Does your anxiety worsen drinking alcohol (hangover)? Does this mean I will never be able to have a drink again?

[clara871]

[Bramwell]

I've been tee-total for at least 30 years and my health anxiety is pretty bad so maybe drinking alcohol doesn't make any difference - or of course, many people say a few drinks relax them.

[Hannah1122]

binge drinking or drinking to cover up the anxiety tends to make the anxiety worse because alcohol causes changes in mood, blood sugar, causes dehydration, nervous system, heart rate, concentration and memory. However in smaller doses such as a glass of wine with dinner seems to be generally ok although it's all about how you feel about it and your own tolerence it may be better to stop all together but as I said it's about how you feel about it.

If you want to drink it's all about keeping in moderation and drinking sensibly. Try interchanging water and alcohol drinks and eating with your drink.

[Mandy26]

I did think my anxiety was heightened when I had a drink but I don't know whether I was looking into a little too much. I've not had a drink for 5 weeks now and actually don't want one. I've gone off the taste of alcohol slightly.

I thought the alcohol might help relax me and I often like a glass of wine in the evening but I found the effects of the alcohol heightened my anxiety a little because of sensations of tipsy-ness. I did try this at my worst period of anxiety so perhaps I would be fine now.

[clara871]

I'll give it a try I have to be careful that I don't blame everything on Anxiety.. moderation is key!! It's so difficult being 24 and not keeping up with friends, but I guess if it's in the name of health! Thanks for your advice

[Hidden]

Hi since having anxiety I have chose not to drink.Im frightened the drink will make me feel better then I will have another and another to block the feelings out and before I know it I will have an alcohol problem

[seashell18 in reply to Hidden]

Totally agree with you, drink makes me relax and the anxiety goes away, but worry I could become a raging alcoholic in the process!!

[anxiousrecoverer]

Hi, yes alcohol, even one pint, makes me anxious the next day, but not every time. Sometimes it's worth it! I have no plans to stop drinking altogether and have been anxious for 13 years. But then I tend to drink much more sensibly now than I did back then and find I can't tolerate getting drunk, as such. Pease don't assume an anxiety diagnosis is a lifetime thing, by the way! It's sad to see people talk about "never again"! My anxiety disorder first started when I was 12 and I haven't yet given up hope that I will be disorder free before long. I have got a lot better over the years. Remember, anxiety can be temporary!

[Hidden]

Hi, I think as people have touched on here is your belief about the alcohol, if you are anxious it will have a negative effect on you then it probably will.

That said I have IBS and am intolerant to a lot of alcohol so I steer clear of overdoing it. One nice glass of red or white now and again does me fine.

What I can say from observation of a friend who also suffers from anxiety is that alcohol can be a temporary release from the discomfort but the comedown is much worse, unfortunately my friend became an alcoholic and this made everything worse and because it's a depressant it also kick started some nasty depression.

Wish you all the best.

[aberkaz]

Morning, I also suffer with what my friends & I who also suffer from anxiety call the Sun dreads. Since taking the supplement 5HTP my anxiety has decreased (apart from a relaspe earlier this wk) due to returning to work after 10 days annual leave. However, as soon as I drink on a Sat night Sun is almost unbearable. I have given up caffine but like you do not want to give up booze on social occasions. I have started to think I just need to accept if I drink then I am going to pay the next day, remind myself it is a temp feeling & won't last to that extent all wk. I have a wedding today so 2moro I will prob be suffering. Take care, K x