anxiety/panic attacks from alcohol withdrawal?

Guest · Guest

"Yep, so the horrible panic and anxiety went away after about a week of hell. Now three weeks later I drank just beer the other night about 12 and felt fine the next day, three days later I went out and got hammered on vodka red bull and hard a, next day anxiety is back."

Ok its like most of you are telling my story. Taking valium because of the shakes and anxiety, trying to white knuckle it, switching drinks, blaming it on the job, on coffee. Wondering why I just didnt have the fortitude to have only one drink when I had a big day the next day! Every time I would stop I would get worse for a week then better then when I tested it the same thing all over again.

So my doctor told me I suffered from alcoholism, and what i had was the DT's. The A.M.A. definition says alcoholism is progressive, incureable, and fatal, noted by the obsession with and compulsion for alcohol. It only gets worse, once you are you cant get better, and the progression will lead to death. My reaction was your making a mountain out of a molehill! But the Dr. was right. In 5 years the drinking went from binges to daily. The anxiety was constant. It just sucked, and when I quit I felt so bad it was unreal. I couldnt live with alcohol and couldnt live without it. I tried moderating it, tried quitting on my own, nothing worked.

I got lucky, in a moment of clarity, I called the local AA hotline. They directed me to a meeting the next night. I told my wife about it and told her to drive me if I tried to back out. It suprised me, because i expected gutter drunks, and was confronted with the nicest and most decent people I ever met. I even saw my old doctor there that had tried to get me into a rehab 5 years earlier.

It was 4 years ago and I havent drank, dont have crippling anxiety, I did get real sick for about a 10 days (day 3 was murder), and little shakes for about 6 months after, when hungry, tired or under stress. Funny thing is, before, it was like losing my best friend, and with AA and the help others in the fellowship the whole world opened up. I feel like I am living for the first time!

Guest · Guest

For almost a year now I've been dealing with constant panic, sometimes very mild and unnoticeable, once so bad that -- on a plane -- they asked if there was a doctor on board.

And it definitely gets worse the day after drinking, which of course makes me think it's alcohol related. Problem is that five days later with no drinking it's still there from mild to moderate form, and is interfering with my drive to get work done, public speaking, sleeping well, and pretty much any enjoyment of life. I just feel like crap constantly and do nothing but stress about it.

Pretty much the only time when I don't feel this way is when I'm drinking a couple beers, which again makes me think it's alcohol-related, yet I don't drink more than Saturday and Sunday, and never more than six to eight beers a night. Well, sometimes more, but nothing Sunday through Thursday.

Is this kind of binge drinking enough to cause this permanent discomfort? If it's anxiety or depression then it's a weird anxiety or depression, because the only negative thoughts I have are why I can't feel better, and how to feel normal again and get my motivation back.

On Klonopin now which does help somewhat, but it also seems to make me even more tired, and it's not a long-term solution. Any suggestions?

IMPatrick · Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

I guess I can only speak for myself with absolute certainty about this issue, but I'll say this: It's the alcohol. I was a heavy drinker in my 20's and 30's. I drank pretty much every night until I passed out. I think that the only thing that saved me then was that I devoured so much food when I drank; I think that it must have absorbed a lot of the liquor.

Then, when I got into my 40's, I had more free time and began to drink during the day, something I had never done prior to that because I was just too busy during the day with work. I began to have even more free time and less responsibility and began to binge drink, where I'd drink, pass out, wake up, drink, pass out, wake up....etc, etc for anywhere from 3 continuous days to a full week.

During the two years I did this I would always reach a point where I felt so physically ill that I had to stop. At midway through the first day of not drinking, the intense heart palpitations would start and I would swear I was gonna have a heart attack. Like the other person who mentioned it, I took myself to the ER four or five times and got myself admitted. Also like that person, I had a "textbook EKG". There was nothing wrong with heart. I had a feeling that it was just the alcohol, but I ignored it.

Then the panic attacks began.

I'll condsense the remainder of the story and just say that my most recent attack was by far the worse. I binged again, and when I stopped I thought I was REALLY going to die this time. I couldn't think straight, had the worst paranoia and fear, and taking even the shortest ride in a car was a total nightmare. I realized that if I didn't stop this that I would eventually kill myself or kill someone else.

Anyway, I've been sober for about 4 days now, so I'm very early into this - hopefully permanent - stage of sobriety. But I'll tell you, the detoxing and panic only gets worse and worse each time. It took me almost two full days before I even felt a bit normal. But now, on the fourth day, I feel so much like myself again. But I swear I'll never put myself through that sheer terror again. I keep thinking to myself: "my God, if it was so unbearable this time, how bad will it be the next? And will I survive it?" The only answer to that is: I eventually won't.

It's weird but for the first time I feel almost as if I've lost a friend. Does anyone know what I mean? It feels like something is permanently gone and I'm sad about it but there seems to be a finality to this fact.

I prayed during all the attacks, and again at the beginning of this most recent detox. I asked God to help me quit drinking. I truly believe He accomplished this by scaring me so badly this time. I can't pick up a drink again because I won't stop at just one; I'm not capable of it.

I pray that you find the full recovery you deserve. I pray this for all of us.

Good luck!

Guest · Guest

I am currently an alcoholic, unfortunately, and I know what you re going through... I can't work, go anywhere, etc. without that feeling (panic). I'm glad to know I'm not alone. (misery loves company, I suppose). I know how I feel every morning, and ever afternoon... I'm not myself anymore... you've inspired me, I have it in me, I can do this!!!

boozie · Newbie Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Denver

Well kids...looks like we are all in the same boat.

I have been a heavy drinker for longer than I can remember. I am an aspiring comedian/comedic writer and drinking was always part of my shtick. That's what i am known for at work and that's how people see me. I have always made light of it and showed everyone around me a good time when we went out. What they didn't see is when I hung out with my drinking "buddies" and drank for hours. I'm talking 12 hour benders that involved beer (10-25), yager bombs (8-9 and the caffeine didn't help), and whatever the bartender threw at you because you're a regular. I should also mention that I am the head concierge for a 4 star hotel. It's my job to go out and meet people. I eat and drink for free having only to leave a tip at the end of the night. I didnt realize until it was too late that my job was literally killing me.

About a month ago I was getting my hair cut and I started freaking out. I was sweating profusely shaking and wasn't making any sense when I was talking. I felt as if I had stepped out of myself. Lights seemed bright and everything was very much like a dream. I was nauseous and it was apparent to the poor girl trying to cut my hair.

She asked if I was OK and I informed her that I was very much not OK. I asked to her to finish because I didn't want to go to the ER with half a haircut as I didn't want want to appear foolish. Rolling Eyes

I made it out of the building to the street where I though the fresh air would help me. I walked maybe two blocks and the world was spinning and I couldn't breath. I knew that there was always an ambulance on block further and I had to get to them. I found the bus and told them that I was feeling very ill. They rushed me to the ER where my heartbeat was 150 BPM. I thought I was dying for sure.

I stopped drinking for a month until I could get a physical. I got the blood work back and the dr. said I had high BP and CHL. but my liver was doing OK.

That night I went to my fiance's restaurant and had three glasses of wine and that was all. It went fine and I was 80% the next day. The next Tuesday I went out for one of my "buddies" birthday's and had a slew of vodka sodas and guess what...

Square f@#$^&* one.

Got through the attacks again and battled my way back. Last Sunday, I proposed to my girl and we did it right. Champagne in the limo, wine at the restaurant and the celebrations with friends for the remainder of the night...you guees it...square one again.

Last night she had to take me to urgent care where I broke down crying in front of a dr. who told me that I'm going to get through this. Wrote me a script for something in the Valium family and some blood pressure meds. Today, has been OK but not great. I think I know now that drinking isn't for me anymore. It doesnt mean I can't go out with friends, it just means that I will be drinking soda and lime. Bars are so much a part of our life it's something that I can't quit...but drinking is.

I hope that I can share a bottle of wine with my fiance here and again as we are both enjoy wine a lot. I had no problem quitting drinking. I never felt a pull to drink in the morning but at night it was a given. If not, she can tell me how it is and I will be happy for her as she has stuck with me through this whole thing.

I suspect that we can all agree that this can get better. I am seeking help starting Thursday as I want to attack this problem from every angle. I have done a lot of reading and don't want the agoraphobia and the OCD.

Trust me, quitting drinking was never as hard as asking for help. I am glad that I found this page and was relived to know that I wasn't alone. I will continue to share my progress here and hope others will do the same.

mrcounterproductive · Newbie Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Wow, compelling stories (seriously). Trust me, you are not alone. None of you are. It's obvious that anxiety/withdrawal symptoms come from long-term alcohol abuse. We're talking years of getting shit-faced on a regular basis. Whether you get drunk daily or just on weekends, eventually damage is done and it's not just physical. The tricky thing is every individual has a different level of sensitivity with regards to the "anxious" and "scared" feelings that come after a binge. I have a friend that gets this way after just having a beer or two. He too said he became so fearful and anxious that he broke down one day and cried. He stopped drinking entirely.

I was in the same boat just a few months ago after going on a 3-day binge. The day I finally stopped drinking, I was shaking, my heart was pounding and I threw up a few times. I took a long shower and had some sort of emotional break down. My roommates became so worried about me they wanted to take me to get some help but I told them I was fine. I quit drinking for 21 days after that but eventually fell off the wagon (more like jumped off!). Something we as "boozers" should all do is really try and identify why we drink so much to the point of binging and/or becoming dependent. In my case it originally started because I had trouble sleeping. I had trouble sleeping because of stress. I drank to sedate myself and numb my feelings of stress and worry. The stress was still there when I sobered up so I drank more. Thus the binging began which caused major conflict with my life. I noticed out in social settings like bars and clubs, I rarely got intoxicated. But if I was home alone with a fifth of vodka on my day off, then it was over for me. Once I recognized why and how my drinking got out of control I was able to put myself back in line. Like some of the other people have mentioned in this forum, I decided to lay off the vodka and stick to beer and maybe wine. Me and vodka... was like a bad marriage with good sex. Lost cause. I still drink a couple of times a week but not like I used to. Moderation is the key. And like someone else mentioned earlier, exercise works wonders. I ride my bike at least 3 times a week and it feels great. The only sucky part is when I get tempted to be counterproductive and I stop at the local bar for a few drinks while out riding. Nobody's perfect. Best of luck to you all.

ms self destructive · Newbie Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

HOLY!!! I am so excited to find this thread. It is so relieving to find that you're not the only person suffering from the EXACT same symptoms as so many others in this confusing world. I have seen doctors, psychologists, talked to love ones with anxiety, and who knows who else.

At first I was just like someone mentioned before, EMBARRASSED. Then, luckily, my cousin, who suffers the same symptoms, and I started hanging out. We quickly became drinking buddies and suffered that dreaded day after together. All our friends knew and a couple more suffered the same thing. HERE"S THE KICKER! I could not figure out for the life of me what was going on. Like the comedian before me, it came out of left field. I had never been an anxious person. Class clown, acting in film, great at being in the limelight. Just plain not anxious but then one day after months of heavy drinking, almost every day, I woke up had a yummy double Frapp and decided to smoke a joint. It was like nothing I had ever experienced but we all have so I won't get into it.

Well, wierd thing is, I blamed it on the getting high in my head so as I came down so the anxiety went away. I summed it up to a bad trip and that was that. No more anxiety, for now. Two years later after heavy partying and drugs, I was feeling tired the next day and had a full blown panic attack. This is the interesting part, why did I not get anxious after I drank for the next two years after crazy nights out, even though I had experineced a panic attack before. I was just sitting watching an Adam Sandler flick the next time. It was the fear of it happening again that has made me crippled by this bastard condition. I have used Ativan to cope with the day after but am totally able to control after that. Just like someone else said it's like we go back to normal after time. But then, a week or two or a month later without drinks, and I'm feeling anxious. So here's my theory and I guarantee many will agree, at least I hope you do cause than I know I will be able to kick this thing to the curb!!!

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL CAUSES THE PANIC AND THEN THE PANIC CAUSES THE PANIC!!!

That's why even though people go out and not drink very much they are still basket cases the next day or even later that night if they've only had a couple and head home. That's why any one who suffers alcohol induced anxiety, binge drinks. I refused to believe I had no solution to this problem and now I realize there is a solution thanks to all of you and I read every single word of every post.

The key is to:
FIRST of all realize that this is definitely from alcohol withdrawal, you're not crazy, (I used to think maybe I had anxiety my whole life, didn't realize it, and started covering it up when I was old enough to drink).

SECOND of all, STOP drinking if you can, and if you can't than decide to live with anxiety a day or two afterwards. I've been trying the latter for years with the help of Ativan, which makes me moody as hell towards my bf, so I'm trying the former now. Friend smay not understand but hey they don't have the same issues with alcohol that I do. I'm sure tonnes of you have heard well just drink in moderation. Yeah, okay!!! and

THIRDLY, exercise. It releases seratonin which is depleted on hang over days because alcohol caused it to spike the night before.

Well, this is definitely the longest message I have ever written. Hopefully more people will speak up. I'd really like to hear more stories. Because anxiety is so mind-related, it all helps. Maybe we should start a site Smile

madme · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 9

madme · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 9

i just realised as i hav just joined i replyed to the guest person but for some reason it continued under wot this person had wrote. i hope everyone understood wot i said , c my user name suits me (madme) Laughing

.oh well i know u will all understand Embarassed

D40-Oz · Newbie Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

hey ive been getting problems with anxiety after the night of drinking
ive been drinking everyday and all day from the age i was 14 cause the booze has been around 24/7 and now ive been getting some reeeally bad problems with anxiety attacks and delusions .. like i feel like im on some crazy drugs sometimes cause i dont kno where i am and i dont kno what life is
its weird and its scary
but i wanna kno is when do withdrawels go away? cause i dont like this feeling
i cant even cruise around with out trippin out

anxiety/panic attacks from alcohol withdrawal?

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