Im stuck in a cycle of booze and anxiety and more booze to cure the anxiety. Its a messy life. I cant seem to stop drinking, but Im really living in my own anxious hell!!
I’m going through the come down/anxiety issue as we speak. I’m a huge binge drinker, and usually only drink on weekends or sometimes I’ll go through a 4 or 5 day bender of constant drinking day and night. I’ll wake up in the morning after a big night out and just start drinking again…just because its fun. But the following week afterwards is hell. I used to be able to binge like this without any anxiety feelings at all, however lately i havent been dealing well. I was out at a restaurant a couple of nights ago, hadnt had any alcohol i was just slightly hung over from the previous day’s of binging…and i had a massive panic attack for no apparent reason. I stumbled out to the car hyperventilating/freaking out..with about 20 restaurant patrons all looking at me. Not pleasant. That was 3 days ago…and i still feel anxious and edgy…when will this feeling ever go away!!??
I have been depressed/down lately so perhaps this caused the sudden onset of anxiety after a big bender.
I really need this feeling to go away…i start a new job soon (perhaps half the reason why i’m anxious) ..and i cant be feeling like this or i completely flunk it.
Hi Ell, Sorry to hear about the panic attack. Panic attacks can be awful, but when they happen in public they tend to be worse. I would say that the first thing you have to do is relax off the benders.
You have to give your body a break. Otherwise you run the risk of increasing anxiety and depression symptoms.
Second, you really should ask yourself if you have a drinking problem. Drinking heavily five days in a row is not healthy, no matter who you are.
I’m not passing judgment here either, just saying that you should really look into why you feel the need to drink so much in the first place.
To answer your last question, yes the anxiety will subside. But again that’s if you refrain from drinking for awhile.
Also, depression and stress are very much linked to anxiety. So if you were feeling down before this happened the alcohol may have triggered your anxiety, anxiety you may have built up about a number of things could have just “spilled over”.
But its done now. So as long as you put that bottle down, take a look around and make sure you don’t have a problem with alcoholism, and have a bit of patience I’m certain you’ll be just fine.
Great Ideas Eli… I just wish it was that easy. Finding the cause of the drinking for me personally seems impossible. I have NO complaints about my life – in fact Im very happy. The beers are part of my daily routine, like I dont have a choice not to drink them. Most people around me would never believe that I down a 12 pack everyday. After years of drinking and many mornings of anxiety that I can barely control without drinking more beers … I agree with Ell that if your able to quit drinking all together, your mind, body, and soul will function much better. Good luck with that.
Excessive alcohol and people with anxiety and or depression is a really bad mix. I know to well myself. About 2 years ago i over did it one night and blacked out, the next day i felt so depressed and anxious – it was horrible and lasted a few months until i felt my normal self again. After that experience i did’nt drink and felt great, with a really clear head. But recently, i overdid it again and i feel like s***. If anybody is reading this and suffers from anxiety or depression, dont drink to much, it will definetly make you feel worse.
Ionly drink a glass a 2 of wine now and then but it makes me jittery and anxious upto a week after.its taken me along time to connect alcohol with this as im such a light drinker but now i know im not having any.looking back it really had a bad effect on my life
It seemed like all of my anxiety problems started right when I quit drinking, is this possible?. I woke up one day after a week or so of binge drinking and started getting the jitters, anxiety, etc. Deciding it was a sign of likely alcoholism I stopped cold turkey, that was 2+ months ago and since I’ve been suffering from nearly every symptom of GAD. I went to the hospital got blood work, etc done and they diagnosed me with anxiety and possible depression. I’ve been seeing a shrink for around a month now and for some reason I can’t shake the feeling that I’m getting some form of psychosis.
Hi Dillon, Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Just waned to let you know that if you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety/depression then you shouldn’t worry about psychosis.
There is no evidence to suggest that anxiety/depression turn into psychosis.
Although I do understand why you think that.
If you’re having racing thoughts, constant “mental chatter” it can make you feel out of control and make your thoughts seem dangerous, but they’re not.
Follow through with the therapy and overtime you’ll see improvement.
The most important thing you can do is try your best to avoid projection and assumption about what might happen.
Deal with what is happening and you’ll make positive changes. Good luck.
Paul
I have a longstanding history with depression and anxiety, although I have to say anxiety is the major player. I’ve been taking anti-depressants off and on for 17 years and constantly for over ten years.
Over Christmas and New Year I went through hell after a couple of bouts of binge drinking, which to be honest, I was reluctant to partake in as I knew what was around the corner. On both Boxing Day (26th December in UK) and New Years day I had panic attacks, anxiety, remorse, self loathing and unpleasant thoughts. Asides from the hangover, I had to deal with the aftermath of the anxiety which is nothing short of exhausting. I took a conscious decision to knock drinking on the head, although this lasted only 8 days, I haven’t really binged since. On Saturday night though I had five bottles of beer, and got really short tempered with my wife on Sunday morning which led to a huge argument and me becoming very upset, which the booze no doubt fuelled. I’ve got a couple of big things going on in life at the moment, have been prescribed sleeping pills and am signed off sick. If I’m going to keep it together I am really going to have to keep booze at arms length, as it seems to bring a relapse at every turn.
I have been a big weekend drinker for nearly 10years now and only started suffering from a night of drinking about a year ago. Over the past year, the following day from drinking has been mostly crap. Its normally not until the late afternoon i get all flustered, and all i can do is listen to my heart pounding away whilst thinking im about to have a heart attack any minute and generally panicing about anything and everything. Im glad i’ve been able to see that im not the only one as i personally don’t know anybody who has these bouts of anxiety and friends just dont really get it. Ive made the decission to have some time off from drinking alcohol and think the idea of a 3-4 drink rule could be the answer when i decide to have a drink again.
Great to have read about some of your experiences.
Wow, I thought I was the only person who becomes deeply anxious after a night of drinking. I am glad that I ran into this page. I think we can all help one another in the form of support.
Alcohol related anxiety can be horrible. I know that for me, at its worst, alcohol related anxiety can make me feel as if something is horribly wrong, and as if I can’t show my face anywhere – e.g. be present in public, check e-mail, etc… My stomach caves in and the whole nine yards.
This is especially tough as I need to check my e-mail constantly for school work. (I’m in college).
When I quit drinking, life suddenly becomes fantastic. However, when I feel great I become more sociable and begin to think that one drink couldn’t hurt. One drink turns into two and by the time I know it, I’ve had 15. The cycle repeats itself.
I’m going to make a really tough effort to quit drinking… at least binge drinking. I wish everyone here the best in terms of their problem with alcohol. =)
Best,
Anthony
Yeah, I limit my consumption as well. I don’t drink caffiene either as this can be just as bad….but 15 beers Anthony! Wow! I don’t think I;d even be conscious!
Wow, While trying to find answers as to why sometimes i’m anxious when i drink i came about this site. I have been suffering from Panic attacks and anxiety since i was 14 years old. Seventh Grade. Now im 27, and i’m still not use to it. There was a point during high school when i did not have it anymore, and it again returned in 2002. My thing is i love to drink a few cold ones while i relax, socialize, listen to music, dance..etc. I let my fear dictate alot of asspects of my life. Everytime i travel i feel out of my confort zone which makes me anxious, i can;t fly anymore because i feel like i might have a panic attack, i cant even exercise like i use to because when my heart rate elevates it bothers me in the back of my head and i don;t even know why. ANyways i hope everyone here finds a way to cope, as i know i will since i’ve done it before, just gotta find out how this time.
Nice article. I agree that alcohol increases anxiety. I cannot drink anymore at the age of 28. I was never an alcoholic but everytime I had a drink my anxiety disorder worsened. I have GAD and Obessive thinking. I have an experience I would like to share that scared me out of drinking all together. This past Valentines Day I had 7 or 8 drinks, during the night I had so much fun and I fell asleep easily. I woke up in the middle of the night sweating thinking that my mother was going to kill me and my daughter if I went to visit her. I had to call her and tell her the trip was off. I knew she wasnt going to kill us but the thought was so scary. It took me hours to fall back asleep and when I did I slept until late morning. I awoke with a bad headache and upset with myself that I actually thought my mother would kill me or my daughter. Its real life people. I dont even drink that much in fact the last time I had 7 or 8 drinks was over 9 months ago! If I do drink its usually one or two every month. I am on 0.5mg of Klonopin to help with my anxiety and irrational fears and obsessive thinking, I also go to therapy once a week. I feel much better when I dont drink and now I cannot on the medicine. Its too bad but I’d rather have my sanity. Im not willing to trade my brain for a bottle.
Let me first say, I have read everyone of your posts and you guys are not alone. I am a male, 26 years of age and have been suffering from anxiety disorder for the past 5 years. Lately, the frequency of my panic attacks have increased. I am only a weekend drinker (Friday/Saturday Nights), but the alcohol soothes every ounce of my anxiety that these nights turn into full on binges.
I know that I have a 4 beer ceiling, which is the point at which I will be able to function the next day, but once I cross that line, the consumption of 12-18 beers and 6 am bedtimes are the norm.
My anxiety attacks used to accompany my hangovers 50% of the time…now they are at 100%. I will feel completely fine for the first hour after I awake, then the attack will slowly creep up, peaking in the late afternoon/evening. During this time, my heart is racing, I cannot get a deep breath and my vision is blurred (having visited the ER twice before accepting that it was anxiety). It has come to the point where I cannot leave my home when hungover, as the attack is exponentially intensified by driving or even riding in a car.
This “double edged sword” has made me vastly popular in social scenes, and a prisoner in my own skin. My friends don’t understand as they bounce right back after a big night of drinking, so any explanation of the problem to them sounds crazy. Luckily these symptoms are shared with my Mom, who has had AD her entire life as well.
I am glad to find this post and understand what everyone one of you is going through, I hope you can all find a solution. God Bless.
GPK
So can people with anxiety still drink alcohol? I don’t really drink alot and ever since my first panic attack in Januaray 2010 I’ve been nervous to drink. I want to and I’ve been doing well in tackling this anxiety thanks to the Panic Away program.. but I’m wondering if it IS possible to drink a little. Or should I just give it up altogether? Someone please answer.
Hi, Ell your problem sounds similar to mine, I used to partake in big drinking benders, and when in my late teens/early 20’s i could get over it and not suffer bad hangovers.
But in the last few years I developed a real anxiety problem due to all the excessive drinking, and like you would often crack open a beer first thing in the morning to carry on and not get the hangover, its a bad way to be because you eating pattern stops, i found i missed meals and ate very little when on a binge because it doesn’t go together.
ANyway i went to the doctor who told me that anxiety is brought on by drinking, he told me to cut down or stop drinking and i have to say it has greatly improved my well being.
I had fun when i was younger but now i just dont want to feel anxious and all the other bad stuff that comes with binge drinking.
I want to let everyone on this page know that you have helped me immensely. I am a college student and I never made the connection between alcohol and anxiety until today, because of this website. I have been struggling with this for awhile and I always try to figure out what is triggering my anxiety, which only makes it worse because there is nothing other than the alcohol! Good luck to all of you!
the trick is to find something that calms you down. even though it feels hard to work out or even move for that matter you need to do something to burn off the stress. knock out some pushups until you can’t do anymore. or even stand up while you’re watching tv. i usually end up pacing around my room until it goes away. control your breathing and don’t let the attack get the best of you. good luck everyone.
Alcohol definitely can calm you down during your anxious moments but the hangover effect is not fun at all. I just learned to not get “too drunk” and just drink more on moderation.
Wow .. thank you people so much for all the posts you’ve put on here! I considered myself an alcoholic years ago and went joined a recovery program and did not drink for 12 years. Never felt better and all that anxiety that everyone is talking about from drinking disappeared! Just recently, due to a nasty divorce, I’ve been drinking a bit every now and again. EVERY single time .. even if its just a couple of glasses of wine, I wake up with such anxiety its crazy. I get so anxious I feel like I’m loosing my mind. It usually lasts about two days. Sometimes I’ll have to take one drink to calm down, but that only makes it worse and produces a continuous binge for a couple of days. No matter what, I have to ride the anxiety out. I have to keep telling myself the SEVERE anxiety will pass, I’m not losing my mind .. and that in a couple of days I will feel alright. It’s not even a question of getting drunk anymore because I don’t. It just all boils down to just taking one or two drinks at this point. I can’t … it just produces too much depression and anxiety. It has helped me so much to know that I am not alone. Thank you people!
no, Thank you!!
I too have been dealing with anxiety problems, or so that is what I am told. I have been to the doctor so much, I can’t even count anymore. I have been prescribed antidepressants and buspar, but my resistance to them makes me only feel worse when I take them. I take ativan occassionally, but try to avoid it unless absolutely necessary, as I don’t know if it is really helping. A part of me thinks I only think it helps, so I’d rather avoid it than be dependent on it.
The problems I’ve had recently are with palpitations. I drank a few glasses of wine one night and woke up in the middle of the night with my heart racing. Probably in the 160s. I went to the ER and everything was fine. My heart rate went back to normal. I have not had an episode like that for months now, but I am still terrified to drink. Now I am at a place where I can constantly feel my heart beat. Especially in the evenings. It’s never fast, just pounding, and terribly uncomfortable. It is ten times worse when I have drank. I can’t even drink one glass of wine without feeling it pounding. I have been seeing a cardiologist and they have yet to find any serious problems, but want to run a stress test.
I am truly worried I will never be able to drink again. I used to drink a lot, and though I am glad that I have cut it out of my life for the most part, I miss being able to go out and have a drink without the fear that my heart might explode. I just want to be able to have a drink and not worry. It sounds like many people who have posted feel the same way.
The internet is a blessing and a curse. We can find all of these things to research, but it all eventually leads to self diagnosis and more problems in the end.
My friend and I used to jokingly call next day anxiety the triple P’s ( Post Pissed paranoia). Those were the days when things weren’t too bad, nowadays the anxiety is soooo bad I can’t joke about it. I am heart broken that my fun nights out being blighted by days of mental and physical freakout afterwards. Part of my problem is I don’t go out on big nights too often, when I feel ready to out again (sometimes 6 months later after last big night) I get too excited because I love going out! ultimately I drink too much, I don’t seem to have the mechanism of control when excited!! I live in a small town so the anxiety and paranoia is crippling! I feel as if everyone is judging my behaviour and for some reason have a big problem with me. I even question my own behaviour and my mind races over events for days. My rational mind knows that I did nothing wrong but the anxiety says otherwise!! My belief is that these reactions are essentially an allergy to alcohol and a emotional reaction to feeling as if at some point I wasn’t fully in control. I do have anxiety in other situations and have been told that my nervous system is over sensitive to certain substances. I am also very sensitive to coffee and 1 cup can very quickly induce the same feelings of selfdoubt and panic. I manage to stay well away from coffee but am having a harder time acknowledging the terrible effects the alcohol and for some stupid reason think that it won’t happen next time.
My mom died 3 1/2 years ago of liver failure (age 59) and my dad died last month of complications from alcoholism (age 65). Over the last 10 years I watched both of them suffer from all the typical issues alcoholism causes… including stress and anxiety. They both suffered from panic attacks. They both were very social and successful people for many decades, yet in their last few years they rarely left the house because of anxiety. They both denied there was any issues in their lives and refused to seek help. I have seen how daily casual drinking with occasional binge drinking can turn into a serious life threatening situation. I enjoy a beer every now and then but I am scared straight, never to repeat my parents’ mistakes.
I have always been a regular fairly heavy drinker (bottle of wine or few beers most evenings) but since my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, one day out of the blue I had a terrible Panic attack, my first. For the next few months I kept going to the doctors to be checked out as something didnt seem right and eventually he diagnosed General Anxiety Disorder. Since then (and my Dad passing away) I battle all the time with it but I have noticed that if I stay off the booze for 2-3 days it almost totally goes away. To live a happy, anxiety free life I know one day I will have to quit alcohol for good but I am scared to do this as there always seems to be a meal or a social function to attend 🙁
Hi Shaun, I’m sorry to hear about your Dad passing away. You have my sincere condolences.
Just wanted to say that when we experience life changing events, anxiety is sure to come about. It is normal and to be expected.
You’re right about alcohol not helping anxiety, but be sure to walk the fine line of not making this a phobia.
If you like alcohol then enjoy it, but in moderation. Maybe you won’t be able to get hammered but then again being hammered all the time is a problem all its own.
Give yourself time to grieve and adjust and try to enjoy yourself as much as you can.
Never let anxiety put limits on you. And remember, the best defense against anxiety is the right mind state. Be who you have always been.
I would have to agree with this being a recent victim of anxiety disorder. I’ve noticed if I have even just half a pint of beer, or half a glass of wine, I already lose the plot and feel very uncomfortable around other people as my symptoms get worse. It takes the “fun” out of drinking and renders me paranoid; so much so that I am going to avoid drinking socially as much as I can until my GAD subsides.
I drink pretty much daily. I enjoy the day off when it actually comes around. When I do drink, it is usually around 9-12 beers which I don’t really consider to be a lot because it does not get me drunk and I’m still social and in control. I am also 6’5″ and 230 lbs. However, the minute I start doing shots or any type of liquor, or go beyond that 12th beer, I can generally expect a panic attack the next day – usually after being up for a few hours in the morning. They are horrible. Death would seem to be more pleasant. Then the guilt sets in. Why did I drink so much? I’ll never do it again, etc. The problem is, I like the activities that always revolve around drinking. Football games, women, bbqs, etc. Can’t imagine doing any of those activities without a beer. So, I guess for now, I put up with the impending panic attack to enjoy these activities. Quite the predicament. Sucks.
I found this site searching for information, and anyone who has anxiety the day after drinking should look into L-Theanine and or phenibut/valerian root which relieve anxiety in a more natural way.
Wow, where do I start? I got my first panic attack 6 months ago after a 4 day binge and drug usage-scariest experience of my life. Since then I have not drank and work out like a maniac, my diet is also good. I have been considered an alcoholic in the past, and still feel drunk nights get remembered more than sober ones. With that being said I do plan on drinking again, just not like I used to. It’s all in our head folks, mind over matter! I see anxiety as a challenge, me VS my mind. Today’s struggles are only making me invincible for 2moro. When I work out I work out with a intent to die, and every time I don’t I win and the anxiety crumbles in my hand. That’s the same approach I intend to take when I drink again. I feel as part of me died when I got this Damb! disease, but refuse to let it win, because if it does than it’s not worth living. I am too young to not enjoy this one life. I am not saying any of you are week, because I know the strength of this monster, but imagine how powerful we could become after defeating this obstacle. We need to hear positive stories with good experiences,anyone…anyone? My plan after drinking is to distract myself; work out, football, girls, or hang around positive people. This is not meant to persuade anyone to drink, rather to take charge and fight back! I refuse to see a therapist or take medication, because I am confident I will overcome this-I have to! I believe in god and that everything happens for a reason, why this happen to us I don’t know (maybe it was a sign that we drink too much), but I have faith god will help me overcome this and all the other challenges in my life. Next time I drink I will think of all of you and use you as motivation to overcome all anxieties. Wish me luck and god bless!!
Yussef, You’re a wild man! And I love that.
With that kind of attitude I know you will recover.
Hi,
I am 21 years old and I started having panic attacks after one night of binge drinking..I also used to smoke a lot of marijuana. This particular night I was involved in acts that I don’t remember all the details of. I started having terrible panic attacks around alcohol and any types of drugs my roommates at the time both were heavy into partying so I would panic at the apartment so bad to the point where I was staying other places. When it was untreated I felt detached from everything and some times would panic to the point of claustrophobia. I have not drank since that night and am terrified to do so. Being such a huge partier for a year it has confused me why I suddenly got this disorder. I am trying to learn to accept it, but have lost many friends due to my lack of partying. I find myself saying “I want to be normal again” but I know what I was doing wasn’t normal. I am afraid what will happen to me if I drink and even feel sick to my stomach around drunk people.
any thoughts on this?
My 21st birthday was not celebrated with alcohol ….which was last month it was a very sad and strange birthday for me.
I take clonopin for anxiety now. still get it frequently but not any panic attacks.
does it ever go away?
If your anxiety is caused from drinking it will go away if you stop drinking. Alcohol causes anxiety – mild to heavy. I last posted on this site Dec. 22, 2009. – I just reread my old post. WOW – have things changed. I replaced the bar with the gym. So now instead of drinking heavy I work out heavy. I never thought I would quit drinking, but now that i have, i feel better than ever. Not waking up feel anxious each morning is a reward all in itself. Although I LOVE drinking I would rather not be anxious. Good Luck.
oh… and Amy – dont worry about loosing friends from not drinking. They wont be there when your older and reaching your goals sober to be successful.
I recently noticed the alcohol/anxiety connection. Every time I drink I get big anxiety attacks the next day. I’d never made the connection before, and after a little research found that this phenomenon seems quite common.
I stopped drinking, the anxiety decreased substantially (not to mention my acid reflux…). Last night I went to a house party and decided to have a few drinks. I had far too much, this morning I woke with a big hangover and a doozy of an anxiety attack. I’ve sworn off the pop for now, but will probably have the odd beer at home (I drink less at home compared to being out in the pub or at parties, etc.) in the future. I love the taste of a good real ale, and small quantities don’t seem to trigger the unpleasantness.
I understand why people drink to cope with anxiety – I’ve even done it myself before now, but it’s self-medication of the worst kind and can become a downward spiral if you’re not careful. Drink because you enjoy the taste, never drink to cure your anxiety. The drink will take the edge of things, but the resulting anxiety spike the day after will just lead to more drink.
All the best to anyone who’s suffering from this thing.
I have never been a huge drinker, but when i have drunk in the past, my version of a hangover would be UNBEARABLE racing thoughts.
I learned my lesson and almost never get drunk, but because of my job, I am sometimes required to travel around the world alone, which is daunting at the age of 25….. last year before a 2 month long trip I decided to drink a bit to release my nerves, and ended up having a panic attack after the equivilent to one shot.
Now, i do not drink, and even just a sip of wine makes my heart race and feel very light headed and dissasociated, which leads to anxiety.
I can say that being sober when out with friends, as opposed to drinking to overcome social anxiety has tremendously changed my life and friendships and memories for the better.
very glad to know that i am not alone in the strange anxiety from alcohol….
I’m so relieved I’m not in this alone, I suffer all the horrible anxiety and self hatred that has been described here, I’m on the tail end of a post booze episode now, it’s just a major relief to learn that others out there suffer this too and that I’m not nuts.
hey great topic i just wanted to say thank you and im happy im not alone on this. i tend to drink very heavily and have been to the emergency room twice in the passed 5 months with anxiety i felt like i was having a heart attack but all my vitals came back fine. im currently going through anxiety pretty bad right now because i have drank for about a week straight. im admit i feel pretty dumb i never connected the two because my whole life i have been a healthy person. i stopped drinking yesterday and hope and pray this anxiety goes away the numbness and trouble thinking is a horrible feeling. thank you