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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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....
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....
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My panic attacks started a long time before I began drinking heavily and I found that my heavy consumption really masked them and made them go away. I felt great, I could breath and I didn't have exsessive negitave thoughts. What I didn't realize for the longest time was that the alcohol was only keeping them at bay for a while and actually making them worse.
By the time I did realize it, it was too late because I was already addicted and drinking so heavily that when I did stop for a while they would come back full blow and have me imagining that I was having strokes and heart attacks. I'm nearly finished going through withdrawal again thanks to sedation and I suffered bad with the attacks again before taking the meds. I really need to work on the attacks instead of drinking to stop them.
I'm really glad I found this forum because I can finally relate to other people who go through the same as me.
By the time I did realize it, it was too late because I was already addicted and drinking so heavily that when I did stop for a while they would come back full blow and have me imagining that I was having strokes and heart attacks. I'm nearly finished going through withdrawal again thanks to sedation and I suffered bad with the attacks again before taking the meds. I really need to work on the attacks instead of drinking to stop them.
I'm really glad I found this forum because I can finally relate to other people who go through the same as me.
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Glad I found this site. I relapsed after having detoxed and been clean for quite some time. I started off with panic attacks years ago. My drinking progression got worse and worse over time. I started off as a social drinker that suffered a few bad hangovers then moved onto more of a binge drinker. I spent many years in denial (started drinking socially at 21 and am now 30). I was not a nice drunk and the panic cycle had become full blown. I have quit jobs, lost my husband, lost friends, endless fights...I could go on. Each time something bad happened I drank more and more. I didn't realize the cycle of drinking and sobering up was causing my panic causing me to drink more. I took a little break and became semi-social again. Mostly only drinking in the company of others and when out but never stopping. But there were still times my ass had to be peeled off the ground and I blacked out. When I moved recently I got super lonely (as I used to live with roommates and now was alone) and I started doing the daily thing. I tried to wait until a certain time to start but then it was apparent I was just doing it when I felt I needed to (avoiding panic).
One night I woke up thinking I had wicked flu. My body was trembling so bad I couldn't even make a call. I was desperate and managed to phone a friend who came over. Having been in the situation he called it right away, WITHDRAWAL. I had not liquor in the house to even stop it which made me even more sick. In the morning he rushed to the liquor store
to get some just to calm me down. I called a hospital with a detox unit and I was even told to take some drinks to avoid DTS (which can be fatal to some). I had one beer cause I couldn't even hold a bottle.
My friend literally threw me over his shoulder to take me to detox.
The panic was unbelievable and only slighly relieved at the idea of getting help. I spent a few days there where I was treated with Librium, vitamins and under supervision. Don't be fooled, these are no picnics. Almost no contact with the outside world and no comforts of home. It was a nicer place though. I had my bed. If you go, expect a battery of tests. If you are female (pregancy tests are mandatory - regardless if you think you are or not). They will take a ton of blood. They will help you try to address your issues and possibly give you a anti-abuse drug (Campral is popular). The Librium is to stop the tremors and keep seizures away.
It's highly addictive so you are moderated and weened. After the first day classes are mandatory. Therapy is too. Depending on your severity (and I saw some really far gone people there) your stay is usually 3-4 days or longer. You feel a lot better coming out. I still felt a little fuzzy but was happy to go home. OH and a strict diet is also administered.
You are required to eat (food was not bad) and get sleep.
After I left I felt so much better about myself. Then after a few weeks I convinced myself I could drink moderately. That worked for a while with no withdrawal...but old habits die hard. I was back to binging. I found myself being dragged out by EMTs in front of my whole building to the hospital with withdrawal again. I was given Adivan and after a few hours released. It helped a little.
A few weeks later here I am again. I got some bad news and panicked and like clock work with a bottle in my hand. Maybe third time is the charm cause I don't enjoy drinking anymore. I met someone who I really like and I don't want to screw up another relationship. He made mention of my excess and I just got so upset. I just can't be a moderate drinker anymore. I have taken to just drinking enough to not get withdrawal but it's frightening what that is. I imagine I will do another stint in detox or ER.
Just be very careful with DTS what I have read about them is frighteneing.
If you want to be 100% safe, detox or ER. Your physician can also help you if you want to do outpatient. At the very least try not to be alone if you can. Not to stress anyone out. I just know what you all are going through. It's very scary and panic most definitely ensues.
Follow up care with a meeting or therapist is mandatory for most. I didn't do either.
Good luck to all!
One night I woke up thinking I had wicked flu. My body was trembling so bad I couldn't even make a call. I was desperate and managed to phone a friend who came over. Having been in the situation he called it right away, WITHDRAWAL. I had not liquor in the house to even stop it which made me even more sick. In the morning he rushed to the liquor store
to get some just to calm me down. I called a hospital with a detox unit and I was even told to take some drinks to avoid DTS (which can be fatal to some). I had one beer cause I couldn't even hold a bottle.
My friend literally threw me over his shoulder to take me to detox.
The panic was unbelievable and only slighly relieved at the idea of getting help. I spent a few days there where I was treated with Librium, vitamins and under supervision. Don't be fooled, these are no picnics. Almost no contact with the outside world and no comforts of home. It was a nicer place though. I had my bed. If you go, expect a battery of tests. If you are female (pregancy tests are mandatory - regardless if you think you are or not). They will take a ton of blood. They will help you try to address your issues and possibly give you a anti-abuse drug (Campral is popular). The Librium is to stop the tremors and keep seizures away.
It's highly addictive so you are moderated and weened. After the first day classes are mandatory. Therapy is too. Depending on your severity (and I saw some really far gone people there) your stay is usually 3-4 days or longer. You feel a lot better coming out. I still felt a little fuzzy but was happy to go home. OH and a strict diet is also administered.
You are required to eat (food was not bad) and get sleep.
After I left I felt so much better about myself. Then after a few weeks I convinced myself I could drink moderately. That worked for a while with no withdrawal...but old habits die hard. I was back to binging. I found myself being dragged out by EMTs in front of my whole building to the hospital with withdrawal again. I was given Adivan and after a few hours released. It helped a little.
A few weeks later here I am again. I got some bad news and panicked and like clock work with a bottle in my hand. Maybe third time is the charm cause I don't enjoy drinking anymore. I met someone who I really like and I don't want to screw up another relationship. He made mention of my excess and I just got so upset. I just can't be a moderate drinker anymore. I have taken to just drinking enough to not get withdrawal but it's frightening what that is. I imagine I will do another stint in detox or ER.
Just be very careful with DTS what I have read about them is frighteneing.
If you want to be 100% safe, detox or ER. Your physician can also help you if you want to do outpatient. At the very least try not to be alone if you can. Not to stress anyone out. I just know what you all are going through. It's very scary and panic most definitely ensues.
Follow up care with a meeting or therapist is mandatory for most. I didn't do either.
Good luck to all!
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I thought I could stay stopped after last week but I relapsed after getting through withdrawal last week and found myself drunker and drunker for the last few days. I caused massive trouble with the neighbours and last night had a huge fight with my parents. I've only had a few drinks this evening but I still feel like a huge panic attack is coming on me. I'll have to try and ween myself down so I won't go into full withdrawal again this week.I just couldn't cope with that.
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i`m 21 and drank tight sense i was 16, i could drink a 24 pack of beer or a 40oz bottle of rum with no problem i was a big party guy,then when i hit 21 i started having anxiety out of no where it hit me hard, i could not breath i felt like my heart would give out and i could not sleep, it was not fun, i went to the doctor to see what was up and he gave me anxiety meds and i would take them after a night of drinking and for awhile it helped me stop the anxiety and i could drink with my friends and not be worryed about the anxiety attacks but then i was hooks on the meds and it would take more of it to stop the anxiety so i just stoped, the meds and heavy drinking was affecting my life it would feel like a heart attack, so it took me a while so stop the meds but after it all i did not drink at all for 2 months and now when i drink i only have a top of 8 beer and try to skip the bar and never touch rum now, i have not had a problem in 2 months..it was a scary time when i was doing everything, it sucks when i go to partys now i cant be the same guy i was and everyone rags on me for it..but its worth not feeling like im going to die,..sorry for the spelling to lazy to fix eveything
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I am happy I came across this website. I'm 25 years old and almost a year ago I started having anxiety attacks out of no where...It started as a pounding heart and insomnia. Some nights I didn't even fall asleep because my heart was pounding so hard. I've been drinking for the past ten years and very heavily in the past six years. Last year alone I was drinking between 8 and 15 beers about 5 times a week. When the heart pounding started I thought drinking might be associated with it so I cut back. But my anxiety only continued to get worse in the following months. Although I only started drinking 2 nights a week I would get entirely hammered and the anxiety attacks are definitely worse the next day. I got a prescription for ambien to help with the insomnia but my heart would still be pounding when i woke up and the panic attacks were still there. Last week i went back to the doc to try and get something to relieve the attacks I've been having, he prescribed me Nortriptyline which is an anti-depressant. I took it last Tuesday night and passed right out. The next day i felt groggy and when i got to work i had a coffee...20 mins go by and I experienced the worst panic attack I've ever had. I felt as if I wasn't in my body very uncomfortable with my heart pounding and dizzy. I almost wanted to call 911 but was too embarrased to get carried out in front of everyone. I wound up staring at my computer screen for 2 hours telling myself I would be fine and somehow was able to compose myself enough to leave work and get home...so I will never touch another pill again it just made it worse. I went out last night and got drunk and today i feel crappy...pounding heart, totally dissasociated and dizzy...even before i went out last night i had to drink 3 beers just to calm my nerves down so i didn't look fidgity or weird because of my anxiety. After reading some of your posts I feel a lot better and think my anxiety could be from years of abusing alcohol...I am not going to drink next weekend and try to stay off the ambien and see if I start to feel somewhat normal...thats all i want is to feel like i used to be, feel regular and not feel awkward in social situations...Sorry for the long post...a lot on my mind and it feels good to get this off my chest...I will write back next week on if I am starting to feel more normal..Thanks
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I'm also glad I found this site. All I can say is ditto to all of your remarks. I'm going to try to wean off slowly 3-4 beers a night rather than 10-12/night that I've been drinking over the last couple of years. I'll stay in touch. Blessings all.
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I think I am going through it all over again. Is this possible? I feel exactly the same as I did when I originally posted. High amounts of anxiety which leads to crazy thoughts and panic.
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I drank six cans of beer and a bottle of wine yesterday and have a bottle of rum with me now. I feel very anxious (Sweaty, shaky and hard to breathe) right now and need a few drops of it to relieve myself of these symptoms.
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It's really dangerous to suddenly stop drinking if you are physically addicted. You body cannot cope and the impact could be fatal. I suggest you try to cut down, keep a drinks diary and drink less in quantity or something weaker, gradually decreasing but most importantly go to your doctor (who can prescribe Librium which stops the withdrawal symptoms safely) and/or a specialist service.
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Hi All,
Your stories have been similar to mine mostly.
I'm 30, usually bi-weekly binge drinker since about 17. I think I've had mild social anxiety since I was about 17 (which I think developed from smoking pot and getting paranoid all the time.) I stopped the pot when I was 20.
Anyway, up until a couple of years ago I sometimes got that 'lurking danger' feeling after a particularly heavy drinking period (like a music festival of 3 days solid booze) but I suppose the anxiety was under control mostly. Then, after a big night drinking and ectasy, had my first big panic/anxiety attack. Horrible. Went to the GP and got on paroxetine (aka paxi/aropax) for about 18 months. Kept binge drinking the whole time. I was able to feel ok at work (but made sure not to get drunk the night before work) but got pretty bad anxiety the days after drinking. If I had to socialize after work, I would normally 'sneak' in a pint of beer at a bar by myself, to relax, and then join everyone.
I came off the meds (which hadn't really done anything anyway) and was about the same for a few months, and then a major setback after one really big weekend binge. The ensuing anxiety was so strong I ended up quitting my job (after faking a sickness for a week) and I was basically in an agoraphobic state (which means you are afraid to leave your bedroom or house) for about 2 weeks.
Anyway, I am still about the same now, but the thing is I have always blamed the 'anxiety' for the drinking. I told myself I was 'self-medicating.' I mean, I was aware the alcohol made the anxiety worse (at least for a day or two afterwards) but I thought I needed to treat the problem of the anxiety and not the drinking.
But now, I'm thinking perhaps the alcohol has had a much more sinister role in my anxiety. I wonder whether stopping drinking for a few months would help the anxiety?
Maybe, but I also believe that once 'anxiety' disorder or panic disorder are 'established' in the mind, then they actually become a problem in their own right which needs to addressed seperately, probably with cognitive behavioural therapy.
But, I'm sure the drinking only compunds the problem (and indeed may have caused it too.)
Good luck all.
Your stories have been similar to mine mostly.
I'm 30, usually bi-weekly binge drinker since about 17. I think I've had mild social anxiety since I was about 17 (which I think developed from smoking pot and getting paranoid all the time.) I stopped the pot when I was 20.
Anyway, up until a couple of years ago I sometimes got that 'lurking danger' feeling after a particularly heavy drinking period (like a music festival of 3 days solid booze) but I suppose the anxiety was under control mostly. Then, after a big night drinking and ectasy, had my first big panic/anxiety attack. Horrible. Went to the GP and got on paroxetine (aka paxi/aropax) for about 18 months. Kept binge drinking the whole time. I was able to feel ok at work (but made sure not to get drunk the night before work) but got pretty bad anxiety the days after drinking. If I had to socialize after work, I would normally 'sneak' in a pint of beer at a bar by myself, to relax, and then join everyone.
I came off the meds (which hadn't really done anything anyway) and was about the same for a few months, and then a major setback after one really big weekend binge. The ensuing anxiety was so strong I ended up quitting my job (after faking a sickness for a week) and I was basically in an agoraphobic state (which means you are afraid to leave your bedroom or house) for about 2 weeks.
Anyway, I am still about the same now, but the thing is I have always blamed the 'anxiety' for the drinking. I told myself I was 'self-medicating.' I mean, I was aware the alcohol made the anxiety worse (at least for a day or two afterwards) but I thought I needed to treat the problem of the anxiety and not the drinking.
But now, I'm thinking perhaps the alcohol has had a much more sinister role in my anxiety. I wonder whether stopping drinking for a few months would help the anxiety?
Maybe, but I also believe that once 'anxiety' disorder or panic disorder are 'established' in the mind, then they actually become a problem in their own right which needs to addressed seperately, probably with cognitive behavioural therapy.
But, I'm sure the drinking only compunds the problem (and indeed may have caused it too.)
Good luck all.
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