Alcohol anxiety...

[misswhiplash]

It would seem alcohol and me are no longer friends.

I could once upon a time drink like a fish with no problems (apart from the hangover!)

I now find myself dreading social events.

Now I wake up in the middle of the night and my heart is racing, and I PANIC. Which causes more anxiety! I also suffer the day after with more anxiety than usual.

Is it just me or do other people suffer with any such symptoms??

I think it has something to do with adrenalin??

[Hidden]

Hi. misswhiplash. Yes, it has. Those who have heard all this before, switch off. But it is not generally understood and an explanation can be helpful. Adrenaline is a hormone that is secreted from two little glands near the kidneys. It is there because, as primitive people, we needed to be able to sense danger and take the appropriate action. You are confronted by a Sabre Toothed Tiger; immediately the Adrenaline starts to flow which puts you in a heightened state of alertness. You tremble; you breath faster; you sweat; you have a tight feeling in your stomach; your body is entering the "FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT syndrome. Now, you cannot Fight a Sabre Toothed Tiger, so you run as fast as you can. When some considerable distance away you stop and relax. As with animals, the incident is soon forgotten and primitive man got on with his chores. The Adrenalin output subsides and all is OK. Now with modern man the ability to Fight or Run is taken away from us. In times of stress the Adrenalin-Fear-Adrenalin cycle still clicks in as it did with our ancestors bu,t if we run we are called 'cowards' and if we fight we are called 'aggressive'. So we grit our teeth and TRY TO GET RID OF THE FEELINGS which is virtually impossible. We have become SENSITISED. So any little future stress or upset will create more Adrenalin and so lead to PANIC. (The Tiger is gone, but we still have the symptoms of FEAR). Alcohol is not helpful. It gives a false sense of euphoria which, when it wears off, leaving the drinker feeling worse than ever. What you do about this is entirely up to you. I am not a member of AA so cannot advise you. Your feelings during the day are an 'anxious hangover'. You may have to ask yourself why you need to drink. (So much?). Your daytime anxiety is because you have flogged yourself emotionally and, like a big bell that has been rung, you go on vibrating. Now you are fortunate. This appears to be just beginning with you and you can stop it. Perhaps you need to look at your lifestyle. But, above all, just ACCEPT how you feel at the moment. You do not want more Adrenaline. ACCEPTING is not Fighting and so slows the Adrenaline output. Hope this helps a little .Best wishes. jonathan

[misswhiplash in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Jonathan

I don't drink to blanket my anxiety. I only drink more than one or two if at a party etc. Usually one or two at the weekend. I've really cut back since the whole loosing weight thing started!! Which I find ok. So I know this is self inflicted.

I was really anxious on Tuesday when I went on a lovely day out with my husband. Eventually I said to myself "just enjoy the day and instead of worrying what I can't eat/drink, just enjoy it" That kinda worked and I enjoyed the day.

Thanks for your help

Sara

[john80614]

You should all try a thing called "Binaural Beats", these computer generated sound files are said to massage your brain and produce all sorts of effects, and are excellent for stress/ depression/ anxiety disorders. A binaureal beat is created by playing a different tone in each ear through headphones, and the interference pattern between the slightly differing frequencies creates the illusion of a beat. It's completely safe and scientifically proven - google it!!

If you search the Internet for "binaural beats" you'll quickly find there's a whole industry built on the idea that listening to binaural beats can produce all kinds of desired effects in your brain. It can alter your mood, help you follow a diet or stop smoking, get you pumped up for a competition, calm you down, put you to sleep, enhance your memory, act as an aphrodisiac, cure headaches, and even balance your chakras

[LizM40]

Miss Whiplash.. alcohol makes anxiety worse! - It leaves you in a vicious circle that you cannot find a way out. It makes you feel worse than before. I know I have been there. I stopped drinking nine months ago and attend AA meetings twice weekly. Just take one day at the time and stay away from that first drink. You will soon feel better. It is the best thing that I have ever done and my anxiety attacks are more manageable without alcohol. Yours LizM40.

[Lee1970]

I am currently feeling post alcohol anxiety after a night out 2 days ago. I had stopped drinking alcohol for about 4 months. I'm not a big drinker. But I tend to binge about 2-3 times a year. I forced myself to the gym today then used some of my nervous energy to do a bit of gardening! I have decided to just give up alcohol for good. No point in feeling like this. The nausea and frequent trips to the loo are horrendous. I can't concentrate on much either. Mornings are worse. Feel better as the day goes on. Last time I felt like this it took weeks to feel normal again.