anxiety after drinking alcohol

This has been very interesting reading, I too suffer this. I am male 52 yrs old. I’ve drank like a weekend fish most of my life with never a problem.

Somewhere around 45ish, this fear began after way over indulging. Sundays turned into nightmares. I wish I could find out what changed my nervous system to hangover in this way. I believe that’s when I became diabetic, but whether it created this new way to hangover I’m not sure.

I believe it is caused by alcohol withdrawal, dehydration, and not getting proper REM sleep and serotonin levels.

Sometimes I sleep 12 hours straight through, but it’s not the right type of sleep, no dreams,  I wake up still drunk wanting a hair of dog and so on..

 

Since we are trying to find a solution, I have found that preventatively to not drink more than 6 glasses (48oz) of white wine, 6 glasses and I’m ok the next morning to work, you have to experiment and find out the levels of your type of drink, the number of vodkas, beers,  etc

I try to reduce drinking after dinner and allow the food to absorb the alcohol.

Also don’t drink 2 nights in a row, that gives you a proper night sleep to “reset” your system before starting again and it allows you to rehydrate.

Now to lessen the FEAR, the CURE for the FEAR, I’m still working on solutions. I have made this list and I’m trying out what is best for me. I would like to hear back whatworks best for you. I will post results later.

Quitting altogether is a scary proposition but those of us that do what you and myself do (I'm also 52!) must face the fact of accumulated toxins over the years do not work so well with an older body. The mind is the biggest obstacle and I too am struggling with the denial of alcoholism----best of luck to you!

Im exactly the same, I only drink around 3/4 times a year and I feel fine whilst doing it but the next morning OMG I feel so anxious and sick! Like now im feeling like it because I went out with friends lastnight and I know im worrying over nothing but I still worry! I try not to over analyse the night before because I would drive myself crazy. So glad im not alone with this problem

I never deny it, but on the other hand I can go months and months without drinking (especially in the winter). When I do drink, it's because I give myself permission to drink, and as long as I stay within my limits I'm USUALLY fine. Some Fridays, I throw caution to the wind, I want to have fun, my reward I guess for a hard weeks work, and I over enjoy, and the fear bites me the next day. I've been experimenting with 5 htp, Milk Thistle, and Magnesium (for the rapid heart) plus lots of water and vigourous exerise (1 hour @ high speed on the treadmill = this really does help) but haven't nailed it down yet. Last Saturday I had no fear, and I had drank 2 litres of white dry with my steak dinner, I was sort of surprised. When I nail it down, I will share. Luck to you.

Note: I am the one who gave this post the 'thumbs down' but it was accidental I did not mean to and now can't undo it. Sorry about that.

Well it's been 2 months without the FEAR!! I'm drinking daily because of my alcoholism, and the summer season is good for BBQ's and wine in the garden. So the changes I have made is: I lost 60 lbs over the winter, I'm still slightly obese by the BMI index, my diabetes is under control because I was on the Keto diet to lose the weight. I take no insulin or pills anymore. I have over drank many nights, but I keep to only white wine (my preferred drink), no shots or beers. In the morning I can't believe I am not "in FEAR" after being clearly impaired. Some times I have even drank 84 oz of white wine, when I check in the morning. Maybe controlled weight/sugars/exercise/ is the answer. For the last 2 months I am enjoying a drinking life without FEAR!! I might say!

Additionally to my post above, I must say that I do get occasional heart racing at night, and some night sweats, I take magnesium supplements when it happens, but I'm not sure that really helps. I also have been taking Melatonin (10mg) supplements nightly to help my REM sleep, which I believe is the reason the paranoia and FEAR has stopped. I'm getting the proper sleep my brain needs to beat it, I'm dreaming and not just laying there in a brain alcoholic coma. I hope this helps someone, I remember the fear and how I would do anything to stop it, and it seems in my case, I have been successful . If my situation changes and it comes back (knock on wood), I will come back and comment further. Good Luck everyone!!

This could be a big bump what the hell..

I also suffer from major anxiety after drinking..it lasts for 2 days or so. Day 1 is pure horror though. its unimaginably scary. I sometimes think I have to try and accept the fact I might die there and then and go quietly. My hangovers take me to a dark dark place. I get strong feelings of guilt, shame, depression, emptiness, sadness, anxiety and fear. The worst is the constant feeling that I might die at any minute. Its like every hangover now (like where I have properly over done it) I get this awful anxiety, fear of death and other bad feelings. Its like I feel I have hit rock bottom.

After my last hangover, I have decided to seek professional help as I have begun to realise that I have been falling into a bad habit of binge drinking alcohol on a regular basis now, like often every weekend, and most recently, a week-day night, which resulted in me having an awful hangover at work. It feels like this hangover could have an effect on my career at my current company, I hope it doesnt but I am fairly new and its very stressful to know that it could have an effect on how I am viewed.

I just cant beleive I would do something that would put my job at risk. It was the last straw for me, turning up to work in such a terrible state. Today I booked a session to get professional help, I know I need it. If anything, I dont get why its taken me so long to seek professional help. I just never really realised how drinking was having such a terrible effect on my life.

Even if you are not an alcoholic, binge drinking can be treated with professional help and if you are having problems with alcohol, I suggest you seek help too! I know I can't win by myself now, I admitted that today and made the first step in saving myself. Please save yourselves before alcohol begins to grab a hold of your life. 

You made the proper choice in getting help, You are not alone, and you do not have to go through this alone. Good luck on your new life. It starts today :)

Alcohol can affect our mood because it can affect the level of serotonin in the brain.A drop in blood sugar can cause dizziness, confusion, weakness, nervousness, shaking and numbness.This has been known to cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, light-headedness and muscle weakness..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.

Alcohol can affect our mood because it can affect the level of serotonin in the brain.A drop in blood sugar can cause dizziness, confusion, weakness, nervousness, shaking and numbness.This has been known to cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, light-headedness and muscle weakness..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.our 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.

I suffer from this too although I never used to. The next day I can get panic attacks and agoraphobia - fear of going outside so just stay in bed all day. I used to have that constantly and think it was triggered by the death of my father and heavy abuse of weed. Ever since I had a panic problem that I have since recovered from mostly the alcohol brings it back like I had never recovered but only for 12 hours or so. It subsides by the evening generally. Recently I drank glayva straight with ice and got absolutely none of these symptoms which is a first for me. Could it be the extreme dehydration drinking 8 pints of beer causes? I found drinking water before bed and eating can help reduce the symptoms a little and diazepam does too but that has its own side effects so I prefer to avoid if at all possible. Do any hangover cures work for these symptoms or drinking clear spirits rather than dark or just sticking to beer etc?

For a while I did get stuck in the cycle of drinking to cure anxiety but then drinking causing anxiety but I am over that now and rarely drink but I wish when I did I could not face such extreme consequences. A normal headache and dodgy stomach would be just great!

Definitely not alone. I don't remember this being an issue as a younger drinker. Now that I am 28, I notice it like clockwork. The over-analyzing of the previous night as if I have done something wrong and or had done things to be ashamed of. I started attributing it to the fact that I have in the past done some incredibly stupid things while drinking and thought that maybe it was a learned trigger that my body was "reliving" the previous trauma of waking up with tremendous regret. But I recently learned that the toxins throw your body off and can naturally trigger anxiety in an already normally anxious person. The irony is that drinking is almost the only thing that completely takes away all of my anxiety and allows me to enjoy myself, and the next day is the backfire. Guess we can't have our cake and eat it too all the time!

please please tell us how you were able to stop the alcohol??? This is a vicious cycle I am on. Panic attacks, severe debilitating anxiety and fear. Help with advice. I also take ativan to help me. I am very sick.