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.
Here’s a quote for you all I think you can all relate to….”Paralysis by Analysis” Who does that sound like????
I started feeling better mid day, because I dropped another Xani, now I’m thinking it’s time for another one…
JP
HI all, hope everyone is doing ok.. Well, i’ve posted advice here in the past, but now i’d like to ask some advice…Serious advice only. Well I got laid off from my job about 2.5 years ago, havent worked a day since, and the MAIN reason is that I have such HORRIBLE anxiety at the thought of going back into the work place, especially in a closed in cubicle… I’ve actually had job offers but have turned them down (all of them) and made up some excuse, but the bottom line is its 100% from my anxiety. I just imagine myself at an interview OR if i took a job sitting there 8 hours having god awful panic attacks.. Because of this I have zero money left, savings are all gone, no unemployment and about to get kicked out of my place. My only option here is to apply for social security(which would take well over a year anyway). I’m at the end of my rope and dont know what to do here, can anyone please give some advice? Are my fears unfounded? Will this anxiety go away once working again? Or will i have a MAJOR panic attack the moment i set foot back in the workplace? I currently have another “good” job offer and if my panic gets the worst of me again, i’m going to be out on the streets (or living with a family member ) soon..Please , any “good” advice is appreciated, nad please just dont say “try it ” or something silly..I need some real help here..thanks
Hi J, my heart goes out to you, honestly. I have been a stay at home mom for several years now and the thought of re-entering the workforce makes me panic too. In fact I found out today that there might be a position for me at the University where my husband works…I tried to be real nonchalant about it, but I have forgotten how to cope. I used to have massive panic attacks in meetings that cost me one temp job. My happiest job was the one where it was just me and a computer and I was rarely bothered by humans. Sad, I know, but social anxiety sucks.
Honestly, I can’t think of what advice to give to you. I am currently in therapy and I have been taking very seriously desensitizing myself from all the phobias I have. That does include exposure therapy, which really does work. I recently ordered and am working through “the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Bourne, if you cannot qualify for therapy…you could probably find a used copy for cheap on amazon. Also, I have to ask, are you on any meds? Several people on here use benzos to help get them through the day. I have an ativan scrip that I use 1-2x per week. It might help to get you through that initial: interview, then ease you into a new job?
I’m sorry I wish I had a magic wand that would cure us all. 🙁
Hugs,
Anna
P.s. JP and Laurie, how are you guys doing? I only drank 3 drinks so far tonight and have switched to tea, wish me luck 🙂
Anna, thanks for your post……Ya know you hit the nail on the head about the “massive panic attacks’ in meetings, thats EXACTLY what happens to me..I need to do something cuz i’m out of money, but i just cant go back into that high stress envirorment, and actually i’m not sure what else to do. I take 1/2 xanax sometimes when needed, (thats the only med i’m on, and REFUSE to take other anti depressents) but i dont even know if that would help with going back to a 9-6 job every day..ugghhh.. Anyone else have any advice?
Hello J and Anna,
As hard as it may be to get through my days in the work force with my anxiety, it does help to read and relate to some of what you (all of us) are going through. I to have been living at home for the past year with my mother. Driving is a struggle for me, so every day is an exhausting challenge. I am currently the “Boss” at my store and have done a pretty good job of hiding my panic attacks/anxiety. I have to hold staff meetings weekly and meet with the CEO/CFO once a month for our reviews. I dread these meetings. I tend to cry the day before as pathetic as it sounds. I’ll admit, I do take half a xanax to get through it, but it works. It gets me through that one hour of heart pounding fear. I used to drink myself to sleep (wine is my drink of choice) just so I could get a few hours of rest before I had to face these people. I try my hardest not to now because I have found it just makes it worse. Now some advice….and I hope it helps in some way. J, relating to what Anna said, I focus on what can get me through my day. I do like being alone. Time in my office away from people is what I prefer. I will take it when I can get it. My therapist has been telling me to focus on these positives. For instance, If I have to go to a meeting, my positive thought will be…”It’s over in an hour. Then I am free and I did a stand up job getting through it.” I have also been focusing not on my anxiety, but FEAR. Just like Anna I have developed these phobias (driving/agoraphobia…or just my anxiety attacks). My therapist has challenged me to face them. As awful as they are, she challenged me to just sit through one. I won’t be going sky diving anytime soon but I have decided to take “baby steps” with this process. I have driven without xanax for two weeks and have had three terrible anxiety attacks. I used my breathing techniques to get through them. It was very hard but I did it. I feel that facing the FEAR and reminding yourself that “you did it!” helps. Everyday is still a struggle and it’s hard being around people that just can’t grasp what we are going through. When I try to explain to my family why I can’t go to a busy restaurant to eat with them, they just don’t get it. We weren’t always this way so I am hell bent on believing that we can beat this “thing” that has taken over our lives. Good luck you guys.
Katrina, I’m so proud of you for facing up to your fears! And yes, it does work…I used to be afraid to drive too! I actually forced myself to overcome that one; well, I had no choice since I was going to school full time in a small town with no public transit (I’m originally from Chicago and actually managed to get around fine with CTA before that). It does get better, it’s a matter of building up GOOD or NEUTRAL experiences to replace the bad.
J., you can also use visulization techniques to help you. There’s lots of stuff on the internet about breathing techniques and muscle relaxation too, probably on this very site!
My therapist also enforces the notion of positive self-talk, like Katrina is talking about. I have a ‘worrier’ personality that tends to start every sentence out “What If….” and I”m trying to counter that if, well, then, so what? You’re not going to die or go crazy! Anyway, low self-esteem and a fear of social embarassment are my bugbears. I hate eating in crowded restaurants too! I’m sad to say, I use alcohol if I do have to go out to it. It works. I don’t get wasted but it def. takes the edge off. It is so hard to talk about it to people who don’t understand it though.
My best to all,
Anna
yes all this is tru i get all of it after drinking. i get really nervouse and dont wanna deal with any people. people scare me when im hung over i suffer anxiety anywyas so it gets 4 times as bad. i cant sleep.
Hi Anna, its me Laurie, well where do I start, last Sunday I had a very stressful night at work so what did I do at 1am when my shift was over, free hand pour the Grey Goose into a large glass and fill it with grapefruit juice like 4 times, did that till 3am woke up on Monday with the worst pain in my stomach that I ever had in my life, worse that giving birth pain, I cried and begged God to forgive me and to take away this pain, by Tuesday it went away I was off babysitting my grandson so recap drunk Sunday, no drinks Monday or Tuesday, by Weds I was back at work, another stressful night it’s food retail why should I expect anything less, but I came home 1AM and drank 3/4’s bottle of red wine, a very good Cabernet! This after promising God and myself I would never drink again, I just can’t stop the GUILT over drinking, why do I feel so guilty when I have a couple of drinks after a long shift of hell, I think it is because I see it has limited my ability to actually live my life, because when I wake up I am tired, I sleep poorly alcohol and all it doesn’t let you sleep well, dry mouth, tossing and turning, and the biggest part is that I have gained so much weight and I know it is majorly from alcohol because I am drinking very late at night and then usually eating something before bed to absorb!!! I am in a vicious cycle, why can’t I go without alcohol unless I get sick, it is truly an addiction, and I am truly addicted. Anna, I too hate to drive, I will do it but I am a nervous wreck, I stay close to home, and drive streets, no highway, when I go to visit my son Tom in prison every other weekend it is a long drive 2 hours and up a freaking mountain no less, my husband drives and I panic the whole entire trip then when I get out of prison I eat a Valium for the ride home and try to pass out it sucks, I have given up trying to understand my life, I am going to try to keep myself healthy by day and less destructive by night, I like to smoke Camel Menthol’s when I drink only when I drink and that makes me feel sick the next day all those damn cigarettes. I am a fool for sure at “54” Thanks for the advice in your posts gonna use it at work, and driving lol, have a great day! Laurie
If you drink while taking a benzo (anxiety meds)… good luck. Ive done it countless times. for me it was a guarenteed blackout with no guarentee on what i would do. It got me arrested 7 times in 8 years. And I went through all the consequences that come with it: rehabs, jails, prison, etc. But i still couldnt stop. I would say things like “maybe ill stop when my sons born” or “things will be better when i get out of jail”…but nothing changed. In the end it took my 4 year-old son throwing a bottle out the window and saying “no more daddy” That broke my heart. A 4 year-old shouldnt even know what drinking is and thats when i decided that my son would not grow up around it. Everyone has a breaking point and that was mine. Some people will go through alot of pain before they reach rock bottom. But all in all its up to YOU to decide when enough is enough… Now a days im so glad i made that decission. My medication never really worked while i was still drinking, but i notice it now. And no amount of patron could make me feel as good as i do today:)
A really good report, I suffer from anxiety to the point where I’m on medication. I have been this way since I was a teenager when an incident triggered my anxiety. Im a lightweight and also I can bing drink, I use alcohol as part of my socialising otherwise, Im boring and a quiet person when I with friends and I lack in confidence, so sometimes this is a booster. When I’m out I forget and have a blank memory and I could get up to allsorts, I find it has a devils drink and I wanna quit! I’m terrible the next my anxiety is always triggered off I end up seeking help from fiends and family, I cannot continue my life like this and I would like to get the strength to give it up for good. No I know there is other people going through the same as me, it makes it seem clearer, and starting from todays date Im trying to quit alcohol, for ever.
Thank you for your report which makes things clearer and more undestandbale abouth these things 🙂
J, I really think you’ll feel better once you throw yourself in. I have been through a similar episode.
Man I seriously wouldn’t listen to people about the benzos. You just end up in an anxiety loop wondering about when to take them, have rebound anxiety as they wear off, and then just end up chemically dependent after a few weeks and worse off than before.
How good is the job offer? Is there any way you could pursue a more chill career while you are getting things under control? Be a janitor for a couple years, meditate every day, quit drinking and taking benzos….
J, I don’t think there’s much I can add as well, but simply try it, which I know you don’t want to hear, but what else can we say? We all empathize with you, but as some people said, try some meditation techniques. Also, look at it this way, you’re obviously good at what you do, look at all the offers you have recieved…remember that…people want you and respect you because you add tremendous value.
Anna, thanks for asking. I’ve been ok, moderate drinking only. I even met my ex-wife for a drink after work on Friday, which was fine. She also ensured me that my friend doesn’t hate me, just has her own mental stuff going on, and, still may even feel very stupid and/or embarassed. . .give it some time, it might take longer than you think. It does still bother me quite a bit. . .which I still think is weird, but it is what it is.
I’m actually feel quite sad…which for me, ironically, usually means less drinking and more isolation…my isolation causes me to not want to or desire to drink.
I’m not sure what else I can add and I gotta run.
Hope you all have a great week.
JP
Hey Guys and Gals,
3 months sober and I have to say that quitting was the best thing I could have done. I have not experienced any debilitating episodes since I quit. In the begining I did slip into a depression, but was able to hang on and remember how horrible I felt three months ago in that winter mountain lodge.
My topic for this comment is medication; reason being that I recently sustained an injury to my lower calf. .SEVEN STAPLES. . OUCH. . shortly after the ER visit I endured some severe pain which to me was very unusual as I have a high pain tolerance. When I visited my primary doctor he was concerned that the severe swelling could be a “DVT”. . something I have never heard nor been worried about. This triggered anxiety, but this time I actually had a reason. After another visit to the ER my anxiety was releived as I “thought” they had ruled out the blood clot. Two days later I returned to my Doc and found that my BP was 155 over 102!!! Shaky, sweating, blood pressure boiling. . now Im a nervous wreck! Come to find out that the the Ciprofloxin Anti-biotic triggered an allergic reaction that could have killed me if I would have continued to take it. I returned to the ER yet another time to find out 1) that the staples were already supposed to be removed contrary to the original doctor’s order, 2) The so called test (Catscan) they originally did would not show if there actually was a clot, and 3) after I demanded an ultrasound, I in fact did have a BLOOD CLOT, which is exactly where I was complaining of pain and the one place that the doctors continued to ignore! Thank God it was in a superficial vein or I very well could have died! They sent me home with another anti-biotic and with in two days I was feeling the same reaction as I had to the first poison they tried to feed me. In fact the first night after the initial ER visit was the sickest I have felt in 30 years. . fever, severe chills to the bone, nausea etc., all because of the tetna shot and antibiotics that they shot me up with. I have a point, and I think it may be helpful for some of you considering meds. You see, my parents never allowed the doctors to over administer meds and/or vaccinations to me. If I had a cold, my Mom made me drink tons of OJ. . A fever, lots of soup and liquids. Anti-biotics are poison to my system. . PERIOD. After two weeks and four visits to the ER I finally said F^%k it. . and started taking fish oil and garlic to thin my blood. . with in 24 hours I was able to put weight on my leg again and the clot was half the size as it remained the whole time (2 weeks) that I was under doctor’s care. My next visit to my primary doctor, I unleashed and told him exactly how I felt. . I kinda felt sorry for him afterwords cause I really let him have it even though he is way better than the quaks I had been dealing with at the ER. I told him that medication was poison and if doctors in general would stop worrying about entering data into the f^%king computer and put their phones down for one minute I wouldnt have been put in two potentailly life threatening situations over a cut in my leg. Here’s the shocker. . HE AGREED!!!! My doctor openly told me of his plans to leave the hospital’s administration because he is literally forced/expected to prescribe harmful medications for problems that can ABSOLUTELY be treated better with natural remedies.
MY POINT??? You are your own best doctor. Medication is not the answer for the most of us and in most cases does more harm than good. You know best what is ailing you, and YOU have the power to change. Scientist are now proving that people can change even their minds!!!
If I can do this any of you can. . your on here because your mind is telling you that ALCHOHOL is your problem. . it’ s that simple. This country is in big trouble. Everyone is on something and it is SAD!!! My mentor is 67 years old. . smokes 2 packs a day, still surfs, goes to art school and has had BP of 150/100 since he was in his 20’s. My Father who is 71 quit smoking years ago, quit drinking, has relegiously taken every bit of poison the doctors have prescribed and he has been falling apart for 40 years. BP meds made from snake venom, anti-psychotic drugs that have robbed him of his very being, and a ton of other crap that has destroyed his quality of life for years.
Yeah I still have anxiety, I get depressed, and I get injured more than most people. . LOL. . .But I’ll be damned if I ever take anymore poison that some quak tells me is the answer to my problems. My life isnt as exiting TO ME anymore without alchohol, but with its abscense along with some natural and common sense remedies, I have in fact re-invented myself. . I am more humble, resting better, more focused, relaxed etc etc. Sure it’s a battle! And so is life.
God Bless you all and may you find your inner strength.
Frank P.
Frank, thank you for your insights. I’m so proud of you for 3 months sober, you are a true inspiration. I stayed sober for 6 months last year, that was the longest I ever went. I looked and felt great physically, but I was not truly sober, just abstinent. Waiting for permission. Which I gave myself last year when the external stressors and cravings dovetailed and I bought a bottle of cab. Going over things with my therapist, I can’t believe how low my self-esteem really is. It’s like I’ve been lying to myself for nearly my whole life that I am happy and well-adjusted. The anxiety is the worst of this.
Oh, well, I’m sitting here holding back tears. I really feel like a boring person when I’m sober. I know it’s not rational, but it’s a feeling I need to look at, bring into the light, and question: is that true?
I guess I’m rambling. 2 bottles last night, feel like shit today. Hey, this stuff just writes itself! The same script, over and over.
Basically I know I need to say goodbye to the hooch but I’m having a damn hard time with it.
Peace to all!
Anna
Frank P,
Good to hear from you, that is very inspiring. I often thought of meditation tecniques, moreso for my depression, because, I’m still on meds and I think my body gets used to them and…not sure if they even work anymore. I’m still upset with this situation with my friend, even though I know, and everyone around me tells me, I did nothing wrong and she’s theone with the serious problem…and drinking is a big part of it for her, I don’t think she realizes it yet. I think her view of everything is so distorted, she may even believe her own view of UNreality.
Anna, I know exactly what you mean about being boring. I must admit, some of my most fondest and most fun memories as a young adult, involved alcohol and/or drugs. You feel as if you’re getting soft, or like you said boring if you can let loose….perhaps we don’t want to let loose anymore….we don’t feel good letting loose anymore…why do we have to?
I remember when I used to trip, in the college years. Eventually, those doors I was opening (which I don’t regret), I didn’t want to open anymore. I can’t imagine going on a trip now, there a doors now that I’m fine staying closed.
Cocaine, well, I like to sleep now, enough said.
So, why is alcohol such a big deal to all our peers if we stop?
JP
Jp,
Its funny that you finally mentioned tripping. .
If you had mentioned it before I must have missed it, but I would have bet by your posts that you had your share of blotter. Acid was the one drug that I definetely overdid. It was amazing and a catastrophy all at the same time. My tripping days ended after the second time tripping shrooms. I had a horrible bad trip that lasted for YEARS!!! In fact, through my cloudy memory of those days, I would say that bad trip was the main cause of my depression and severe anxiety and it goes hand in hand with my insight on medications. Its what we are and have put into our system that makes us who we are. Being that we are both most likely “acid casualties”. I would say that we can both agree that our anxiety is much more complex than most.
One thing is for sure though. . alchohol is not the answer!
Peace
Frank P.
Wow, for years, I never had that happen to me. I don’t know, I don’t think I overly abused hallucingens nor do I think I have any lasting reprecussions from them.
I have another night where, yes, alcohol free sounds good. First, nothing bad happened to me, I just feel a little strange.
I met this French Canadian coug last night, she’s kind of crazy and can put them away. Anyway, we went to one bar, I had a beer. Then a tapas place to eat. She had a sangria. I ended up have three glasses of red wine. I was initially going to have one or two, and then said f it. We got home early, it wasn’t a late night…as a matter of fact, it was the best sleep I had in a long time.
Anyway, I’m definitely not hung over, I don’t have anxiety, I just feel a little jittery. I think I might be dehydrated, I didn’t eat a lot last night and went for a run, I’m sure the wine didn’t help though…I noted that in the journal…
Hello I’ve been reading the comments here and I will say this. If you find that u can’t stop drinking you should try going to AA. Will power loses out to alcohol. It is a vicious cycle and going to meetings and getting the support there that is needed is great. Being an alcoholic will never go away. It learning how to deal with the disease every day that is key.
Frank, wow 3 months sober and you BLEW it last nite?? oh well, i dont believe in abstinance from alcohol forever and ever, and frankly i think theres something wrong with someone who NEVER has a drink….I was reading your post about the medications and how they almost killed you….Well frankly i agree COMPLETELY about not taking these anit depressents and anti this and that………Look, when they “possible’ side effects are stroke, heart attack, increased cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and death, I”M NOT going to CHANCE it…and to those ofyou that say they are “very few statistics”..>SO WHAT……i just dont believe in those drugs and i refuse to take them…….Oh ya, the person that commented about we should all goto AA?? well screw you……AA is for MINDLESS ZOMBIES……its a BRAINWASHING PROGRAM…..makes you think every day of yoru LIFE you have a disease, and that 12 step program sounds STUPID……..They want you to look up every person you ever wronged in your life and ask forgivness?? cmon, give me a damm break….Thats silly and idiotic…..They are a bunch of coffee drinkin, chain smokin, bible beating (not that i have anything against religeon) FREAKS……sorry, thats just my opinion and i’m entitled to it:) Good luck to all .
J, where does Frank say that he blew it? He’s six months sober.
I have really enjoyed dropping in to this site for courage and support, but let’s please not get judgemental… I take benzos 1-2 x per week. If I didn’t, I would crawl into the bottle on those days. On balance, I feel like it is my safety net for anxiety and my doctor (who is a DO and I trust her implicitly) agrees. That’s just me and I don’t feel like justifying myself to strangers on the internet about it, so can we please not go there?
As for AA, I’m somewhere in between Jennifer and J on that one. I don’t think it’s a mindless cult and I know it has helped LOTS of people get and stay sober, all over the world. Having said that, I tried it and it is not for me. The meetings very much vary depending on where you live and I do live in a more ‘churchy’ part of the country to put it lightly. I’m an atheist and I did have problems with the ‘higher power’ aspect of the 12 steps. The meetings I went to had lots of “cross talk” and some occasional ugliness too. My sponsor was a complete and total disappointment. To find a different AA group would have meant commuting a farther distance than I wanted to. But I still would not judge anyone who does get benefits from joining. It just didn’t work that great for me.
I hope everyone is doing well today. JP it sounds like you have a pretty lively social life, lol! I miss that sometimes 🙂
I’ve been doing really well these past two days, very moderate (3 glasses per night) and working out consistently. I feel better, am sleeping better. I will remind myself of this tonight when I feel like ‘spoiling’ myself with an extra drink.
Peace,
Anna
Anna, I do live in NYC and I’m recently divorced (no kids) so…. 🙂
I’ve been very good with alcohol moderation, but again, I’ve been feeling weird and jittery the next day. Last night I went out running with my running club, then the bar afterwards. I only had four beers. I met a nice woman, she went back with me to the diner near my place and we had a nice late dinner. We messed around for a little bit before I got her a cab and I went home. Again, great night sleep, reasonable hour and still feel a little, well jittery.
Another friend of mine thinks its my depression kicking in. I’ve been upset about something that happened between a good friend and myself, something that was not my fault. Anyway, even with the meds I’m on, I still think about it quite a bit. Her advice was to steer clear of alcohol, even if not buzzed, a little bit can trigger the depressive tendencies, if that is what is going on with me right now.
Gotta run, thanks again Anna…
Wohhhh…everyone slow down…
Ive been sober for a little over 3months…
Jp..acid absolutely causes longterm and irriversable damage to your brain and has been proven to cause mental disorders such as anxiety, depression,schizophrenia…and even psychosis…Im sorry if I offended you with the acid casualty coment. I personally have experinced such side effects…but then again I have done ALOT. As for AA; most of the posters here are NOT ALCHOHOLICS…and AA WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.I know this first hand…these people are addicted to alchohol…not to self medicating anxiety…
Still sober…
Sorry Frank I guess I’m feeling a little defensive today 🙂 As for the alcoholic ‘label’ well it’s just that. I think it’s up to each of us to figure out where we are with our relationship to the drink. I turned to AA for help at a very low time in my life, and took away a few tools but not much so *shrug* I’m not sure I’d say it’s harmful, but therapy has been WAY more helpful that’s for sure.
I had a friend who absolutely f*cked her brain up on acid, no doubt. she dosed every day to the point where she had to take a bunch of tabs to get any affect at all. I don’t think casual (occasional grateful dead parking lot haha) acid use is as bad though. I’ve only ever tried funky mushrooms, and then only twice. They were fun! But certainly not something I would want to do on a regular basis.
JP I’m sorry that situation with your friend is still bugging you. That could definitely be causing you some situational anxiety 🙁 Hey I visited NYC a couple of months ago, it’s a great place! I miss living in a big city sometimes.
Peace to all,
Anna
Frank P.
sorry man, i must have misread one of the posts, i thought you said you had drank the other nite?? My bad…..anyways, good luck to all… Keep the positive and supportive comments coming..
Frank P, I wasn’t offended, I was just thinking if I noticed that. I know if you’re prone to schizophrenia, lsd can bring that on and that sets in for the rest of your life; many thing that is what happened to Syd Barrett. Perhaps it did change my brain chemistry at some point, who knows.
As for AA, from what I’ve read in most of these posts, I don’t think there are many alcoholics on this thread, if any. I know alcholoics and drug addicts, work with a few, and if you talk to them, their experience is much different….they can’t function without the substance (whatever it is) and also, when deep into it, they don’t feel any guilt or beleive their should be any reprecussions for their actions – the exact opposite of most of the people here….we have, say perhaps, one too many, or not even one too many, and feel bad because we think we may have looked at someone the wrong way last night, or start self-loathing because we feel not at our best or a failure the next day….or, it simply a change in brain chemistry as well.
Anna, yes, this situation with the friend does suck..as well know, male/female relationships often can cause complications regardless of what type of relationship it is. It’s defintely causing the anxiety, and perhaps even a little alcohol does not help, or fets in the way of my brain…for example, I almost feel like dehyrdrated and/or tired and I have absolutely no reason to be. I know I’m definitely seeing her at another conference in a few weeks. Everyone I speak to, including my ex-wife, says she is embarrssed and it may take awhile…some even have said, it looks like you dodged a bullet, run now. 🙂
My crazy boss says, “She probably likes you, women have irrational responses like that to men they like…” ?!? Perhaps…I’m sure the stupid amount of alcohol she drank had a lot to do with it.
Anyway, thanks for listening…
It’s definitely not proven that acid causes irreversible brain damage. I feel like it’s an easy scapegoat. If you take way too much it can break your mind physchologically, but the chemical is organically harmless. If you take way too much alcohol, you die.
It isn’t cool to plant the idea in somone’s head that their brain is permanently fucked up. Perpetuating that urban legend just causes worry for everyone.
Todd,
A Scapegoat for what?
“It’s definitely not proven that acid causes irreversible brain damage. I feel like it’s an easy scapegoat. If you take way too much it can break your mind physchologically,???”
Well this isnt a forum for that discusion, but you may want to do a little more homework as placing the idea in people’s head that LSD and any other drugs of that type is harmless is much more dangerous. LSD has absolutely been PROVEN to cause irreversible alterations to the the human brain in both the synapsis and motor skill function portion of the brain. Further more Lsd can cause long term effects on social skill abilities and has been the second most reported drug aside from cocaine in patients experiencing “Anxiety and Acute Fear” symtoms.
I was not trying to say that anyone other than MYSELF has permenant damage from using such drugs. And anyone who has taken acid assumed that risk. I know of several peopla who are PERMANENTLY FAR FROM NORMAL after only trying acid ONE TIME.
Who knows what kind of problems the “generation X” will have from the so called “Harmless” MDMA???
I know several people that are permanently far from normal after trying acid zero times.
HaHA, yeah, I think we got off topic.
I think this is a well put article about alcohol and anxiety. I don’t know where LSD comes into the conversation (but one can infer haha). Anyway, as being recently diagnosed with a mild form of anxiety, I am beginning to realize that alcohol was playing a big factor in it, among many things. I’m a very healthy, stable, and fit 26 year old male. NEVER would I have thought I’d have anxiety issues or need help coping with it, as this is all new to me and is taking some getting used to. To stay on topic, I’d like to say how I’ve more and more noticed how alcohol, most particularly hangovers or the day after drinking, even if not hungover, cause me to have anxiety…and it does make sense – dehydration, hardship on the chemical processes in the brain, etc. Great read. I encourage others who have anxiety the day after drinking to just look it up like I did and see what you find. As someone who is no stranger to heavy drinking for many years, I’m seriously considering quitting for good or sticking to the occasional social drink. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be far better than suffering with anxiety, panic attacks, and living with such stress on my shoulders. See a doctor though before you decide anything. This is simply my approach, and I’ve been pulling back the curtains on my “mystery” anxiety and headaches for years. It’s a process you gotta stick with. Don’t give up ever. The Good Lord will deliver if you simply ask and obey.
Yeah, sorry for the off the subject posts.I did have a point tloohough.With my recent bad experience with antibiotics it is very clear to me that americans as a whole are all on some sort of substance whether it be alchohol, weed, pain killers, benzos, anti-depressants, aterol, steroids…the list goes on. So if alchohol is the main source of our anxiety, what role does the rest of the crap we have takenplay in our mental and emotional problems? What kind of person would I be today if I had never done drugs? Anyway…STILL SOBER! Its been hard though…the urge still comes, but I hang on to the.memory of my last episode. Depression has been bad lately, especially in thee mornings. The r
Hang in there Frank! I’m really proud of you. I think you have some good points about our culture’s over-reliance on pharmaceuticals and substances in general. I just can’t imagine dealing with my really bad days without some kind of crutch, sad as that is to say.
After several days of great moderation, I killed 2 bottles of wine last night. Ugh. I’m supposed to go to see my therapist today but I am feeling too sick to deal with it, and I hate crying (which I do every time I have a therapy session). I’m trying so hard to stick with this work but it’s just so difficult sometimes.
Anna
Hi Anna, I too killed about a bottle and a half of Cabernet last night, I was anxious early on in the day, I was finally off after 7 straight days of working, and I got up and after I had eaten something, that lump in my throat started, where I feel I am choking and the food didn’t go down. SO I did an exercise dvd and that helped some but that lump was still there, I took my supplements all capsules of holistic herbs suppose to help with my liver,(the organ I am killing on a daily basis) and about 1/2 hour after I took them I burped and all this powder came out of my mouth, it was one of the supplements, it must of got stuck in my throat and I was so shocked, perhaps there really is something blocking my digestive track, making an appointment with gastroenterology asap! That lump feeling got me so anxious that is why I started drinking last night, I didn’t want to drink I am actually getting sick of drinking, and yet I dare not take a Xanax because I thought that too would get stuck, so I drank, got even more anxious had to walk outside and stay in the back yard a bit, my husband looked at me recognized the face of panic, he just continued to clean the pool, I think he is just fed up with the damn panic attacks. as for all the posts about drugs, back in the 80’s and 90’s I was no angel, liked the coke and it was abundant, that is where the guilt comes from because I know the damage I did to my physical well being with all that crap, and the cigarettes I would smoke on that shit was like 2packs when I was partying, it turns my stomach thinking about it sometimes I cannot even face that demon, I am learning to leave it though in the past where it belongs. Frank I am proud of you, I see it coming for me too, I am not enjoying drinking anymore, it has become a crutch, I beg God for strength every day to help me not drink to keep me calm in my brain, now if only I can get rid of the Xanax too, .025 mg morning and sometimes at night, drinking lots of herbal teas now and trying to avoid food triggers, what an upward battle, God Bless everyone on this page, we are all in it together!
Laurie, I’m not sure if I mentioned this before up thread somewhere, but I had (and still sometimes get, usually alcohol related but sometimes when cleaning with harsh chemicals too!) that exact sensation and was diagnosed with GERD. I actually have some thickening of the esophagus right where the ‘hollow’ of my neck is, due to repeated stomach acid exposure.
A change in diet and drinking habits will help. Sadly, it mostly made me switch from white wine to red wine; the acidity of the whites is much worse (in my case anyway!).
Let us know how the appointment goes…I’m glad you made it, because obviously this is conjecture on my part and it might be something else….Good luck!
Anna
Hi,
I’m back. News is not good. I am back on the wine like a demon. I hate drinking it, I don’t even like the taste and my bf is getting a little worried, not angry, just very concerned about my health, as am I.
I am on this terrible merry go round. It’s the DT’s that are the issue that keep me on it as well as the habit and addiction, so a few glasses of wine stops the shakes, then I carry on sipping all night long.
I got fed up with my last two Drs, they were almost free on the State health system I’m on, so I’m going just pay and go to see a psychiatrist. The last Dr was useless as she was too fascinated by my life, my work, my art, my ex’s and the other one wanted me on SSRI’s and I wouldn’t go for it after the awful time I had on Wellbutrin.
Of course they are going to want me to get on meds as it’s job to pill push. What I want is to get on a pill where alcohol tastes so disgusting I can’t drink it. I know that won’t get to the cause but it will at least stop me drowning in Chardonnay. Then we can get to the deeper issues.
The intake went up when I had really bad issues with my employee this year. He’s retired, what they call a ‘seasonal worker’ but we had many run ins and he started misrepresenting what I do and basically making extraordinary claims I couldn’t live up to.
I’m estranged from my family, they all live in Europe, mostly England which is where I am from and I got an email that I didn’t like from one of my sisters saying she thought I was bipolar. I rarely write to them anymore as I’m always judged so when I’m on FB I never write personal things about what is going on in my life. They think I’m a rich bored messed up American. I don’t go over and visit much as the exchange rate is crazy and I find almost all my friends over there spend so much time moaning and groaning about politics and taxes and I hate the weather and the public transport system and the general pollution and all the petty theivery.
Then I went into a deep depression because my mother’s birthday,the date of her death and Mother’s Day all come at the same time. I should be able to get over the terrible grief of losing her as she’s been gone for about 14 years, but I can’t leave the house and see Mother’s Day stuff, it upsets me too much as I really loved her I’m dreaming vivid dreams about her a lot lately.
The thing that is annoying is that when you are depressed and anxious, it’s like being disabled. For instance, I have a fabulous studio and I cross a lot of genres, anything like working with colored pencils, illustrations, lino cutting, painting,I mean I love it all but lately I did two lino cuts and have procrastinated on everything for about 6 months and it’s ruining my self esteem. My partner is a fine artist and is cranking out beautiful paintings all the time. I can’t even seem to read and spend most of the day watching odd, dreary films with strange endings.
So now I’m obsessed with the bipolar issue as from what I’ve read – too much on the internet – I do seem to carry a lot of the symptoms. God, this sounds like a right old pity party but I just wish I could stop drinking. I just keep going on and off it.
Thanks for listening to my tirade! Any suggestions? And don’t say just stop as it’s too dangerous to cold turkey.
Ruth, that’s a lot to carry. First things first, you’re right about cold turkey being dangerous! Get a scrip for lorazepam from your next doc, tell him/her you need to detox and they will make sure you do it safely. Be honest about intake too. Then you need to ease off. You can either do it at home or in rehab. Rehab is expensive and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t help in the long term; it’s basically a big profit industry. The best rehabs are out of reach for most of us anyway! Although it sounds like you are a successful artist, maybe you could afford it? Give your sobriety some time to settle in, then make an appointment for a proper evaluation of whether or not you are bipolar or depressed or anxious. It’s too hard to do when you’re hitting the sauce that hard IMO!
It’s especially difficult since you don’t have family you can turn to though your bf sounds supportive. I’m sorry for the loss of your mom too; I dread the day my mom leaves this earth. See if you can find a therapist who is good dealing with grief; often they are associated with hospices etc. and they can do some really healing work.
That’s my 2 cents anyway. I wish you all the best!
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thanks for writing. It’s good advice.
There is no way I can afford rehab and from most things I’ve read or watched on programs like Intervention,etc people relapse and I agree it’s a huge profit industry. I looked up Lorazepam (Ativan) and the side effects sound dreadful. Did you try it? It says it’s for 2-4 weeks only and is highly addictive. I take Xanax, went from one a day to now two and my dosage is .25, the lowest there is. I don’t abuse them but they do work pretty well for the most part.
I don’t make art for a living, it’s hobby only. Listening to music a lot really helps my anxiety and I download a lot of it.
Every time I have asked on my insurance about grief counseling they always provide me with group therapy because I’m on state insurance and these days states can’t afford to give you one on one. I cannot do group therapy. I’ll see what the new Dr says. He came with a good recommendation from a friend and my appt is on June 8th so I’ll see if I can cut back gently from constantly sipping on the vino in the meantime and keep you posted.
I just booked a flight up north which helps my anxiety a lot as I have lots of friends there as opposed to none here and it will be a fun summer. Booked a one way in case things don’t get better and I’m going on holiday to Sedona at the end of June with a dear friend which helps.
Thanks for helping. I look into the hospice thing. Hope you’re doing all right.
Ruth
Ruth, Ativan is no worse than xanax for side effects; if you are on xanax you would be fine on ativan…but any benzo will do for withdraws, so maybe you should ask the new doc about a slightly higher dosage of it to be on the safe side? Again, not a doc here so I’m just not sure! I take my ativans about 2x per week(.5 mg). They’re no more addicting than xanax; same class.
I guess I’m belaboring the point; but I do know for sure that one of the reasons that doctors like to use benzos for alcohol withdrawals is that they are not detoxified by the liver; SSRI’s (prozac etc) and wellbutrin ARE so I’m with you on being reluctant to go on those.
Ugh, I couldn’t do group therapy either…hello social anxiety! One of the many reasons that AA did not work too great for me either. I do hope you can find some help through hospice; they have some great people working for them.
Enjoy your trip and do check in again. I have a way of getting worried and attached to random people on the internet 🙂 probably not healthy, but I am a compassionate person!
Hugs
Anna
Hi Anna,
No group therapy for me. I also can’t go to AA. I tried about 5 groups over a long period of time. I never found a soul I connected with and found it terribly depressing and rather brain washing. I also can’t be around smokers which most AA people are, it makes me feel really sick to inhale their tobacco fumes.
A friend of mine in England has been in it for 10 years and is really into it. His case was a matter of life or death though, so it saved his life. He was drunk in the mornings on high streets found laughing to himself about nothing. Yes, total anxiety for me to share such public stuff around.
So here is my question: what is the real difference between Ativan and Xanax? Xanax doesn’t stop me drinking. I don’t like a lot of things about Xanax, it tastes disgusting and gives me dry mouth and ruins my appetite. It’s nice to be slim but it really makes me feel like throwing up if I take one and then try to eat dinner. Oh well, at least the food bills are small! But they do stop the anxiety. I don’t get panic attacks, though have, but that was after binging on the hard liquor years ago so can’t drink anything but wine, but shouldn’t really be drinking that either.
I get concerned about people too that I don’t know. My job is a job that helps people and it’s also a people pleasing job. I’m one of those types that everyone comes to deal with their problems. I think some of the anxiety is of course alcohol but also becoming a sponge for everyone is a hard job to do and hearing about people’s failed relationships, nasty divorce proceedings, huge debts, people being raped, parents or kids being incarcerated, other people’s issues with drugs and loss of jobs due the economy etc, can certainly take it’s toll and it’s an impossible task for me to fix. But after being self employed so long I can’t possibly work for another person or company so I just lessen the amount of work I do and make sure I lessen as much drama in my life as possible and am very fussy who I socialize with. Writing, like journaling helps.
Thanks for being concerned. I’ll figure it out, hopefully the sooner the better. Ruth x
Hi Ruth, the main difference between Ativan and Xanax is one of half-life (how long it stays in the body). Xanax takes effect more quickly and wears off more quickly, whereas ativan blood levels peak 1-2 hours in and fade more gradually. Either would be good for detox in the sense that they will keep you from having seizures and help with the shaking & anxiety. If you want a drug to *keep* you from drinking you might ask your doctor about naltrexone; it basically blocks the “happy” receptors in your brain cells that alcohol stimulates, thus taking away some of the initial high. The hard core drug out there of course is antabuse; you will become vilely ill if you drink while taking that. Of course none of this will work without the will power behind it!
(thanks for letting me dust off my biology degree haha)
Yes, AA is not for everyone, but for those that it helps it can be nothing short of a miracle and a lifesaver. Even above and beyond my anxiety about talking in groups, I found the jargon and churchiness a bit much (I live in a small town; only one group to pick from). I went to a couple of women-only meetings that were pretty good but those were few and far between.
Best best!
Anne
Anna, Ruth, Laurie, wow, it sounds we all have seen some better days, it happens. I had been really good, but I kind of saw this coming, the music trigger. The Afghan Whigs re-united, after a 14 year hiatus, first show here in NYC. Me and my buddy went, and yes, the beer was flowing.
The good news, I didn’t get completely smashed, neither of us did, we wanted to remember this, but with the Bowery Ballroom selling $5 bud lights….(this is unheard of in NYC). Also, my buddy wanted to stop by a bar near the both of us before heading home. I was okay with that, really didn’t think I wanted to drink anymore, to my surprise, when we got there, he looked at me and said, “Should we just go home?” I agreed 100%; I got some pizza and went home (I hate doing that, bad for training – Oh, not sure if I told you all, I’m training for my 5th marathon)
Waking up was interesting. I had some slight anxiety, I was, surprisingly, able to will it away, I then had a few dry heaves. After my shower, I felt okay. I’m at work now and don’t feel like doing anything. I feel very blah, not so much hungover, just exhausted and unmotivatd, which actually, usually leads to the anxiety. I’m drinking water and starting to feel a little better. This whole day is just crappy, the weather here is awful, it looks, well, hahaa, like London! I’m looking out the window of the 43rd floor and can’t see a damn thing!
I’m leaving town in a today, wish it was earlier. Actually, as it usually does, writint to all you makes me to start to feel better.
It seems several of you have problems with wine, that is tough, I know. Wine is just so good, especially if you have a pallette for nice ones, and it just goes down so easy, but creeps up on you. My wine fridge has been empty for wow, months now, maybe I should have given it to my ex-wife when she asked for it. I had two glasses of wine on Sunday at brunch, chilled, went on a run, and just felt so weird the rest of the day and the following morning, and that’s two glasses?!?
Frank, as you know I’m on meds and now I’m starting to question if they’re really doing anything anymore. They definitely helped in the begininning, but, these are things you can’t just stop cold turkey.
As for benzos like Xanax, I do take this on occassion, it definitely works. They kind of get a bad rap I think…if you are an addict, I hear benzos are HIGHLY addicitve.
Well, ladies, I really hope you all start feeling better, I actually am. Just think of some random, dark haired man, giving you a big supportive hug and kiss…that would be me… 🙂
Mwah (kissing sound), JP, it’s not often that an aging cougar like me gets to kiss a young whippersnapper like you! He heh. Thanks for the hug and the smile 🙂
Enjoy your time out of town! AND congrats on the marathon, wow. I’ve just started considering taking up running; I feel like I could burn way more calories that way than the workout routine I’ve been using. Any tips for beginners?
I’m doing much better today. My parents are up for a visit and everything just seems easier and rosier when they are around! I moderated last night and so far tonight. I spend more time talking and laughing with them when they are around, not to mention cooking…Probably I should get out more and do more things to keep me occupied even when they are not here, that way I would not brood and pour repeatedly…
Hugs to all from a gal who just wants us all to feel ‘normal’ soon!
Anna
I am a heavy drinker and am also someone who has dealt with bouts of anxiety over the years. Part of it is due to the atrial fibulation I have but after reading your article, I’m convinced that another cause is my heavy consumption of beer. And I do mean heavy. I notice that many days after consuming my usual amount, which is usually 10x more than what is recommended, I feel gittery, nervous and have a overall uneasiness about me. I then, like a fool, immediately head for the Xanax (0.25) and take a few of those until I feel better. I should have stopped this nonsense long ago but I’ve just been “acting the fool” for so long it has become a habit. I do appreciate your article. It makes perfect sense
I’ve started some work in my journal for when I go to a ‘real’, not state related Dr this week. I don’t have to do the labored 4 hour intake, thank God, it is one hour. I’ve written down some questions and written down some of my issues with why I drink all the time between strange extreme detoxes.
The only reason I’m going to to get on a drug that will stop the urge until I can figure out my deeper issues. I just can’t stop, the will power is long gone and it’s worse when I’m not working which I’m not as my work is seasonal and now is my off time so I have zero responsibility. So it looks like Naltrexone could at least be the start. (Thanks Anna!).
Till this week and the appointment I guess I’m probably going to be honest and say that I’ll be carrying on sipping the Chardonnay. It’s my last chance to say goodbye to an old friend who isn’t really my good friend. (Hopefully).
It’s a good thing in a way since when my girlfriend flies in for us to head north for a holiday soon, it’s just a long weekend, she’s looking to lose weight and unlike me isn’t the type to drink alone. And then I head to the Midwest for the summer to hang out, where all my friends are musicians and singers, I get to go backstage at huge festivals, stay out late with them at bars and restaurants that they play at, but this time if I can’t drink things will actually be far more fun and I won’t be tempted to flirt when sober! For a musical lot they don’t drink more than two drinks. I’m so jealous they can do that! If I was in that lifestyle I’d be dead by now!
I bought some workout gear and good shoes. None of this running business you’re all going on about… I’m 113lbs, 5 foot but 38C, so I don’t exactly have the body type for marathons. Speed walking is what I’ll be doing as my friend whom I’m staying with lives next door, like really close to a large botanical garden. She’s disabled so I’m on my own but it’s behind her house so as long as the mozzies stay away and I get up and go first thing before the humidity kicks in, things should be really great.
I’m not telling any of my friends or family if the Dr gives me some pills, (no more judgements, thanks!) which he will cos they all push pills on you in a hurry, state funded or not. I plan on making beautiful art, staying clean this summer, writing and getting fit. Anyone joining me in this quest? x
Ruth:)…i’ll join you, in spirit..lol…i keep trying, but seems i cant go more than a day or two without a few beers…..Luckily i’m not hitting any hard liquor, or even wine, and just sticking to light beers……I’m no angel by ANY means ,a nd had about 10 last nite, and probably the same tonite…….but for some strange reason since i spread it over a 6 hour period i dont feel “drunk” from it, and the anxiety genrally isnt “too bad’ the next day..Now, if i had a few 80 proof shots on top of that….i’d be screwed……..
J,
I don’t like lite beers at all. I feel gassy, was born in Europe where Light Beers didn’t really exist and don’t want to spend all night lining up for the loos at bars. Women’s places are always crowded and generally dirty. I’m not a huge socialite anyway. “Hello, can you pass me some loo roll under the door? Thanks”, so I don’t go that route and no matter how long I brush my teeth, I wake up with a beery taste in my mouth I don’t like.
I think I spent a lot of denial over alcohol and how it affected me as I’m not one to get angry, argumentative or be crying all the time or wanting to beat someone up. I just sip away until sleep time comes. But then the anxiety starts. Bad dreams, too real, hard to shake off. I’m done with that, I hope.
Oh the proof shots will do you in. Years ago I met some bloke who was into tequila, and I remember getting really inspired to write poetry and then next morning read it and it was utter rubbish. Then one night, full moon, he and I decided to be John Lennon and Yoko Ono and went to a field with a blanket wrapped around us staying up till dawn, for God’s sake. Such nonsense! Who’d do that sober?
What I need is some accountability. My friend I’m spending part of the summer with doesn’t drink much and neither do my friends, no one goes crazy and it’s expensive to drink out, which is why I drink at home I suppose, and when I’m down south I have no social life. TV isn’t social life. But the fridge is near and there are all the channels so it’s easy to spend nights in topping up the glass.
So, J, let me know how you get on. My Dr’s appt is on the 8th. Sobriety starts on about the 6th. Are you in?
Hi, its really comforting to read these posts but its sad that were all experiencing these things.I too get these feelings but one thing no one else has mentioned is the paranoia that I feel, particularly harshly after binge drinking. I dont do any stuff associated with heavy drinking ie sleeping around, getting into trouble/fights ect but feel terribly bad and terribly paranoid. I think its the paranoia that makes me anxious. I have just been on a hen holiday and drank heavily for three days and spent the whole last day in my hotel room by myself vomiting and being afraid of going outside when I should have been out with the other girls. When I think someone is watching me I shake uncontrollably (to the point that I cant hold a cup of tea), become dizzy and my heart thumps. I went to rehab for 6 weeks and for 6 months I didnt drink and took an SSRI. During this time I was withdrawn, aggressive and lonely and ultimately still paranoid, I couldn’t cope in social situations or any situation where I thought attention might be focused on me. Just wondered if anyone else had this and what helped. In the long term I know that my drinking will get worse again but in the short term it is keeping me functional and least able to go to work.
Hey, Ruth! Your sobriety is starting soon, please keep us posted! I wish to heaven I could honestly say I would join you. I can’t seem to put down the vino. 1-3 just feels and tastes so damn good and kills the anxiety and low self-esteem I suffer from. I have been working with my therapist and journaling and trying other things; but I know eventually I am going to need to go the route you are going. It kinda makes me sad.
Kelly, it sounds familiar to me, all too familiar. I think that Frank posted about not being able to get out of his car & join his family on vacation from the paranoia. I haven’t had it that severe lately but it does happen. It sounds like it is compounded by social anxiety for you? I have that too and it is painful to feel like you are the center of attention, never liked that and still don’t feel comfortable at parties or anything without some booze to dull my senses.
So sad. I hope everyone is doing better today!
Anna
Wow…reading your posts is the closest I’ve come to thinking “that sounds like ME” in awhile! Although, my fave go-to is (please dont laugh) champagne. I’m drinking everyday, and way too much. Im sure the boys at the shop think me a nut for the amount I buy. Everyone seems to ask if Im celebrating…(more like ‘coping’)
yet I got more and more into drinking because it was the one thing that helped quell my anxiety…which usually showed up by causing me to feel like I couldnt swallow. Can’t swallow, can’t eat. Drink a few pints of Asti, and whammo….I can EAT! Great…but now I don’t hardly eat, and I drink from sun up to sun down. I want to stop, Im 40 and need to grasp hold of my life for once….but to read that a side-effect of stopping drinking is to HAVE anxiety attacks??? Needless to say, I am scared TO DEATH! ANY words of wisdom or advice is MUCH APPRECIATED ladies!!!
This nutty girl in California needs all the help she can get! 🙂
Wow, I have been away for while, lot’s of stuff going on. My moderation has been working quite well lately. I had a little bit of anxiety monday wednesday morning. I got back home late from traveling the night before and went out for dinner at a bar. I wasn’t planning on staying that late. I don’t think I had more than four beers, but it was late. I met a woman and starting talking to her, it kept me there longer than I wanted.
But like I said, it went away as the day went on. The anxiety always makes me self-concious of that stupid situation I got into with my friend…the mice start running around in my head, again, a situation that wasn’t my fault. But once the anxiety goes away, I start seeing things a lot clearer and stop creating these unfounded hypothesis’.
As for running advice, start off slow. Get a couple of miles under your belt, then maybe start some speed workouts, that’s when you’ll start seeing real results.
JP
Hi there Audrey, my name is Laurie, welcome to the site, I am a bit concerned about your day and night drinking though, most of us on here seem to drink to end the day and ward off that ominous anxiety attack that loves to come with the night, I personally cannot wait to walk in the door at 12:30 every night after a long shift in retail and pour a glass of wine, I justify that with the fact that I had just put up with so many aholes in the food retail industry and I sit and relax with a glass of wine a cig, and eventually kill the whole damn bottle, then beat myself up the next day for doing it, I am proud to say that this past week I have worked out either every day or every other day in the morning mostly walking dvd’s that is where I must start small, and lately at night I am a bit sick of the drinking so I have been keeping an eye on it and keeping it to 1/2 a bottle of red or 2 patron’s on ice, been reading Sixty Shades of Grey, keeps me off the drink which I like, I still take a xanax when I feel the panic coming on, but still keeping it low dosage .025 and one a day so far so proud of that, I just think that if you are drinking from sun up to sun down then you had better seek some additional help then just from this site, it is really hard on your liver, and you HAVE TO EAT the only thing I do that is right is eat good meals in the daytime, and I eat supplements, Turmeric for the liver, a good multi and a Fish oil, at night I was binging on chips and crap I have stopped that this past week as well I was feeling really sick after doing that. I wish you well Audrey I will worry for you as I do for myself, I love the taste of wine, love to swill it around in my mouth before I swallow it and I only drink the best, I am in a damn wine club that costs a fortune, but I am worth it right??? I am also realizing these days That I am worth Alot More than that as well!!! Thanks to God, he is my rock, and my grandson my reason to want to change my bad habits even more, Anxiety sucks, it is so depleting, I have suffered for years from it, I want my life back, I think I am on the right track this time, I hope and pray so,! Hello everyone out there, hope you all are doing well, God Bless, Laurie!
Laurie, god bless you:)…Keep up the good work..
Why dont alcoholics eat ?? Speaking from EXPERIENCE i will tell you. Because simply put it RUINS your buzz… I’ve noticed that if i didnt eat much that day, or not for many hours, then i start drinking, i get the “fun buzz”, and it is a good buzz, but the MOMENT I EAT, within a few minutes, the buzz is gone, no longer want to drink, and just get super tired and usually crash out…THATS WHY people who drink alot dont like to eat (while drinking mainly)……
Hey guys, JP and Laurie sounds like you are both doing really good! I’ve been okay, I seem to go 3 days on/1 day off…i.e. 3 days good and moderate and then over the edge one night and horrid the next day. If I could just eliminate that one bad judgement night I feel like I could live with myself much easier. You guys are an inspiration.
Ruth, I hear you, I don’t like beer either…haven’t really been a beer drinker since college, but even then that’s just what *everyone* drank & super cheap! J, I too have been avoiding the spirits. I make bad decisions after gin and tonics, been proven. But man I craved one the other day; return of warm weather related I think.
Audrey, that difficult to swallow feeling could be GERD, and believe me excessive drinking makes that worse (excessive white wine consumption in my case; switched to red and fewer probs)! It’s a spiral. I too would have difficulty eating but then down a couple of vinos and would be relaxed enough to eat. Get yourself to the drugstore and some OTC prilosec or even generic brand; as long as it is Omoperazole it will help. Cut down your champagne intake sloooowwwly. Keep a log. If you go cold turkey you could have seizures. Get lots of b vitamins and the supplements laurie mentioned are helpful too. A scrip for ativan or simliar from your doctor will help with withdrawal anxiety a LOT! Be honest with him/her, let them know that you want off the sauce but you’ll need help with withdraws and anxiety. Lorazepam, xanax, etc. can all keep you from having a seizure too so…BEST of luck. I hope you can kick it and retrain the brain. I am turning 42 so I know what you mean; I feel like it’s time to just grow up!
Hugs to everyone,
Peace,
Anna
Okay folks,
I am off to the Dr in an hour. He is not a psychiatrist and tells you so. My partner went for some therapy and he said we don’t do that. So I’m in for just one hour and will be honest about consumption this time as I want to get on the Naltrexone, aka ReVia. I’m out of will power and sick of living his life of insomnia and don’t want to end up dead any time soon, so I need some help. If anyone had told me in my 20s or 30s that I’d be a full blown drinker at it’s all time worst at the age of 45, I’d have laughed and said no way.
It’s really easy for me to drink. Where I live the few people I know have headed out of town as it’s so hot, 107 degrees, so I think what’s wrong with a few drinks and a couple of films while the air conditioning kicks in nicely? Hardly a life. Thank god my friend is flying in soon for a holiday with me and then I’ll head out and fly up to the midwest by which time hopefully this drug will have kicked in so I can’t drink alcohol. That is the whole point of the med, after all.
From reports I’ve read, this drug means you have NO desire to drink even if everyone else around you is and it makes you feel sick if you try to drink. My friends are not alcoholic up there but it’s a scene where there is as much alcohol available as you want. I just hope the drug doesn’t make me psychotic or feel bored going out to the bars and clubs my musical friends play at.
The eating is a huge deal. You’re basically drinking your calories. I wish my counselor had been more of a help but with state assisted counselors, they are not usually the most professional. Also, as we know, if a therapist has not actually experienced anxiety, it’s like talking to a brick wall. Wish me luck. I hope you are all doing okay and not struggling along. It’s a tough path.
I did find a book about drinking which was for women that you fill in the book with your feelings/triggers, etc, so I’m going to start with the first chapter and jot daily stuff down. Can’t remember the name offhand. Anyway, we’re not on here to push authors.
Okay, time to get in the shower and face the music. I will be truthful to him, but it’s rather shameful to admit to the quantity and regularity of my drinking, it makes me feel really like such a loser when I have so many other things going for me. Good luck to you all.
I have some good news and some, well, not bad, just a little introspective, a little slip up, well not really. Oh, I’m glad I came back to read, I totally forgot about that night earlier in the week. I need to start loggin in my journal more.
First, I feel more secure about my relationship with my friend I had the unfortuante situation with, because SHE got shit canned and did something stupid to me. I think I mentioned, we work at the same company, but in different divisions and markets; our marriages demised around the same time and it was our respective spouses that left us. We became good friends because of it, but well know male/female relationships have their tensions, especially with me. Anyway, we seem to get over the whole fiasco she brought upon us, but she still has been distant lately. Now, I know she is stressed with work (doesn’t deal with stress well), but because we never resolved that situation the way I wanted to (talking about it), I always been still self-concious about it. So, I am heading up to my summer house this weekend (she lives near there) and mentioned I’d be up. She tells me she’s book all weekend….which is not that unusual, knowing her work, her family stuff going on, etc. I make a joke about it, like is this going to be everytime I get up there…because I am feeling like she is blowing me off….I know there’s no reason for that, but I just can’t help it. So, I sa this, “X, I’m sure your really stressed, I could see it in your face in Boston, but just as you worry about me playing hockey, I can’t help but to worry about you at times as well, we haven’t had any of our goofy exchanges in awhile, I guess this is a long winded way of asking if everything is cool with you.” She responded right away, “I’m just really stressed with a lot of deals.” I did respond back something like, that is what I thought, just wanted to make sure, you know I’m always here for you and, “I wanted to tell you this in person, but why not now, one of the best things that happened from my divorce, was our friendship.”
She didn’t respond to that, but I know she read it and appreciated it. I also felt SOOOOO much better.
Wow, I went off on that…I forgot to write about last night…damn..:-) Ok, quick version….since I’m training for another marathon, I’m not playinv hockey in the summer, but told the guys I am available if ever short, last night was one of those days. I forgot about the whole adrenline and endorphine rush from the sport…it makes beer feel like drinking water. I got back to the City late and went out to bar for (1) because I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep…ok now 5 beers later and its late, I still feel fine?! The bartender said something to be, but now I’m thinking to myself, what am I doing here?!?!? I just said, “This is so counter productive to training,” got up and left.
I woke up just feeling exhausted, not hungover or anything like that, just exhausted…although now I’m starting to feel a little anxious…I guess I feel a little foolish…