Anxiety about alcohol?

[Emz96]

Hi just wondering if anyone else feels like this or know why I feel like this or might be able to stop it,

I'm 21 I use to drink as much as any other 21 year old, most weekends, get drunk wake up hungover, but mentally fine no anxiety about it, now I don't drink coz the thought of it makes me panic, the thought of other people drinking makes me panic.

So with Christmas coming up obviously I'm going to be around alcohol is there any way that anyone knows of that I could feel less anxious?

[Jeff1943]

So you haven't actually had a panic attack from drinking alcohol? It's only the thought of drinking that makes you panic. So have a couple of drinks, seriously, it's not the drink that's causing your panic it's your thoughts, anxiety whispering things in your ear.

[HearYou in reply to Jeff1943]

That's a different approach. Trying to decide if that is a positive action. Hmmm. It's a type of drug that effects quickly, and takes an hour for each ounce to dissipate so not certain how it and his anxiety of alcohol, are going to dance together, even if it is his thoughts are causing the anxiety.

Emz, you're not taking any meds, are you?

[HearYou]

Yep, check out an AA group for tips. I assure you they have them. You don't need to be an abuser of alcohol to attend open meetings. Just order something that looks like a drink but isn't, or skip some of the social events where alcohol is served. My first marriage was to an executive that was mean drunk. So my alcohol anxiety was a bit different than yours...but was sky high at those parties.

I don't know why or how you developed anxiety to alcohol. So my situation may not help you. I always had tonic water or something like that. Try concentrating on the conversation and ignore the drinks.

I develop an anxiety of when I could get him out the party before he made became too much of a foul talking drunk which would jeopardize his career. I knew I was going to be leaving him eventually, but still thought I should at least do this before he hung himself professionally.

I develop an art of being able to tell you after the party who drank what and how many, as my type of alcohol anxiety meant me counting how many double scotches he had. At about 4, I had to get him out of there somehow without making scene. My anxiety was high until I got him home, and then it went away.

Guess I am saying you can have the anxiety and just deal with it until you leave. Believe me I know how difficult it is, but you can do it.

[Jeff1943]

Alcohol affects everybody different, some it makes aggressive whilst others soften and become silly. Some find it makes their anxiety worse, others like me find it disperses anxiety for a few hours though for some that would be a danger since they would lean on it for support too much.

Emz, if you can take it or leave it then maybe the old saying applies: do what you fear and the death of fear is assured.