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.
Hey J – As for the food issue, there is NO question that it does have a major impact on how I feel after a drinking spell. When I drink I crave a lot of salty foods, usually loaded with MSG. And MSG is a known anxiety trigger for me so the combination is not good.
Heart palpitations, bloat, digestive issues, anxiety…It’s very related.
As for the sobriety thing I broke it 9 days ago when we went over to friend’s for dinner. I was completely fine with it in every way. I think I had 4 glasses of wine, I didn’t get drunk or stupid and the next day it was back to another dry spell. I didn’t feel anxiety or any symptom of having drank. The key here is my new approach to alcohol. It no longer is for binging every weekend. It is now for social events only. That way I can still have wine in my life and enjoy myself without the binge pattern that causes emotional and physical problems.
There’s 52 weekends in a year. 2 days per weekend so on average that was a near guarantee of me binging (where binging is consuming at least a bottle or more of wine per episode) 104 times per year. Then add holidays and social events and the times I would drink 3 days in a row on weekends that’s probably another say 20 times so that was around say 125-145 days of heavy binge drinking per year.
That’s a lot of beating up on my liver and a lot of living my life in a continuous pattern of anxiety and abuse. By reducing my wine intake down to say 20 times a year, that is something completely manageable for me. It’s all about a mental switch in how you approach something. Wine is no longer a weekly substance I can drink as much as I like but is now something that is only done on special occasion like a rich dessert.
For the record I still feel great and motivated and not at all like I slipped up. This is the way I choose it to be. This is me having control over my life. If I find myself even for one moment slipping back into my weekly weekend binging patterns then I will absolutely quit for life. The buzz has no longer become worth any hardship.
Hope everybody’s doing well!
Todd, that’s great to hear. I had a slip up last night. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but with my meds, alcohol gets trick sometimes. I was beating myself all day about it, but I realized what happened and why. I went to the gym to work out, yesterday, Valentine’s Day, then down to the bar (private club) for a quick bite and a beer.
I then realize it was the first Valentine’s Day I had been by mysyelf in the last 7 years (recently divorced). So, I decided to have a “me” holiday. I had like 5 pints a beer and was ready to go home, I felt fine, I can hold it, which is what gets me in trouble, like Todd, I wasn’t doing anything stupid. Then, thinking a long on V-Day, I say to myself, let me go out for one more if a place looks interesting: first place, no, second place, yes – wine bar, order a glass. The guy next to me is BOMBED! He starts chatting with me, stuff like, “You must be a Wall Street guy, you look like one,” not in an aggressive, nasty way, in a drunk idiot way. I was actually laughing, he was wasted, but definitely ammusing.
There are two girls behind us at a table, I told him he should talk to them, I didn’t think he’d take me up on it, but he did and dragged me into it, and ordered me another glass of wine, unsolicited. So, we’re talking to these two cuties and he’s basically making an ass of himself, and I’m talking to them, well, like a normal person. Long story short, they lose patience with him and leave, but I get one of their numbers.
I decide to buy him another drink, if he wants, he does, so I order another glass of wine. He proceed to tell me how gay my ipad is, I’m amused. I’m actually texting to the girl I just met, she’s getting a kick out of it. He then said I looked terrible (he was meaning my clothes), I laugh, text, like I said, I was amused and I went home right after that.
I mentioned keeping the journal…I obviously drank way more than I inteded to on any given night, let alone a week day. I woke up for work fine, had an early morning meeting, then it started – anixiety, shakes, depressed even suicidal thoughts.
I obviously got through, I beating myself up with, “Why? How did I let this happen?” And it is quite obvious. If it wasn’t for the fact it was Valentine’s Day and I was feeling somewhat sorry for myself, I would’ve left after 2,3 beers tops.
You’d think I’d be happy with the outcome, right? Did nothing stupid, got a number, etc., but no, with Depression it’s short lived and only makes it worse the next day.
I’m actually surprised I’m still here, I told myself I’d make it an early day. I’m feeling much better now, trying to get a few more things done; but right now, laid out the couch is going to feel so good…
We all have our good and bad days.
Todd’s sentiment, I hope all are doing well!
Hello all,
Been awhile since I posted here. In the past, reading other peoples experiences here and on other like forums have helped me in the fact that I am not completely alone with my struggles. My purpose of commenting ofcourse is to offer others the same bennefits if possible. I quit marijuana over 3 months ago as each session resulted in severe anxiety and acute fear of loosing my mind over the past several years. I stayed sober from alchohol from late November through the middle of January and although the process was difficult as I continued to suffer from periodic anxiety/depression, I did well with exercise, diet etc., and was releived that I was not dealing with the extreme “episodes” after binge drinking(15 to 20 beers). In early February I went out for my birthday and got shitfaced. . period. . .(approx. 10 SAKI Shots, 5 Draft Beers and approx.10 to 15 bud lights) At the time I thought, ” I deserve this. . I’m 38, a great Father with a beautiful Family,business etc.,”I can handle a hangover now that I am fit and I have been alchohol free for months, ITS MY BDAY right?” WRONG. The next day I not only had a break down, but I now have new and even more sinister symptoms of acute anxiety, like the fear that I am going to snap and hurt one of my children, which I would never do! On top of this I had to go that day with my 70 year old Father to a Doctors appointment in an absolute state of acute fear to be reminded that my Dad suffers from schizoaffective Disorder, which reminded me of a very painful childhood being ashamed of my Father and being told by my mother that I was just like him. For the next couple weeks I obcessed over the thought of being like my Father and met up with a very old and familiar friend of Depression. Racing thoughts, incredibly detailed dreams in between sleeplessness, twitching, obcessive negative and worried thoughts. . OH MY! I thought I needed a vacation so I took my family skiing this last weekend and by the second night with a nice cozy bar by a fire place at my disposal I easily AGAIN talked myself into beleiving that it would be different now that I was on vacation. I had a few Blue Moons and felt GREAT!!! It’s like the remedy to my whole problem at that point. I was in Heaven, , no anxiety, dancing, snow ball fights. . HEAVEN. I could barely get through the next morning. .shaking, severe obcessive mental self punishment with negative thoughts. . . HELL. Later that day it was almost like clockwork, I began a with a cold brew at about 3pm after I muraculously began to feel better after snow tubing later that morning. Fresh snow was falling and I was ready to charge the mountain early the next morning with my kids. By midnight, after being the big hit at the bar, I was probably on my 15th or 16th Warsteiner and headed to my room subconciously trying to block out the inevidable catrostrophic events of the following day that were sure to start unfolding first thing in the morning. And needless to say it was my absolute worst episode yet. I failed to take my children to the mountain as promised, I cried like a baby to my wife, I felt extreme chest pain, and as the day went on the symptoms got worse even with the ingestion of several Valiums. I spent hours reading the internet about mental disorder symptoms as hypochondria seems to be a part of my mess when it gets this bad. 3 days later I am still NOT AT ALL OK. . Need I go on? So whats my point? Well, to those of you guys that are in the stage of beating urself up the next day, or being able to take a xanax and sleep it off, being able to change what you eat the night before to help etc., BE THANKFULL that you have not reached a worsened and/or hightened level of anxiety if it is in fact what you are suffering from versus just being hungover. BUT know this. . I am trying to help not trying to scare anyone and in my opinion, Telling someone who truly suffers from this hell that they can quit for just awhile is very dangerous advice. If you are already feeling any level of anxiety and/or alchohol related depression etc., drinking alchohol at any level WILL worsen your condition. . . PERIOD. Most theropist ARE quacks I beleive that, but if you dont want to end up in their chair, then heed the warnings that your system is giving you. I have watched my Father suffer for his entire life being mis-diagnosed, put through shock theropy and fed harmful drugs that now have left him labled with a multi complex disorder that no one really knows how to treat.My Father started compaining of only anxiety after Vietnam and self-medicated with ALCHOHOL. . . . ??? All I know is that I am done. . I plan to join AA tommorrow and put an end to this forever. . for the sake of my family, Children and most of all, My Dear old Dad.
God Bless all of you and I truly hope you all finf comfort and peice of mind.
Godspeed Frank. Sounds like you’ve been to Hell and back. I will be sending vibes of healing energy your way.
Just remember this very best advice anyone can ever give you:
You can do it.
Hi Frank, your story really touched a nerve with me, I am so similar with excuses as to why I can have a drink and the guilt and depression the next day over drinking. Thank you for your honesty, I know it was pouring out of you once you started to write, I could tell, I too know that alcohol cannot help my anxiety but I still come home from work and head straight to the bottle of wine or Patron. I am always worse the next day, I too eat a xanax to level it off, it is such a vicious cycle. I just want to be free of it all, I am trying hard to get a handle on it, God is losing his patience with me I think, I pray you will be healthy and happy and peace is in your brain, that would be the best gift of all PEACE of mind!
I am a true beleiver that everyone has the genetics to have a mental disease, each person being different in both their genetics and the type of mental disease they are capable of uncovering. It is what we put into our body/mind (chemicals) that bring that disease out. Every since I can remember starting to experience anxiety and depression at a young age, it coincides with my early years of heavy LSD and Marijuana use plus the weekend drinking to go with it. I occassionaly used cocaine hear and there but was never a pill popper. At about 20 I had a horrific bad trip on shrooms that put me in a state of mind much like that of my alchohol induced episodes at this point in my life. Shortly after that I was shot and beaten half to death in a home invasion. About a year later I had a tragic accident that damaged my eye. . . . This is about the time that my drinking and Marijuana use became much more frequent and heavy. . . maybe to cope?? But the truth is the underlying problem for my anxiety and depression was already there. . in my genes and because of other family issues that I had mentioned in my last post. Dont get me wrong. . I have also had alot of good in my life too. So I will have to say that the theropists that try and uncover those deep emotional scars to get to the basis/begining of the problem may be on to something.They are definetely more respected in my book than the ones who do nothing but write more scrips for more chemicals to poison your brain. And then there is the side of me that looks to GOD. We were not meant to live in such a cruel world, nor to be such tortured souls. And it is only through him that we can walk a path of rightousness, NOT Through drugs and alchohol. .and the more I indulge in self medicating, the further away from him I fall. As I mentioned before, this new fear, almost developing “phobia” of cracking and harming my kids was the last straw. I have read that this is a common symptom of severe anxiety disorder, but to me it’s God hitting me where it hurts the most, and trying to get my attention, because my children are my world. . . PERIOD.
Jesus instead of a Doctor, Excercise instead of Drinking, Meditation instead of getting high, and taking care and respecting my Dad instead of being ashamed of him. And ofcourse, being a good Father and Husband. . Thats where I’m headed. I need to re-invent myself. . it’s the only logical solution at this point.
This my first time on this forum you have all been a great inspiration to change my habits. It’s good to know there are people suffering the same symptoms as me out there and it’s great that you guys started a forum about it and support each other . Also it has given better understanding of what I need to do, to hear the first-hand accounts of how worse this anxiety can get if you don’t do something about it early on is very scary. So guys I am going to give it a shot to quit drinking (and quit the cocaine binges as well) because I have noticed a significant improvement in my mood whenever I don’t drink at all or as much, but knowing when it’s the last one is not easy that’s why not drinking at all is the best option. The self-loathing is what affects me the most, it’s as though I want to shave my hair off the next day and I take baths to somehow try and cleanse myself cause I feel dirty, as specially because I always end up with one nightstands and calling up guys that treat me like shit and I know don’t care about me at all.
Thanks for all the great comments especially Josh.
I am going to start my journey today and I hope to come back with positive changes in my life.
hmmm… maybe its just bevaiuse people want to let go of themsleves and alcohol is just an excuse
Haven’t posted in a while. I am hitting that extreme high anxiety, Frank, so, trust me, you are not alone. My deep, dark fears are so fucked up I can’t even post them.
I work for myself. I kinda hate my job. The economy sucks and hate chasing people for money. A ton of other stressers, too.
Anyway, that said, I finally went to a therapist. I think she is great. She totally gets it and told me that she seems to think I am combining my personal and professional life together. Some other things too. Personally? I think I have a lot of negative people in my life and don’t have the heart to say go away. Lots of guilt, too, associated with this topic is adding to anxiety.
Yes, reinvent myself. I get it, Frank.
I want to post better later have to go out now. I really hope everyone feels better.
Anonymoustoo,
That is such a coincidence. . I also run my own business and dealing with customers has become something that I literally hide from. My worst chest pains have been while stressing over the “chasing money thing.” It seems that everyone around me, “the people that I surround myself with,” ALL HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES! And I have to be the one who tries to set the standards of normalicy in a weird sort of way. But in the inside I am the one who feels like I am loosing it while everyone around me seems to be oblivious to how incredibly fucked up they seem to be to me. Maybe surrounding myself with people I enjoy more is another important step in re-inventing myself???
Even though I am still very well aware of the terror I endured this past few weeks, my mind is still trying to cope with the idea of never being able to drink again. . never being able to release. . to rest from my anxiety. . The thought of living without alchohol just doesnt sit well yet. I went and bought a 12 pack of non-alchoholic beer and it’s not bad. I think it will help if I absolutely have to drink. I drank one tonight and it seemed to take the urge away. I didnt even finish it. . instead I went for a 15 mile bike ride. .I am starting to remember the climb of over all increased well being that occurs as you stop the drinking and all the craziness that goes along with it for people like me. Life CAN be fullfilling without alchohol. . . Look around. . many people without anxiety just simply choose NOT TO DRINK. I’m gonna be one of those people, because if not it will only get worse.
One week sober tomorrow!!!!
That is explaining my situation as well. There is this term out there called Highly Sensitive People (HSP). HSP are very aware of all the subleties around them and pick up on other people’s feelings and moods and absorb them. There is this other term called Chronically Nice, which basically a person is so pleasing to their mental detriment. I am feeling both. It’s Sunday and already I am dreading tomorrow…
I did drink last night and I woke up with guilt and depression and anxiety. Mostly, weird fear of “what is a brain and why are there memories in there and what is a human being?” Like super deep thinking of shit I do not want to think about.
Too many people are asking me for favors. Literally, like a dozen. I already have enough on my plate and then some. It’s basically asking me to do stuff for free for them bc of my business. I am only just making it. Absorbing “free” favors is running my health rugged and run down. I am so tired all the time. I don’t want to say NO bc, Chronically Nice, am starting my business, and of course want happy, repeat customers. But I am being taken taken advantaged.
I just want to be happy already.
Also, what is all the rush about? Why are we all rushing around?
Frank P and Anonymoustoo, I work for a firm, but the reality, I am an indepdent contractor, so understand totally what you two are going through. It was definitely one reason why my marriage broke up – wife losing her job, dealing with the bad economy, etc. We both drifted apart and lost our connection. If we dealt with our issues would I still be married? I don’t know, but if I we were to still get divorced, it wouldn’t have been such a sudden event in my life (she literally left, no warning, when I was visiting my parents).
My father is (or was, he’s retired) in a similiar field as I am and went through the same thing. He got a new job, had a 2 yo (me), a wife and all this responsibility where if he screwed up, could take the whole operation down. He’s not a drinker though, but he did have to leave the house for awhile for some therapy, I have vague memories of this. He learned somehow how to let go, to analyze things, look for the positve, etc. He told me his depression bouts were much worse than mine and both my parents often wonder how I’m doing. He later in his career went in on an investment, which should have been a homerun, the capital investment at the time was my sister and I’s college tuition money, then the early 90s economy happened. I remember the talk of, “You may want to start thinking about State schools.” To shorten the story up, he analyzed and figured things out, he became happy with he had, and not upset with what he didn’t. I ended up attending a private college, my sister and I both never had student loans and he ended up retiring at what would be considered by today’s standards a young age. It wasn’t easy though. When I was freakin’ out because I had an out of work wife, a mortgage, bad economy, etc., and now debts, he said to me, you have no idea what debt is like (he knew my situation, wife’s debts, some minor borrowing). He, for the first time, told me what he was in for when the economy tanked and my sis and I were getting ready to school, living in a posh suburb and the expenses with that, etc.; it was in the tune of 250K.
Things got better though, investments paid off, debts got paid, he retired at a nice age, and him and my mom live this charmed life of multiple homes and a lot of traveling – it wasn’t easy though and it didn’t happen over night.
So, I thought about myself and decided, because being in a situation like both of you, with the stresses, I had to let my pride go; as we all know, that distraction can affect business and productivity. What do I mean by that? I accepting the fact that I will never miss a mortgage payment, will never be living on “the street”, if I ever have kids, college tuition will not be a problem, etc. I accepted my fortunate situation, even if it was partially reliant upon someone less. This nmay sound easy, and perhaps some of you are like, “F you, what problems do you think you have?!” but trust me, it wasn’t easy. I went from doing extremely well through my twenties and early thirties to – having ZERO debts (except a mortgage), doing whatever the hell I wanted on a whim, buying whatever I want on a whim including nice cars, always being able to put into my 401k (max out) or IRA depending on who I was working for, to let’s face it, letting my parents help me from time to time. I a can assure you, at my age, it was a mind f@$%. I then started looking at the situation of others, and did realize, I should be thankfully for what I have . . .
Frank P, ironically, while I don’t have kids, I know what you mean when mentioned being drunk and indavertly hurting them, when you know you never would. I actually have those thoughts as well. When I have my alcohol anxiety issues I think, “Damn, what if I had kids?!?!” I think someone was right when he said we’re, “hyper sensitive.”
JP
8 Days Sober!!
JP,
Im glad you can relate to these comments and I hope it helps you identify the root of what is ailing you. I really beleive even stronger today as I did the last time I began a period of sobriety that identifying the root of what is causing your anxiety is the only real solution. For some people like myself it is so complicated that it may not be possible? I am starting to wonder if my years of expanding my mind went a little too far? Obviously we all have something in common or we wouldnt be writing here. But in my opinion it helps to recognize our differences aswell to help us identify our own unique mess if you will. I for one have never had the symptoms of anxiety or depression occurr because of Money/mortgage payments/401k, IRA etc etc. I can clearly seperate the “stress” that I feel when dealing with money problems, and the anxiety that is in my genetic make-up along with the extreme bouts of “un-identified” panic that results from drinking. For me and I think Anonymoustoo also, (correct me if I’m wrong Anonymoustoo) running a business is not neccessarly the problem itself, but it is an obstruction in the path to soothing the problem, because we have lost the line between our lives and the company. There is NO time clock to punch out on. . the job never goes away. It seems like I have spent so much time and energy building this company and making all my customers happy, that I have neglected MY needs. I have literally lost myself. And with an already existing anxiety disorder, the anxiety is even more overwhelming. All the passion that I once had for music, surfing, motocross, LIFE have simply dissappeared. In other words my passion for life has been consumed by the business and my already out of control anxiety has spread its wings so to speak.
Anonymoustoo,
Another thing that rang a bell with one of your comments is that dreadfull symptom of depression that makes you question your existance. Why do people live? What’s the point? In the words of Kurt Cobain, “A formulated finity”. It’s the worst! Your not alone. With running a business, neglecting myself, and binge drinking, It’s no wonder I have these obcessive thoughts. . . I havent given my mind and spirit the chance to identify squat!
I can definetly say that I am slowly starting to feel an overall sense of better wellbeing with exercise and sobriety, but I am still in a very vulnerable stage for sure. It’s an uphill climb each and every day. I literally HAVE lost myself after these last few episodes. I am still obcessing over the possibility that I very well may be just like my Dad and have a very serious mental illness that may need medication. I have went to two AA meetings and cant say that they really helped as these people are simply “alchoholics”. Their problems lie more on the grounds of physical dependency and regret rather than anxiety and using alchohol to self medicate. I feel like they are all looking at me like I AM FRICKN CRAZY! They drink from sun up to sun down. Not one person there out of atleast twenty or more related with my anxiety issues. There biggest problem is that they may have a seizure if they dont drink. . Sooooo that was dissappointing and un-nerving to say the least.
Tommorow is another day.
Frank P, great comments! Yes, we all have our unique mess, that’s a great line. I’m not surprised you were dissapointed with the AA meetings. From what I’ve read from most of the people on this site, we’re not alcoholics or drug addicts. I have some friends that are addicts, one I work with, he goes to his meetings and has been doing very well. When he was using, which was just about everything, alcohol, coke, pills, etc. His week looked something like this…come Thursday after work he’d go out and he’d be on a bender throughout the weekend, no sleep, etc., and if the office was lucky (or not) he might get to work on Tuesday. He was in a real bad place. He got seriously addicted to Xanax, when I see addicted, he would shake, sweat, convulse if he wasn’t regularily taking it…. I’m not bringing this up to judge, just to show the difference.
I too, like you and many others, got some consumed with what I was doing, and office I was unhappy with, etc. and just shut down into the worst depression. My ex-wife will come up with a lot of potential reasons why our marriage broke, but the reality, depression on both of our parts, untreated resulted in complete emotional neglect (on my part).
While amicable, going through a divorce started taking a toll on me. Our divorce was simple, there was no kids, no shared assetts, etc. But I tried moving on myself and I again shut down. Untreated anxiety and depression is a killer and I believe something many entrepeneurs and (for lack of a better word) “white collar” professionals experience and never treat and end up with problems and issues that most of us go through – we don’t see what’s going on around us. I didn’t know my wife was so miserable while it was happening, I was so consumed with myself. Looking back, damn, the signs were SO there.
I think part of our anxiety truly is something chemical we all have developed at some point for whatever reason. Another part, as anymous pointed out was highly sensitive. We simply care about ourselves and how we look and as a result, we become way too hard on ourselves.
Anyway, that’s all for the day.
Hi everyone, I think I need some help. First, I am not a hot mess today or anything close to what I went through after Valentine’s Day. I think part of it is me adjusting back from vacation (I too went skiing), but as is the life of a NYC professional, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. I even have a work event to go to tonight, which I’d like to blow off, but really can’t) (some commercial landlord invited me a box to see Van Halen…should be interesting…right? 🙂 )
I think you see where I’m going…I was out with some colleagues a little bit Tuesday. I had really nice date with a young woman last night and we stayed out a little later than we both wanted to because we were enjoying each others company (plus a work event before). Neither of us got bombed, but since I had a few glasses of champagne at this work thing, I decide to stay with wine when we went out. So, I’m feeling a little of the sugar gitter, but that’s all.
Anyway, as a common thing with all of us is being hard on ourselves, I’m being hard on myself because I haven’t been firing on all the cylinders I’d like to be in the office.
Like many of you, I think I’m going to try and not drink at all for awhile. I have done this in the past, however, this time I think I’m going to need a little help. I was wondering what methods some of you have been incorprating into your routine.
I know some of you are going to say excercise, I got that covered. I’ve completed several marathons in very respectable times (3:47 was the best), I still play ice hockey, run, ski, etc., so the excercise thing I have down. I think I should increase it, but I know how to plan for that.
So any advice or methods you’ve employed…I’d really like to hear… JP
JP,
One thing I just ordered this morning was a fruit infusion pitcher. Looks like an ordinary acrylic water jug but has a center tube in which you put fruit, (fresh or frozen) or cucumber or herbs and you just set it in the fridge or on the counter for 12 hrs. You can use any fruit/veg/herbs. It looks pretty. I think that for me this will help me from always being used to guzzling liquids of the wrong kind but yet keep me guzzling the good stuff. Plain old water is good for us but gets boring and we forget.
I was inspired to look around for something after just hearing that my ex of 14 months ago went into ER with acute pancreatitis, which is alcohol abuse. He used to drink a lot of beers but never really got inebriated when I was with him, but then we did have a long distance relationship so I never quite knew how much he was drinking. He’s only 42. He was hospitalized for 3 days in ER without much sympathy from the Drs.
Got me thinking about my pancreas, my liver, my kidneys and my liking for wine, so I am going to start more hydration. Look it up, mine cost $20 on amazon. Hope that helps.
I’m doing okay, still drinking wine but have cut back as it has started to give me jaw ache. Anxiety comes and goes, but I am under enormous pressure now my work season is really full on. I read an earlier comment about how we can do the people pleasing thing and burn ourselves out with doing everything to keep our small businesses running. That is my life story for 16 years! I now no longer give out an email address, cell phone number and say ‘I’m just not available that much’ and am looking at alternative ways to start another business that is less personally draining.
Hope all is well with all you other lovely folk on this forum. xxx
Sometimes excercise isnt enough . . thats for sure. But it definetely helps especially when your in the middle of a panic attack. Even though it is the furthist thing from your mind when feeling the effects of anxiety. . a long walk or jog can do wonders just like, if not better than a xanax. I have been back on the exercise kick not just because it can sooth the body and mind, but because it keeps me occupied with something other than beating myself up.
I personally have kept that 12 pack of NA brew on hand and have broke down 3 times and drank a couple when I was feeling like I wanted a cold beer. They do work as the power of suggestion is just that. . very powerfull. I like the fruit fusion gimmick! Cause when we are feeling good we tend to want to inhance that feeling with a drink and thats where the trouble starts, so having something like that may be very effective for some. Everyone is different though so be careful and try and find the thing that is gonna work best for you individually. In my opinion the best thing one can do is AT ALL COSTS avoid the areas and the people that you normally drink around. It is the ONLY thing that has definetely contributed to me being able to quit completely. I have started occupying those drinking times with some of the hobbies I have lost touch with.
I have also been taking B-12 with breakfast and surprisingly it makes me very tired? Anyone else experience this? I have been sleeping like a baby and feeling very rested with the B-12. However, I sometimes will drink a small can of sugar free Red Bull before a long bicycle ride. It definetely gives me a boost to get more out of my workout. I have always been weiry of energy drinks as one time I took a 5 hour energy drink and it was like panic in a bottle! I was told that sugar free Red Bull is full of B-6, B-12 and C, so it isnt as harmfull as some of those others that have stimulants in it. But yesterday I drank one in the mid-morning cause I thought I could take the day off and go for a good run. Right after drinking it I changed my mind and decided to do some chores instead. . BIG MISTAKE! It was almost like being hung over. . I couldnt drive worth a shit, Chest was tight, on the verge of having a panic attack for hours and then I just felt like crap for the rest of the day. As I said before, the longer I stay sober the more I learn about myself. I am hyper sensitive to just about evrything.
12 days sober and not looking back!
Wow, am I glad I found this forum. I’ve had serious anxiety and phobia issues my entire life and I have spent much of the past few years self-medicating with alcohol. It got to the point where I even did some damage and went into rehab. I stayed sober for six months last year but a death in the family spiked my anxiety levels unbelievably and I started all over again on this merry go round. So far I’ve been able to control it to the point that I’m not blacking out, but I def. had a bad hangover today and horrible anxious thoughts. I just stumbled across this site after writing in my journal that I will NOT have more than three glasses of wine tonight. Maybe I’ll even be inspired enough to only have two! For every two or three days that I manage to drink very little it seems I have one day where the anxiety is so bad that I reach for the bottle over and over. Ugh.
I also just bought the book someone reference above, ‘wherever you go there you are’ and am going to start it tonight. This has got to stop!
Thank you for listening. Any kind words appreciated 🙂
I’ve been back and forth; I may try that fruit infusion thing though. I was good at the concert. I played this game with myseif. When I had a beer I emailed myself 1. Then much time passed by, drank some water, diet coke etc and had another, emailed myslef 2. Then much more time went by I emailed to myself 3 and it (I didn’t even finish that one). So between 7:00 ish to 10:45, I only had three beers. I was fine the next day.
Saturday, I had three glasses of wine with a colleague and went home early, no issues. Sunday, there was some games on, I definitley got home before 7 o’clock, but with friends who like to drink losing the track on pitchers is tough. I also didn’t have my water with me. I stopped by one more place to see some friends and ordered a beer, hung for a little bit, I didn’t even finish that one, I decided it was time for dinner and go home, which I did.
I did started getting the anxiety stuff around midnight or 2. I took a xanxa and went back to sleep, drank some water, etc. I was supposed to see my therapist early, I knew I couldn’t, I knew I had to sleep. When my alarm went off, I called her and told her I didn’t adust my alarm properly and there was no way I’d get there in 1/2 hour and would need to reshedule (which I will). I then adjusted my clock a little later than usual. I knew I needed to try and sleep and I’d feel better (and drink a lot of water). I ended up waking before the alarm, took my meds, popped a xanax (took one with me just in case) and I feel fine now.
Anna, try this drinking journal thing I got from someone. I’ve been negelecting it a little, but I’m learning a lot about when I have triggers and such. I was a little more bold yesterday because we had a lot of pizza and I ate some chinese food before I went to bed, early, etc., but that didn’t totally help…also, I like to eat a lot more healthy, so I know getting back into that habit will help. Because of the journal, I knew not to go past three glasses of wine with my colleague and I had a decent dinner before I went to bed. I was fine, drank a lot of water, and took notice as to when the wine started to hit me..I probably would be ok with two glasses, either way I was fine.
So why my little problems this morning? I noticed, I did not have my jug of water with me. Tonight, I will go through all this and put it the book so I can remember what helps and what causes issues…and slowly, I think I will weed this out, because health and weight tend to be more important to me than drinking…
JP
Have a song stuck in my head. Plus with anxiety, driving me nuts.
I am starting to wonder if anonymoustoo is my other personality. . LOL. . JK
I still get the songs repeating in my head. . their not quite as annoying as when I have been drinking though. This coming Sunday will be 3 weeks sober for me. This time around I am even more so realizing the damage that I have done in self medicating with whatever it may be. About 4 days ago I took a valium bfore bedtime, and shortly afterwords I thought to myself, “did I really need that or is it just out of habit to replace the drinking?” One thing I have noticed about valium is the incredibly detailed dreaming that is sometimes disturbing and un-nerving. Then the next day I have trouble in the morning waking my brain up it seems. With xanax I had much better results for the instant cure for anxiety, but I would often wake in the middle of the night very confused and almost scared as if my body was awake but my mind was asleep. With both the xanax and valium I experience side effects that are sometimes just as bad as the all the other crap I go through on a daily basis. Both of them, more so the xanax make m irritable the next day. When I would take a xanax the day after I would literally have guys walk off the job because of my fits of rage when they screwed up. The valium is not as extreme, but I have an elevated sense of agitation with my kids the day after which again recently gave me the scarry phobia that I was going to lash out at them. As I did with my last prescription xanax I have chosen to flush the valium too. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am leaning more towards NO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY WHAT SO EVER. . . .This makes me even more weary of an anti-depressant as who knows what side effects they will pose?
I am still set on re-invention by way of complete sobriety to the point where I can clear my head enough to seperate the issues that I have from anxiety and what I have from chemical dependency.
I am thinking a 6 month period of sobriety and if at that time I am still experiencing these feelings and developing phobias, I will then consider medication.
One Day at a Time.
It’s official, my ups and downs are killing me! I need to try something knew. I went on vacation a few weeks ago, I was with family, but all I really learned from that is how lonely I am. As messed up as it sounds, I almost wished I didn’t go, I went skiing something I love to do.
Last night, I was feeling really good about myself. I’m finding myself being more playful and flirty with women, just in general, in a good and not creepy way or desperate way, which I like. I’m on a new committee for a great charity with interesting people. We had a meeting last night. I had some work I still needed to get done, so feeling good after our meeting, I stopped by my favorite local spot, had a beer and finished what I had to do. I started getting friendly with some people next to me, we had a nice conversation. I was going to leave, but then two more women sat down next to me and we talked some more. I even broke my rule and ordered a glass of wine. We were having a fun, somewhat quasi-political conversation amongst ourselevss and then some random drunk interupts us tells me he’s going to break my face if I say anything more derogoatory to the liberal agenda ?!?! The three of us look at each other like, “what?” The bartenders, manager, they all know me, and this place is not a dive; it’s a great upscalish place. He threatens me again, I look at the manager like “WTF?” I even said, “X, if you want to leave, I’ll live.” He says to me, “No its ok J, I got this, don’t worry about it.” Anyway, we finish our drink and all leave. I’m like wow, what a mind F.
I walk across the street to a real dive bar and order a beer or two. I need to reflect on this. This a funny drunk young gou there talking to me, he convinces me to do a shot of JAgr, which i do like an idiot. I order a glass of water and the check..finish my beer and leave.
At some point I txting my undying love and devotion to a work colleague of mine in another office. I don’t care about that, I flirt with her all the time, however, talking serious about something like is something I don’t want right now. She asked me if I was ok, I said, wow, yeah, long interesting night. She actually wanted to get more into what I mean, and simply told her, it was a long night, and while truth to some of this, I really can’t deal with this with you right now, I’m sorry. She was cool, she said I didn’t always have to “be on” with her. A client gave me a ski cabin up north for the weekend, I’m taking him up on it. Not that I think she’d accept at this point because of stuff she’s going through, but I even throw out there, I’m heading out myself, I think i can use it, i don’t think you and I are at the ski weekedn stage yet. She replied back, “yeah do it, just don’t isolate yourseld, be social.” I thanks her for the support and advice and told her how beautiful she was.
My longwindedness, which either some of you hate or are intringued by, got me to the point…isolate. The only time I feel content, or in control, is when I’m isolated, away from everyone. I don’t think I’m happy like this, but I manage and don’t feel the anxiety or problems I have. I literally, just wanted to get some work done and not stay out, but, being social, I end up staying, get threatned by some asshole while minding my own business, which makes me prolong the night
I hate myself right now and would not mind if I dropped dead right now. Besides my hockey team (which is male bonding), evert single one of my hobbies is a solo thing…skiing, running, etc. All social activities with people alcohol is somehow there, I can’t get away from it. Oh, yeah, when I do run with people, at my club, thet want to booze afterwards.
I don’t know what to do. My therapist said the same thing my friend did, don’t isolate, be social, I can’t do it though. If all it leads to is being anxious and quasi-suicidal the next day, I rather be alone in my apartment and miserable….I can tolerate being miserable with no anxiety and hating myself.
I think I will still drive up north today, by myself, but I think I have officially given up on having a normal social life.
JP
JP,
There has to be some middle ground here and it is a hard lesson, one I have been personally struggling with my whole life.
I appreciate your honesty with your emails on this site. While it is anonymous, it shows that you clearly wear your heart on your sleeve.
For me, I can barely drink around other people other than a few glasses. For one, I don’t want people to know how much I really drink, also I can’t be making a fool of myself. I have done stupid things when drunk around men and don’t trust myself any longer. Drunken activity makes me a terrible flirt. I’ve stayed away from clubs recently and don’t go out with my phone all the time and refrain from texting which I am crap at anyway and don’t like to be always available.
Last night I hosted dinner for 6 at my house. Only one bottle of wine was brought around. I’d had about 3 of my own before they arrived, but felt okay not to drink while they were there other than that last third one. I hate the pretense but my social anxiety is too awful to open the door to guests cold stone sober. It’s a horrible thing.
I don’t think you need to hate yourself. You are clearly a man with lots of skills and talents and worth a lot. Don’t go there. It’s a sink hole you don’t want to drag yourself into. Perhaps just be really careful with WHO you mix with, which will help.
I’m still on the wine but rationing it somewhat and recently decided that after my four weeks of full on work is over, a huge detox is on the horizon and today ordered a sprouting tray and some seeds and checked my nutritional yeast and GLA oils were all up to spar in the fridge for the gradual cleansing my body needs: raw food and actually exercising. My excuse is that I don’t need to lose weight… but there are a million and one excuses.
I am finding this new fruit infusion pitcher great and last night among friends drank lots of melon water and try to drink it or with other fruits in it throughout the day until I give up booze yet again. Let’s not beat ourselves up too much, okay?
Thankfully I can’t bar hop. There are no places to walk where I live, all are desperate dives, horrendous and I don’t drink and drive and don’t drink out alone and don’t really know that many people who do drink or go out at night: family oriented or just not into that… think more about acquaintances and friendship and differences between the two? It could help you a lot, it has for me. No more late night FB evenings with potential partners, all of which is ridiculous, especially one who just wants sex talk which is easy to get into late at night after several drinks. Waste of time!
Good luck for all of us!
Oh, re read the msg I sent. Sounds like I drank 3 bottles before friends came around… NOT! 3 glasses.
My anxiety is not good but not bad either. For me it happens always when I wake up, usually due to extremely strange and vivid dreams. I wake up around 4am, and wander the house feeling all strange and wondering if/if not I should take a Xanax. Trouble is my dosage is low: .25mg and so does not make me sleepy, but I will not go higher as I don’t want another addiction as clearly wine is the one I fight.
Spoke to a really good person in my life about anxiety and dreams and he knows exactly how much I drink but does not share it. He doesn’t like hearing it but he is not going to read me some riot act. We both agreed that watching late night stuff on TV needs to be monitored for ‘good watching’ and lately I’ve been watching back to back episodes of LOST which isn’t exactly drama free.
So here is a question: how do you all fall asleep at night? I know the old milk and banana theory and no nightmarish films but meditation ain’t gonna happen after three glasses of wine in and until these next four weeks go by, I am not cold turkeying. I have work and need to maintain as I am until the detox finally strikes after the stress levels of my self employed business go down dramatically.
Hi Ruth we sound like we could be sisters, I too have the love of wine, a bottle slips down pretty easy but it doesn’t help with my anxiety cause I wake up with it and a hangover to boot, I also have the .025 Xanax and don’t want to increase that dosage either, my dreams are always violent in nature and someone is always chasing me, I rarely watch tv because it makes me anxious, I am seeing a doctor on Monday but for now I think I have to change my diet, no peanuts, rice, chips, feels like I am choking all the time and try to exercise and get some sleep I am seriously sleep deprived, I am 54 years old, married, my husband knows I drink to much too, I do it to sleep after a mid shift getting home around 1am drink to 3am sleep to 9am surely a vicious cycle. Hope things get better for us both.
Ruth,
Thanks for the words.It’s like just when I think I have this under control, something like this happens. I feel like a failure. The ironic thing, I don’t do any stupid stuff when out, its usually other people, like this idiot last night. When I took my meds, I popped a xanax right away this morning with it. I too have the lower dosage like you both, actually, mine is .5. I did take another one some time in the middle of the morning as well.
Ruth, one of the problems I have is I live in NYC..you can walk to anywhere, to get anything you want and not worry about driving, etc.
I txt’d my work friend who I may or may not be falling in love with to tell her I don’t think I’m feeling taking this client up on his condo. Funny, she just txt’d me, why’s that…I told her I don’t feel like making the drive and being alone. Ha, it’s kind of like a catch-22, if I stay here, I’ll just nothing in my apartment all weekend, well, I’ll probably clean it up, go on a run, may be inspired to do some writing. Oh, I obviouslty have been neglected the alcohol journal, need to start that up again, it helped! A lot!
One of my associates, female, was good to me today. She sat her ass in my office and made sure we did some productive sales stuff. She knows all the drugs I’m on and understand what I’m going through, she’s been through much worse and had to deal with much worse depression. She’s also can tell when I’m in these states.
I’m starting to feel a little better now that I ate, but if I’m not using this condo, I need to let this guy know soon so the owner can use it…I’m just wondering what excuse…I ate something bad (in case I change my mind : ) or something came up where I need to get into the office.
I also called my psychatrist, she just prescribes meds, but she’ll talk to you for a little bit (which they don’t have to). Perhaps I can see her today. I had to schedule a follow up anyway, so now’s a good time, I guess.
J
P.S. I’m 37, I like the fact that some of you post your age because I often feel like such a failure that I’m having this types of issues so old (in my eyes). While I of course don’t like see you all in pain, it’s a little comforting to know that what I’m going through is not unusual for someone my age and it even happens to us as we get older.
Hi Laurie and JP,
For the record, I’m 45.
Laurie, I do think a good diet has saved my life. It’s the one thing I do best – I think I do under eat but I eat almost exclusively organic, and don’t get sick (well meaning colds or flu, etc but if I have been drinking and not eating, like before a big full on day at work, I might puke up, not good, but it doesn’t happen too much). I don’t hardly ever get drunk, my body is too used to alcohol. I did cut back down a bit recently after hearing about my ex’s stint in ER with acute pancreatitis. He did not consume hardly any water, did not eat well due to anorexia which he was in denial about and drank about 11 beers a day – he lied about that even to me and said it was 7 and told the Drs 3-4 – but I stayed with him one summer and he used to buy a case of IPA every day. That stint he had, which apparently was extremely painful, was what got me consuming from this new water infuser cos I got scared the same could happen to me. It will certainly prevent the hangovers. Funnily enough, despite the Chardonnay abuse, I don’t get hangovers. Try drinking more water before bed. The only thing that saves me from being an absolute sop is that none of my friends drink, of if they do, it’s really just a glass. My partner has never drank at all and my employee only drinks about one glass a month and hates alcohol and is very opinionated about it and looks disapprovingly when I go to lunch with him and have one drink. Luckily I don’t like spirits/liquor or any thing like Jagermeister, never tried it and gave up on the old tequila years ago. Beer makes me feel fat and I don’t even like champagne. But still, too much wine is where I am still at but I’m looking at stopping in three weeks time. JP, an alcohol journal is a good idea, so is a gratitude list, the only decent thing I came away from AA with years ago. Thanks for the reminder.
I used to get those ‘being chased’ dreams all the time. It usually means you feel trapped and under enormous amounts of pressure. That is why a lot of us drink I think. Now mine are nearly always, lately anyway, about being lost in big buildings or ridiculously late for work at a new place. I think that’s because my job is draining and I’m bored with it but being self employed forever, I can’t really think of what else to do. I’m too old to work for anyone else. I’ve got a couple of things in mind but it’s the insecurity, thought of starting again, etc.
Thanks for listening. Ruth
Just sent this to my dad who thinks drinking one beer makes you an alchy:
I’m really sorry for the pain I’ve caused the past year. It has been really hard on me mentally when a job tells you to own the site and then they change their mission against your will. I feel bad ***** died but I had really taken it under my wings and did a shit ton of great things for them and now people come to me saying they miss it. But when they went to pay to join mode and put me as the go to guy to handle pay processes with my shitty old computer the anxiety took over. I had to wake up every day knowing I was going to yelled at buy some middle eastern fuck or some high as heck dude from the midwest every day. I couldn’t breathe some days. Then I had a friend have a heart attach for no reason and another have a seizure. I started freaking out thinking “what if that happened to me” It was the most unbearable thing I had to go through and don’t wish it on any worst enemy. Even our ceo was drinking a bottle of tequila every night. I was only drinking a few beers. I really love the taste of some good beers and only drink for the taste. But the anxiety became terrible. I am finally learning to deal with it. AA only made it worse. They tried to make me same “thy will be done” 1000s times a day which made me want to shoot myself in the foot. It’s no wonder 1% of the real alcoholics stay sober in orange county. I don’t even like being drunk and can stop when I want. I can stop when I want but these guys just like getting completely mind fucked with drugs and alcohol. I on the other hand have been the most sober one at the end of every night. If being diagnosed with GAD makes you an alcoholic then maybe I am. But for now I get more drunk by running 5 miles than I do dancing in a club full of wasted people. Maybe some of these feelings come as a result of me having a near genius iq and over thinking everything. But there is a better way of thinking it through and going to aa meetings where they literally tell you “You are going to die if you don’t go to a meeting and say “thy will be done” 1000000 times a day. It’s a fucking joke. Almost all the people I’ve met either shoot poop in their veins or drink 4 gallons of vodka in a day. I personally hate vodka.
I am 27. I’m an alchy?
Hi Ruth I am going to the Doc tomorrow need a complete physical and to talk about this anxiety and see if I can rule out a hiatal hernia and hopefully all that Tumeric I have been taking over the years has helped my liver and my pancreas God I sure hope so, last years physical my billirubin was right on point for the liver so that is a good sign, I am trying to drink more water will look into that water bottle you purchased, where did you get it, sounds good, and cucumbers in the water will make you relaxed naturally. All my friends drink, the whole damn state of PA are alcoholics seriously. It is all a mindset and mine is a mess right now with my son in prison and my daughter among the missing and doing drugs, my other son is only 19 has a 2 year old son and is so responsible, doesn’t drink or smoke he is the reminder to me that I did do something right. Anyway I see a shrink in my future and some damn yoga if I can get away from Face book and alcohol I would like a life worth living, not just work and drinking, nice talking to ya hope to again and thanks for listening too Ruth, God Bless.
Hi Laurie
I am about to have to get into full on work mode so can’t post a great reply, but you can get the fruit infusion flavor pitcher (it’s BPA free) for $20 from amazon. I have no interest in the company whatsoever, just came across it. I keep it by my bedside once it comes out of the fridge and drink it in the night if I feel dehydrated and it’s working like a charm:
I also keep it by me while watching films. I’d not recommend tap water or distilled, just some spring water by the gallon is what I use.
I’ll write more later, but in the meantime, don’t beat yourself up about your children, they need to find their own path like we all do and you can only be really responsible at the moment, since they are pretty much grown up, for your own behavior and as we know, that is a task in itself.
Have a great Sunday. I’ll write more in the week. PS. Link didn’t go through, give me your email address: prob cos this site doesn’t want people endorsing products, which is quite understandable. Ruth x
Hey there, checking in again. Ruth, you and I could be drinking twins! I swear it’s been so hard recently even just cutting down.
I’m 41, a stay at home mom, and I drink between 1 bottle- 1 1/2 bottle of cab per night. I also don’t care for spirits or anything else. I’ve suffered from social anxiety, phobias and GAD my whole adult life. Alcohol dulls my anxiety and I know I’m self-medicating. Every night I vow I will have only 3 glasses but it always turns into 5 or 6. I too wake up with panic attacks, usually between 4 and 6a.m.. It’s such a vicious cycle, and I know better, but it’s like I can’t get off the merry go round. I’m just disgusted with myself and my lack of self-control. But that’s not helpful either.
I have a scrip for ativan that I take on my worst days; generally one or two per week. If it’s between that and having a drink at noon, I definitely go for the ativan! Otherwise, that way lies madness.
Sending well wishes to all of you, thanks for listening,
Anna
p.s.I will check out the fruit infusion pitcher. Thinking about my liver makes me want to hyperventilate 🙁
Laurie, I sometimes get that choking feeling too. It’s probably GERD! I went on Protonix a year or so ago and it helped a LOT. OTC meds like prilosec can help too. I need to improve my diet as well. Of course my alcohol consumption doesn’t help the GERD. I notice that if I really overindulge my symptoms crop up again in spite of the meds.
Hugs
Anna
John Madden, take it from someone who’s completed 4 marathons, and it’s also proven, running is a natural anti-depressant.
The choking feeling, I thought I was the only one who got that. 🙂
I did end up going up North to ski, by myself. I think more of the problem was I knew I was going a lone, I couldn’t get any of the girls I’m dating to join or any friends, then again, it was last minute. I think most of them, truly would’ve wanted to come if there was more notice – I just got th place handed to me the day before.
I didn’t drink at all that weekend. Actually, I had one beer at lunch during my spring break and it felt a little weird, that was it. I sat in the bar and drank club soda at dinner or during the day after skiing, etc. I had a really messed up dream which I will not get into, it was BIZARRE!! But it definitely had the being “chased” theme we all have.
I’m training for a 10K and I want to do well. My body is still a little off center, I can feel it when I run, the right side of my body tightens up, I think because its taking on more of the work load.
I really have no desire to drink right now. I’m noticing just anything I put in my body food, drink (non-alchololic) I may be sensitive too. I felt a little strange this morning, and all I had was a cup of coffee and that’s it. I wouldn’t say anxiety, just not “on”, that always upsets me – actually, it makes sense why I get anxious the day afer drinking, because it’s only going to make the feeling of not being “on” much worse.
I felt great when I got back on Sunday. I was cleaning my place up, went out for a little bit, it was a nice day, and bs’d (txt) whith my colleague up in Massachucetts, who I said I may or may not be falling in love with. She’s definitely attracted to me more than she let’s on, she gives a way little things here and there, I can assure you I’m not feeing my male ego; however, I have enough going on here locally in that department to worry about someone a ways away, who is going throug there own stuff.
She was drinking wine, I was watching the Rangers, I told her I wasn’t drinking because it was making me feel weird. She then got concerned, and I told her “sweetheart, that’s very sweet, but I’m fine, I know what it is.” (she has no idea of what meds I’m on). She then passed a joke that perhaps I’m getting old and we laughed.
Again, I’m being selfish… Anna, with wine, it could also be the sugar. That could make you all jittery and anxious, especially if it’s waking you up, it’s the sugar that is waking you up. As we all know, wine goes down quite easily and can catch up on you. I actually like really good wines, but I’ve been trying to stay away for that reason. My little wine fridge has been empty for some time now, maybe I should let my ex-wife have it.
Well, I’m off to some work… stuff… everyone be well…and oh, I know I said this before, none of you are alcoholics… I know alcoholics and drug addicts and the symptoms and behavior are much different. Is alchohol affected us in a weird way? Yes. First, an addict doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong and will give up his life for a substance. I think I even read somewhere when Eddie Van Halen was intervened with for the gazilinth time, his own words were, “I gave up my family for this, which makes you think you can make me stop!” (then I think he trashed a room) – I actually saw Van Halen recently, he’s definitely sober now.
Anyway, I digress, be strong…
JP
Ruff weekend. . but still sober!!!
Took my kids boating and camping this weekend. The first whole day there I experienced the repeating negative thoughts and dwelling in my own insecure negativity which was topped off with a nice anxious icing. .
You see camping and boating in the past has been a drinking activity for me. Not having any this time around triggered those emotions. It was almost as if I had drank heavy the day before, but I had’nt. After catching a boat load of fish I was able to crack a smile through the depression and got a nice nights rest in a hammock, on an island with a cool breaze. Little bits of paradise pierced their way through my window of suffering that night:)
I finally got my appointment with a new doctor that I can understand. He is from romania, so the language barrier wasnt as bad as my previous middle eastern doctor who got his license from Costco. This Doctor gave me 1 1/2 hrs of his undivided attention. . almost like a theropist. I let it ALL poor out. . from the split up parents, to the drug use,to all my many tragedies that have plagued my life, my Fathers mental disorder and all the strange feelings I have been suffering from along with the what I beleive to be permenant side effects that I have from ant-depressents, valium, xanax etc. By the time I was done this guys jaw was on the ground. . LOL. .
Amazingly he listened to every word enthusiastically. He complimented me and told me to feel lucky for the insite that I have. He said I was “extremely inteligent and articulted myself very well”, for someone who has been through all of that. That made me feel sane to say the least. He was totally against the valium and xanax and gave me a script for Hydroxyzine at bed time. Its like a large dose of benidryl basically. I am also now set with a social worker that will help my find a psychologist under my insurance so that I may continue healing without the use of anti-depressants. After two days of bliss like sleep on this medication I feel renewed, sober, aware, “ON POINT”. No groginess in the morning, no disturbing dreams etc. He also reccomended that I do my bike riding in the morning before work instead of after work as that is contributing to my lack of R.E.M sleep at night. I think I am on the right track. I feel there is still hope for a peice of mind.
Doing better without the beer thats for sure!
Frank P, that’s great! Yes, sleep will help with piece of mind and it better to workout in the morning if you can. I sometimes try for middle of the day, but my schedule is all over the place; it’s one of the reasons I started running, put on the shoes and go…whenever.
Yes, all my activities the same way, enjoyed with a beer or two, or three after: hockey-goes to together like a glove, skiing-not much different, the water,boats, beach, etc., same thing, ironically, some of the biggest drinkers I know are runners, and I’m talking elite style runners, it’s kind of crazy.
The fact you recognize all this within you is huge! Most people don’t. Most people figure, “whatever, I was drunk.” I have a friend who’s buddy has a wife and kids, been convicted of DWI twice and now is serving some prison time. My friend went to go see him – see how he was, helpf figure his life out, the guy was like, “X, quit lecturing me and busing my balls.”
My problem now is I can’t get all the women that may or may not be in life out of mind…I guess that’s a good problem… 🙂
JP
Hi everyone I went to the doctor a new one yesterday he prescribed Zoloft,I was telling him I don’t know if I will take it because I am not a big fan of these kind of drugs but I took 1/2 the dosage today (50MG) broke it in half, I still feel like I cannot eat solid food, it leaves a very uncomfortable lump in my throat real or imagined, I feel it right now, it sucks, had some soup today won’t dare eat anything else, I am thinking about a glass of wine it is my day off it is 5pm and it is damn hot here in PA got fans going cause I still say there is no air in here or out there or anywhere else for that matter, I am getting worse, and fearful all the time hearing white noise in my ears like the soft sounds of crickets, wtf I am losing my mind, I have 10 people coming for the weekend house is a wreck, do not care, don’t want them here, doing it for my husband’s birthday and I dread it, so much stress when family stays for the weekend, shouldn’t be so why is it? What am I going to end up like a hermit freaking out all the time, I need to get a handle on my life fast, this is the worst I have ever been. It sucks, thanks for listening
@ Laurie,
I totally understand how you feel. You feel that you are losing control and that in one way or another you are going to lose your mind. Just remind yourself that you have felt that way before and you are still not crazy. Also most people who are going crazy aren’t worried or even know that they are going crazy. The problem with crazy people is that they feel completely normal about their ungodly situations. Whatever you do, don’t stop taking the zoloft without talking to your doctor first, and absolutely don’t drink, especially if you are prone to drinking more than you should. Hang in there, girl.
Laurie, I am in PA as well.
I haven’t posted here in a while as the alcohol/anxiety factor for me has been removed. I am sure it may returb after the birth of my second child however. Anxiety still runs and ruins my life. So much so I am terrified of giving birth ans no matter how unsafe they are my OB made me start taking Ativan again. My panic attacks were causing a 160 heart rate ans extremely high BP which is not safe for baby. So far all looks well with him. Lets hope it stays that way. I feel like the worst parent because I have to take meds while I am pregnant, but I guess its better than the latter.
Take care everyone. Laurie my email is jessica.shank@live.com if you need someone to talk to. Same goes for everyone elae.
@ Laurie,
Do not stop taking the drugs, Mike is right, you’ll feel worse. A lot of these drugs take a little while for your body (and mind to get used to). Alcohol also can be a little tricky with them (the whole notion you absolutely can’t drink anything is not completely true), but yes, considering your state of mind, I’d even avoid a glass of wine.
You’re taking the drugs the right way though, you want to ease your body into them.
Essentially, if this makes you feel any better, I have pretty much agreed with everything Mike has said, not sure I need to go furher; yes, if you really were crazy, you’d think this is all normal.
Hang in there, you’ll be fine.
JP
ive been going through the same thing i get so nervouse it scares me i have been struggling with this for 3 yrs now.im very sensitive to theses meds.i have fear,feels like im losing my mind,no appetite,weak,its ruined my life,i cant travel cant be in public,i have kids cant do much with them they tell go tothe show i cant,,desepreate looking for help….
@ Laurie. What you have described is exactly what people with anxiety diorder have. I bet as soon as your husbands birthday party passes and everyone leaves you’ll feel much better. The subconscious stress of the situation is making your anxiety worse. Don’t freak out. No one will know that your feeling this way. Go with the flow and realize or better yet convince yourself that ALL your symptoms are just that – Sympoms. There is nothing physically wrong with you. It’s just the way your mind processes stress. Control your thoughts – control you response to you symptoms, and you’ll start to conquer you anxiety little by little. Get tough, fight to feel better, and don’t feel bad for yourself. Try to calm yourself, then talk to yourself as if you were giving a friend advise. Good luck!
thank you for all the kind comments and advice, I am getting a bit concerned with this noise in my ears though, never had this before, it is as if I can hear all the electricity running through my house, my car, my job, soft but loud enough to bring it to my attention, does anyone have this? I used to have a clicking in my ears that went away but this just started about 2 weeks ago, I can’t describe it, by the way I said no to the Zoloft, I am just taking the 0.25 mg of Xanax in the middle of the day, and talking myself into feeling better, did drink Patron last night though couldn’t unwind from the damn job, work in food retail run the store at night and the stress is phenomenal and I hate the damn job but the money is much needed with my son in prison it costs alot to keep a kid fed in State Prison, that by the way has started me back in full anxiety swing since 2009 when he was arrested for a bar fight and stabbing, whole chest pain story right there, the best thing for me this week was doing a Richard Simmons tape and Sweating to the Disco music with this loving silly man telling me how proud he was of me, and being with my 2 year old grandson to trips to the pet store and the quarter rides, I know I can beat this stress just need to beat the alcohol after work syndrome, learn to walk up to my room with a cup of tea instead of 3 glasses of wine and or Patron on the rocks, my two loves, why do they have to taste so damn good and make me feel so much better when I am imbibing????? I always use the logic that God wouldn’t of invented them if he didn’t want us to taste them, lol, From LOU I am going to do just what you said, talk myself right out of all this anxiety and by the way the lump has subsided in my throat, thank God for that, that was a nightmare, now if I can get rid of this WHITE NOISE I will be even better, hey thanks to everyone out there who writes me back it really does help knowing I am not alone with this and that many more can understand love to you all! and God Bless stay calm and remember we are going to be alright!
Laurie, what you’re describing is tinnitis. I have it in one ear ever since last fall when I had bronchitis and fluid in my ears. It can have lots of causes, and it’s not always a ringing, sometimes a hissing sort of noise (that’s how mine is). I don’t always notice it but when I do it’s very annoying. You can ask if maybe the xanax is causing it, or think back to if you had a bad cold lately.
I’ve been having some luck cutting down to 3 glasses a night and I do feel so much better during the day but I keep on waking up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep! It’s so annoying. I’ve also upped my workout routine and that’s helped to reduce the anxiety a bit; I can almost feel the endorphins flowing sometimes.
I hope everyone is doing ok. It’s so good to know that I’m not the only one that sometimes feels crazy from this disease!
Hugs
Anna
Lou, excellent advice!
Sonia, were all here for you, please feel free to post as much as you want, or as little, and ask anything you’d like….HOpe everyone is doing good…
What i’ve noticed with 99% of ALL the people on here, is that they are “wine” drinkers?? I mean, i drink nothing but light beer myself, and find that ANY hard liquor , OR even wine (which is MUCH stronger than beer) makes me really “hungover” and bad anxiety a day –or two usually — later… I thought wine was supposed to be better for you than beer or hard liquor, but like i said, it seems most people on here that have the bAD anxiety attacks, are usually the wine drinkers……Just something to think about , maybe something is in the wine that triggers something in the brain ?? or maybe just the elevated alcohol levels VS. beer….
Laurie,
I’ve got a ringing in my left ear! I was hearing it mildly for about a month, and then it started roaring 3 weeks ago. No signs of it letting up yet. There is obviously some connection with alcohol / anxiety. I am hopeful that it will go away in a few months.
I am around 4 months soberish and just beginning to feel like a normal human. Hang in there, it takes forever.
Today is officially one month to the day sober for me. In all honesty I am definetely not completely healed by any means, but I can confidently say that I know it will only get better with time. Things are getting clearer and I am developing coping skills that have been numbed by alchohol. I am still irritable and have the craving to drink every time I am starting to feel good, but I made a promise to myself that I would never feel like I did one month ago today. . in a mountain lodge eating valium and literally feaking out on myself after a night of heavy beer drinking. I have not felt like that since 🙂 BUT it has been no easy ride. I am still on Atarax and they are quite mild compared to taking xanax or valium. No more groggy or medicated feeling. Still have interupted sleep patterns, and still am trying to take on too much at once. . almost ADD like??? I have lingering depression, but the good part is that I am very much in touch with what the problem is/was. . ALCHOHOL.
I urge any of you that are having serious anxiety issues to do what ever it takes to quit drinking. IT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. It is the only way you will find yourself and finally rid yourself of that hell. Your body/soul/mind is sending you a message, and that message is that alchohol. . beer. . wine. . liquor. . is not good for you. The bottom line is that each and every one of us is SELF MEDICATING our anxiety and it only makes it worse. Tomorrow is another day of healing. . looking forward to it!
Frank P..
I’m curious Frank…..how much were you “drinking” when you were feeling so awful the next day? ?and was it just “beer”?? was it light beer , or like an ICe beer/ malt liquor?? I just dont see a few beers making someone feel “that bad”?? but thats why i’m asking……please elaborate a bit.
I am my own worst enemy when it comes to this life I am trying to live, I get myself worked up over anything then yesterday I said get out of this house and walk, so I did just that walked for a long time on a beautiful early evening and felt the anxiety leave me and started feeling really good, so what did I do to destroy that great feeling when I returned home, DRANK yup freaking Patron then Vodka because I didn’t have enough with one glass of Patron, wait it gets better then because I am now completely smashed I started eating everything that triggers my lump in my throat problem, tostitos with nacho cheese, birthday cake with freakin whip cream to which by the way destroys my stomach, I have the absolute worst opinion of myself to end my night this way all the time, I am so ashamed of myself, I am an alcoholic who gets up every day goes to work, cooks, cleans, does the bills the laundry then can’t wait for everyone to sleep so I can drink into the wee hours of the morning, and kill myself a little more each night dying in my brain and my stomach, knowing I drink this way is why I never take the damn pharmaceuticals because I don’t know if I can stop this drinking sometime it is just one glass of wine other times the whole bottle and half of another, sometimes hard liquor, what ever I want that night I have, I tell my husband “I have to stop drinking” he offers to help and I tell him no don’t help me let me do it on my own, he gives me the space, I never fix the problem. Okay let me have it folks, cause I don’t know how to stop this downward spiral I am on,
Hey Frank I just read you post, and I totally agree as long as we drink we will never be free, I just don’t know if I can stop, I have been around alcohol all my life both my parents drank heavy, my four brothers always drank and one is passed away at the age of 36 from a brain tumor my dad at 40 same thing both drinkers, why do I crave the damn shit, and how come I always justify it? I feel ya Frank!
Laurie, dont be so hard on yoruself. I actually had to laugh when you said you were drinking, then eating the doritos with nacho cheese..lol.. I do the SAME thing, i drink , then i ONLY want unhealthy foods…I think it maybe have something to do with the “comfort food’ factor?? Who wants a celery stick at midnite after drinking..no one…We want nachos, and hot dogs, burgers, pizza ,etc……..Do we really crave the bad food, or do we crave the “comfort” from having these foods ?? Hang in there laurie, you’ll be fine…….
J, here is the issue with wine, it has a lot of sugar. Wine also goes down very easy and its easy to “lost track.” With wine, for some reason, the effects can also sneak up on you, meaning you drank more than you may have wanted to, because you feel fine, then bam. The sugar, more often than not, is what’s messing with peoples sleeping patterns.
JP
Frank P. AWESOME!!! I’m glad to hear your sticking to it and having success! I haven’t gone the whole completely sober route, but I’ve been doing ok monitoring everything and noticing little things, which I hadn’t before… for another time..
J,
When I say binge I mean binge regardless of whether it’s Beer, wine, liquor etc. My last episode was after drinking beer (Draft Warsteiner). I estimated atleast 20, but my Wife has confirmed closer to 25 after seeing the bar tab receipt from that night. When I drink alchohol, regardless the form, I drink in excess. . I drink to get smashed. . PERIOD. But even so, I have had anxiety and exagerated stress from just drinking a 12 pack. The big panic “episodes” have happened mostly after binge drinking and epecially if I mix it up. The important thing that I want to convey to anyone experiencing these symtoms after drinking is that my symptoms have gotten worse and are more frequent the more I self medicated. I was not OCD in my early years, but I have symptoms now. I have never had symptoms of agoraphobia, however, after my last binge I know have lingering phobias. I am convinced that alchohol causes long term damage.. Two Doctor have now confirmed that I could very well end up just like my Dad should I continue that life style. I was in hell for about 6 straight weeks starting in February. It was the last straw. I had absolutely lost my identity to drugs and alchohol. I had no opinion, no excitement with out alchohol. The same goes for weed. . everytime I thought of something I wanted to do, in the back of my mind I was arranging to make sure I had a fresh nug to take with me. When both the alchohol and drugs starting triggering these episodes of acute fear, depression, dred, insecurity etc., I was lost. What now?? The only answer was total sobriety. It is the only way that I have been able to gain this insight and begin my re-invention of myself. I never realized that I was having suicidal thoughts aswell, but I was indeed. I was at the end of my rope and I refuse to ever feel that pathetic again. I am still struggling, but I have no choice. I guess you could say I hit rock bottom.
Frank, thanks for posting.. Beieve me you are NOT alone.. I have very similar symptoms.. Even after 7-8 light beers over a 5 hour period , i just soooo tired the next day, and in the morning usually for 2-3 hours i feel that “anxious” , Face flushing, head pounding, blood pressure cookin “feeling”. It only goes away after a few hours and sometimes i have to take the 1/2 xanax in the morning because i sometimes start to feel very “panicky”. I’m also from PA, and in my early 40’s (seems to be the most common theme on here..lol). What i’ve started to notice the last year or so though, is that not only the next day after drinking (8-10) beers do i feel the anxious , nervous feeling, but many times anymore i actually notice that the same nite i’m drinking , that after about 5-6 beers i start to feel the “anxiety”? And its usually at tha tpoint that i push through and slam a few beers to get over that hump and feel the euphoric intoxicated feeling, or , i cut myself off at that point.. Its really weird. Annyways, i’m sick of this cycle, i hate it…Why is it we used to be able to drink a 12 pack and wake up the next morning feeling GOOD, an being able to laugh about the night before, and then even sometimes crack a beer the next morning/afternoon and just be on an all day feel good high from the drinkin? and now its like almost 95% of the time after drinking more than a few drinks we all have that dreadful , panicky, anxious, raised blood pressure feeling the next day?? Either Dr’s are complete idiots, or were not asking the right medical professionals, because HOW could there be so so so many people experiencing the same EXACT symptoms and yet its not a documented medical ailment??…I dont buy the BS explanation that its just either withdrawls, hangover, dehydration, etc…..Theres something much more to this , and it seems to only start after we hit 30….
J, I think a lot of it is simple getting older. I’m by no means a Dr., I wish one would post something, but I think our bodies just can’t process the alcohol or substances as efficiently. I mean, I even remember doing cocaine and being able to get to sleep, or be ok sleeping on very little, that ship sailed a long time ago….
I’m noticing it with even stimulates sometimes now (I’m talking legal ones, caffeine, etc.) I’m sensitive to. A psychiatrist wanted to give me Nuvigl to help with “motiviation” which is supposed to be low-end adderoll, Ugh, I felt like I was on crack.
For example, today, I’m feeling a little anxious, but it’s defnitely not alcohol related. I did have a few beers (3) watching the Rangers game with a friend, but I then went home and went to bed; I even woke up early, no problem. I had a cup of coffee and some tea with some colleagues at breakfast, and I feel a little anxious/jittery. It’s by no means anything close to the alcohol anxiety feeling, but its a little annoying.
Frank P, again, I’m glad to hear your sticking to this…20-25 beers on a binge, even if you can handle the alcohol mentally, i.e. drinking, its not good for you physically… keep it up my friend… I’m actually finding inspiration in you.