Anxiety and depression for days after binge drinking

I have been dealing with this same issue since I was in college. Had my first major panic attack when I was 28 (10 yr ago) after 5 days of drinking. Everyone always says not to drink so much, but why doesn't all my other friends, right there with me, have the same problems. Well, I think I may have finally got something. This past weekend I did two days of 12 hours plus with my 50+ year old mother who never drinks. Since I was home she wanted to go out and we had a great time. I got up on Sunday and thought I was going to go to the ER. I took a few clonopins and was able to make it through and not go to the ER. I flew back home on Monday and still felt like shit. Worked Tue - Fri still not feeling 100%. On Friday I went to the Nurse and explained everything. She checked my blood sugar. It was 75, I had eaten cereal and OJ for breakfast. I thought this was odd as I have done many fasting blood checks over the years due to my anxiety and the fasting sugar levels have been at ~85 which is normal. She thinks I may have alcohol induced Hypoglycemia and this is causing me to have the anxiety. I have an appointment with my physician and we are going to talk about this. I have read many articles over the last few days and it sure makes sense to me. If this is what it is, I wish I new this many years ago. Take a look and see what you all think.

All I think we are all having Hypoglycemic attacks and they are especially bad when induced by alcohol. I have been taking Clonopin for over 10 years to treat anxiety after a major panic attack from a few day binge. My doctor appointment is next week. I hope this may be it. Possibly we could check our blood sugar as we drink and treat it somewhat to prevent this dibilitating anxiety. I will quit drinking if needed but I have had many of the best times enjoying a few beers.

the exact same thing happens to me well used to happen because i dont drink anymore because of it and i am very glad i stopped it just isnt worth feeling like your trapped in hell for days because of drinking just for one night

Hi everyone.. I'm glad to have found this forum. I went to a party last Friday, and went in thinking I was going to handle myself, not get totally s**tfaced, stay at least somewhat responsible. Well... that didn't happen. I had fun but then I blacked out, remember falling a few times, over drank *again*, lost my camera and maybe my phone, took drugs... I like alcohol... I don't want to quit, but I hate what I'm doing to myself. I'm a health freak and love to train and eat a super healthy diet. It's just this drinking... And dear god the anxiety.. the horrible, excruciating mental state that has me feeling shame, isolation, panic attacks to the point that "the Fear" settles in. This is a feeling that makes you seriously doubt your own sanity to the point that you don't know if you can ever get yourself back and ever feel happy or right again... That you might feel this pain and this scared for ever. They last for hours and sometimes all day.. It's terrifying.. like you have gone too far and you might never have another chance. And there's _nothing_ you can do about it. You would think -any normal person would think- that they would avoid drinking if it lead to such a miserable experience. But I always do. I can't even remember the count. It's hurt me in so many ways. I drink to catch a buzz.. but there's that fine line towards drunk and even more drunk. I'm 26, I don't weigh a whole lot (110), so It doesn't take much. And then I'll sneak shots, do doubles, slam drinks, empty stomach... classic, *classic* binge drinker. I have a reputation as a drinker too.. And though I have lots of friends I don't want to continue on like this! I don't want people thinking that when I come over they're going to have a couple drinks but I'll end up way more wasted than they are... I feel like I usually am the most trashed. And still want more. Despicable. I can have a few and stop... it's not always a disaster.. and I don't drink on weekdays. But It seems once a weekend I'll screw up and be disappointed in myself.. or my husband will be. It makes me unbearably sad. And the weekend before last I binged for 4days straight! it's disgusting. I have even ruined several holidays (2 easters and an thanksgiving) because of passing out on either drugs or alcohol. I just want to have fun. Not create a crappy weekend and waste $ and time with the man I love more than my own life. I don't want this to go so far as to permanently alienating my family, friends and spouse. The simple answer is to just stop drinking so much. Right? I don't even know why I drink like this. My life is really great! So it's not because I'm miserable. I guess I'm just booze-greedy..? I just don't know... Sometimes I even have these nightmares where I'm inebriated, and around my family and they're just disgusted in me! Utterly disgusted because i can't stand, can't talk right, and I know that I haven't drank.. but my body won't do what I need it to And I'm humiliated. So scary. I want to be the perfect, responsible wife! Maybe someday even trophy status! I'll never get there If I'm spending my Mondays on the couch trying to recover.

So by now we all know the truth. If we don't drink we (eventually) will not have all of this horrible panic, anxiety, and depression. Let me tell you from experience, it gets worse and worse. I got out earlier than many, but it hasn't been too long yet. First of all. When I quit drinking the 3rd and final time I had a very difficult time with anxiety and insomnia. If you can't get to a doctor and need something to help you come down there is Kava Kava. You can get it at just about any health food store. Best way to take it is the tincture. Now the bad thing is if you drink alcohol and Kava Kava it's really bad for your liver. So only use this to STOP DRINKING!! Once you're stable then diet, exercise and a positive direction in life will get you there. I'm doing AA meetings right now. Thank GOD I found a really fun AA weekly meeting. Most were good and positive but a little boring. I still go to the less exciting ones when I miss the one I love. It's a great reminder of what you DON'T want to do in life and also a great reminder of where your life can go when you rid poison eeeeerrrrr alcohol from your life. There are a lot of people willing to help you! Even if AA is not the way for you please find some way to get this poison out of your life! Whatever you do just realize that alcohol is screwing up your brain and your body chemistry. It's hard to kick because of the anxiety and even worse what alcoholism does to your brain. It makes you forget almost all of the horrible things you do and you remember that really fun part when you have your first few drinks. Life can get boring so it's up to you to find SOBER fun things to do. I was a drinker for 23 years. Most of the first years were fun but I did do some really stupid things here n there. At some point, your body changes and it becomes a really huge horrible problem. Now I can't drink at all. Good riddance I say! Wishing you all the strength and mental clarity to see the truth of what alcohol does to so many of us. Yes there are many people who can drink and live a normal life. If you're to the stage where you're getting anxiety, panic attacks, and/ or depression, it's really time to take an honest look at yourself and realize that there is NO ROOM for alcohol in your life.

i reconise all of this, high achievers, anxity after drinking, depression after drinking och! thinking you are going mad, yep its the alcohol, it just doesnt suit some people. I got off it to get back to normal if we knew what normal was is bliss, no anxity etc. i don't drink now, but sometimes i will have a drink once in a while and it makes me feel ok so i have another & low and behold i get anxity the next day. i dont have much fat either. But i think a year and a half it took me to get to the point where i dont crave alcohol & feel i can understand it & accept that it is the alcohol. Ive been a smoker since 18 & given that up now too & the difference i wake up earlier etc. im in my thirties now, yep i look back & say yes life was fab the parties, etc. but alcohol can effect you differently after time of drinking and age, it creeps in & you dont notice it, you just notice that you feel different, same wih cigs i was smoking too many thats a depressant too & it wasnt until i stopped i realised me being so tierd in the morning wasnt mental health or maybe it was, depression after too many cigs. all I can say, is keep at what you are doing keep trying & remeber its not you, its the alcohol & cigs, it just creeps in. we are lucky because we notice the changes, there are some people who probably dont have this insight we have.

really glad iv discovered all these useful comments, and that im not the only person who goes through this. im 33 and started experiencing the anxiety, depression, crazy thoughts etc. i drink maybe a few beers every couple of days or something, but occasionaly, the odd heavy session, which the following day, is when these symptoms can happen, and can last for days.

I've been totally sober for over 3 weeks now and I can't believe how awesome it feels. Plus I cut out a few things that were stressing me out in my life. I never want to go through the bad things that were happening the last 14 months or so that I was drinking alcohol. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, needing a drink in the morning, missing the gym, and the real horrible things that happened on 2 huge binge drinking sessions. Now I feel so much better. I'm making positive changes in my life almost daily, getting in shape, eating healthy. I feel like I can be around on this planet for MANY years now! I feel like there is "enough me" now to really make some of these dreams that I've come up with a huge reality. I'm more alert and reliable at work! I really LOVE this thread and all the people on it for their honesty. Alcoholism is brutal. I was a long time partier, and 95% responsible drinker for many years and my body changed. I started going psycho on it. I could have lost a whole lot more in my life if I didn't quit when I did. Here's to an awesome SOBER life!

I can totally relate to you all. I binged on Sunday with some family watching football and here I am on Tuesday full of anxiety and depression. I have a beutiful wife, make decent money in a high stress job and just needed to blow off some steam. My Dr. Gave me Lexapro to help with the anxiety I have had anxiety about taking this after reading the lable. Has anyone had success with Lexapro 10mg? Please email me ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed ** Please read our Terms of Use

75% of the 750ml bottle of kettleone i think is to blame here. I think i have finally learned my lesson.

I'm on to my 5th week of sobriety! I can't tell you all enough how much beter I feel. I have trouble sleeping a bit so some nights I take a little bit of Xanax (0.5mg) to help me sleep. Other than that I'm focused on my health, my finances, and my dreams and goals. I had SO many nights of blaming that "75%" of the bottle and thought I'd be fine again later to just have a few drinks. Most times I was right and I was able to keep it down to 2-4 drinks. But sooner than later (between 2-5 weeks) I got drunk again, did stuff I wished I didn't do, and had that horrible anxiety. Horrible horrible. You know what that is? It's your body BEGGING you to stop because it's becoming EXTREMELY unhealthy. I hope for your sake this is the last time. For me there were about 10 or so "last times" and after 2 months of happy sobriety there was even one more "last time" - I finally was able to slam the door and stick to the decision. My life is so f****g awesome because of it! There is a better life on the other side!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been drinking on and off since highschool. I never noticed the anxiety until the last two years and it has been horrible. I have these panic attacks when I drive and now I realize it happens the week after I went on a binge. I am slamming the door shut on this one.

It feels really good to know people are going through the same thing! I drink ALOT. I am in college. But its to the point where i completely black out most nights. Its happening more and more frequently with even less alcohol. I lose my morals when I drink. & I DREAD reading my text message outbox the next day. I say and do really idiodic things! & I used to drink and drive all the time. My license has been suspended for 4 years because of that, and my sister recently totaled my car when she was drunk. (Wow, as i write this I am really realizing this is a HUGE problem). I think it was a blessing in disguise because I probably would have continued to drink and drive and probably could have ended up killing someone or myself! Most of my friends can drink the same and just feel "hungover" the next day. But I feel sooo depressed. I try to sleep it off, but I can't really sleep in. Then I'll try to take a shower to wash my "sin" off, and I will listen to Christian music to make me feel okay haha. I used to have a really good relationship with God, and deep in my heart I know thats what I need in my life. But its like I'm bipolar and want to do really bad things at the same time. Even drugs to me are soo interesting. I know i should STAY AWAY from them because I can't afford to go down that path. A psychic once told me like 8x to stay away from drugs, stay away from drugs, stay away from drugs. I'm not sure if she just tells everyone that or what haha. Got a little off topic, but I am now realizing I have a huuuuge problem and I need to stop drinking. I probably should cut it out completely because I can't handle alcohol! Thanksgiving 2010 is the day I try!

I am 22 and have had major anxiety for the last 3 years. I started binge drinking when I was 14, smoked lots of bud, and did lots of extacy and cocaine. I have stopped extacy and cocaine for 2 years now and it didn't help with my anxiety. I stopped smoking bud and didn't drink as frequently due to probation, still didn't help with my anxiety. I, now, drink once a week, but when I do I go all out and drink 20 drinks til I'm piss drunk. I have gone to AA, counceling, and have tried to give up drinking 20 or more times. It seems to take about 5 days for me to get rid of the anxious feelings. I talk myself into thinking I was just being scared for no reason, or I feel so overconfident that I talk myself into thinking the anxious feelings cannot come back. Once I start drinking it is very hard for me to stop. I have began with new hobbies, basketball, soccer, weight lifting, etc.. but when the weekend comes around I always find an excuse to binge drink again and again, knowing the consequences. I am contemplating moving and starting over somewhere else, but I'm afraid that when I move I will go back to my bad habits again. I am embarrased and have turned into a loner since I have developed this anxiety, and that depresses me more than anything because I love being around people and having fun. Any input would help..

I'm now 27 years old and have been battling with binge drinking since I was 17 years old. My life consists of the following pattern: normality - binge drink - anxiety and depression (sometimes lasting weeks) - repeat Its the most ridiculous concept to grasp, but at 27 years old and given all of the damage that alcohol has done to my life, I continue to binge drink with mates because Australian culture dictates that almost every occasion requires a drink. The unfortunate thing is that my usual binge can consist of drinking up to 30 drinks. One day I'll get the courage to say "I don't drink alcohol anymore". The strange thing is, if I never drank another alcoholic drink again, it would not bother me in the slightest, but I guarantee it would be the most difficult concept to grasp for some of my family and friends. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, financially and socially, this substance has caused me problems that I may never overcome.