anxiety/panic attacks from alcohol withdrawal?

Guest · Guest

I think I'm pretty much in the same boat as you guys. I've gradually began drinking more and more over the past two years to numb my fears of finding a job after graduation, and the fact that I've rarely taken an honest break from drinking hasn't forced me to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal until very recently.

At first I thought the intense anxiety was due to other things going on in my life, but after reading up on alcohol I came across an explanation of what it does to the brain when used for a prolonged period of time in excess: "When a person with alcoholism stops drinking, withdrawal symptoms begin within 6 - 48 hours and peak about 24 - 35 hours after the last drink. During this period, the inhibition of brain activity caused by alcohol is abruptly reversed. Stress hormones are overproduced, and the central nervous system becomes overexcited."

In other words,while it's easy enough to suddenly stop getting drunk, it takes a while for the brain to respond to this and find a new equillibrium that works.

So while I'm relatively new to this consequence of drinking and am still feeling like shit (I'm only on day one here), all indication is that this anxiety will subside for all of us so long as we don't continue to drink to the point where the chemical balances of our bodies change dramatically.

I'm going to give this about a week, and if I don't feel at least a little better I'll probably talk to a doctor about anti-anxiety medication for the sake of kicking my drinking habit, and possibly even addressing anxiety issues I think I've always had.

Good luck everyone and thanks for sharing.

Yangedd · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

I am day two into a serious withdrawal from Alcohol and I feel as if I'm loosing my mind. I'm having severe panic attacks where I hyperventilate and my arms become numb and my hands curl up. I'm rewally aggitated and haven't slept at all. I began to see images in front of my eyes and feel like I'm loosing my senses. The shakes are coming and going but the sweating, aggitation, tiredness, headaches and panic attacks are still coming full force. I had to curl up on the floor last night while my Mother rubbed my head and neck with iced water. I just rocked back and foward and it's like time is standing still. I want this to be over soon because I can't take much more.

Guest · Guest

I can relate to each and every one of you. As I am writing this, I am experiencing many of the same feelings you are. Through a series of personal tragedies, ie: loss of my business ,my home, all of my belongings, loss of my mother to brain cancer, kidnapping of my only child and loss of my eyesight - all within the last two years - you might be able to understand my anxiety. I was able to regain my eyesight through surgery but it was expensive. The greatest loss was that of my mom and my son. I blame it all on alchohol. I was never violent in any way but the fog that I lived in destroyed what I was trying to build. I am very frightened and alone. I have been curled up in a ball and rocked back and forth as some of you have said. The good news is that I realize that the problem is not with ME. It is with the BOTTLE. I self medicate trying to run from these demons and they just keep pouring fuel on the fire. The only way to beat this bastard is to totally stop. I have done it before and I will do it again. Not just for me - for my son. God bless each and every one of you in this fight.

Yangedd · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

I've had severe panic attacks this morning due to yet another alcohol withdrawal. I drank so much this weekend that I just passed out on the couch last night and woke this morning with no alcohol and the whole thing started again. I had to wait to get a drink and when I tried picking it up I couldn't even do that. I managed to get a few into me though to calm the shakes and sweating and panic, but I don't know how long that will last. I'm scared so much. I think my drinking is giving me a nervous breakdown.

Guest · Guest

You will all feel better, but you may have to suffer for a couple days. I stopped 5 days ago after chugging cheap malt liquor and wine everyday in massive amounts from 22 (started late but made up for lost time) until now at 28, though my cycle is usually drink for 4 days, shake for 3. Been through it 100 times and I've now learned to remind myself I will be fine, cause I am everytime! Well, at least the same as I was last time I finish my shakey, sweaty, paranoid hell. It gets so bad all I can do is lay there, even tv or music is too intimidating. My smoking goes from 20 a day to 2, so I guess that's good! Two other solutions I find helpful, chug orange juice for potassium! If you're up to it eat spaghetti for folate and thiamine nutrients(that's like late in day 2 or day 3 for me though cause I usually have trouble swallowing and/or puking it up)! Orange Gatorade works wonders too! Or smoke a toke or 2 of weed but don't overdo it cause that'll make the anxiety worse, but a small toke works quite well for me. Just remember how much better you will feel in a couple of days, and then deal with other problems, but for now one thing at a time! Take care and good luck to all! Wink

alco · Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Wow - I have read the whole thread and was amazed at how similar my anxiety problems are to everyone elses here.

I am 30 years old and have been binge drinking heavily perhaps 2 or 3 times a week for 8 years though sometimes it has been 4 or 5 times a week.

I have suffered from what I believe to be Social Anxiety ever since I was 12. Before I started drinking I would get nervous, sure, but nowhere near as nervous as I have been in the last few years. I work in an office environment and I often get very nervous when people walk past me (cause I worry that they might see that I am nervous). This can make me shake, have heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat. It would almost get to the point where it was out of control and I had to rush to the bathroom so that I wouldn't make a scene in front of everyone.

I went to the doctor for my social anxiety for the first time about 2 months ago. The doctor did say that alcohol can contribute to anxiety but I didn't really take that advice too seriously. They gave me propranol 10mg. It kind of helped me for the first few weeks but it doesn't seem to work all the time. Perhaps the dosage is too small but I am too worried about the side effects to increase the dose.

I had a stag weekend (bachelor party) last weekend where for 4 nights and 3 days in a row we were drinking solidly wine, beer, shots, jack daniels. At work, the day after (and the following few days), I was more nervous than I had ever been. I started to think that alcohol may be making my anxiety worse. I started looking on the internet and found similar threads to this one.

From what I have learned from everyones comments, it seems that if I go without alcohol for a week I will start to feel better. At this stage I don't think I can give up alcohol as there are too many work parties etc. which I need to go to (it's the only place where I feel comfortable talking to people from work).

My theory is that I have an alcohol dependency and if I do NOT drink the night before I work, I will get withdrawl symptoms that make me anxious. Following the comments on this thread I decided to drink 2 pints of beer every night. I have done this for 2 nights so far and I have felt much better the next day. If this continues to work I will drink a bit less every night until I can hopefully rid my body of the dependency. I will let you know how it goes.

Yangedd · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

I'm in withdrawal yet again. It's only beginning and I can feel myself getting worse. I just went on a bender this weekend and never stopped drinking around the clock. Now I'm panicky and the shakes and agitation are beginning to arrive. I'm in for a hell of a few days. I'll let everyone know how I am getting on.

Yangedd · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 19

I'm starting to get really bad now. The sweat is pouring off me and I'm so unsteady on my legs that I can't get down the stairs. I'm beginning to panic now too. I need sedation I think.

Guest · Guest

I drink heavily almost 4-5 days a week even more this week as it was my birthday I woke up after about 6-7 Hours of heavy drinking to only wake up still drunk took a shower to try and sober up went and did heavy lifting at work out in the sun for a couple hours went on break for a couple hours to try and take a nap when I layed down to try and fall asleep felt like my neck was tighting a little hard to breathe then soon as I did dose off my body jumped up and woke me up... (I have had the same feeling after taking a pain killer the following day when trying to fall asleep) I then went back to work for 2 more hours had a slight headache went out at night started to feel light headed Started shaking pretty bad on my way to the ER I was shaking uncontrollably could barely move while in the waiting room it only got worse i was in a wheel chair could not hold my head up trying not to faint shaking so hard the wheel chair was shaking this lasted about a total of 2 hours all my vital signs were good and the blood mri and urine test were all good. The doctors didn't know what to tell me besides maybe stress but I do not feel anxious or stressed like anxiety attacks describe.. I went home and dosed off about 12 times to only by jumpin up like I had a bad dream the second I fell asleep I just now woke up and feel better.

buzzy · Newbie Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I have been drinking heavily for several years as well, and this board has really helped me understand what's going on.....

Like everyone, I noticed the panic would come when I tried to quit drinking and went into withdrawal.

But something else was going on. Like I said before, I've been drinking for a while, and I had my first panic attacks years ago, and then they went away. They would come back years later, and then go away. Whether I was quitting or drinking.

Lately, I'm faced with a cross country move with two cats and a dog, and having to put together a household and get a job all at once.

The panic attacks started again. And I would obsess on scary thoughts. What if the cats escaped on the trip? What if an apartment complexes didn't allow all my animals and I had to give one up? What if I couldn't find a job? I think I've obsessed on everything that could possibly go wrong.

Recently I began to put two and two together and realized that when my anxiety level goes up because of a life event, the alcohol is like a magnifiying glass for any fear that will cross my mind, then I ran across this on a health site after reading this board....

Stressful consequences

Alcohol dependence may also cause anxiety because of the stressful consequences of drinking, such as marital tension or break-up, threats to job security, or impending legal proceedings. A sense of imminent disaster may develop which, although seeded by a real adverse event, grows out of proportion. There is restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and/or disturbed sleep.

WOW, that blew me away.

One more piece of the puzzle...........

Thanks for all the posts, you guys have really helped me....

anxiety/panic attacks from alcohol withdrawal?

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