Anxiety and Alcohol

I can no longer handle drinking. I used to be able to in my early 20's and I didn't think just a few years would make a difference but it really has. Nowadays, whenever I drink, I get crippling anxiety once I begin to sober up. I run through everything that I said, everything that was done, I get the shakes, can't sleep, the works. Yesterday was my last straw and while I really enjoy drinking, my body really doesn't. This morning was the worst amount of anxiety I've had (post-drinking) ever. My heart is racing, I've got the shakes, I can't calm down, the self loathing I'm feeling for myself just won't go away even though it wasn't a bad night, I just can't function like this! Has anyone else ever experienced this? Have I completely lost it?

I have a similar reaction to alcohol and have cut way back on my consumption. As a result, I feel so good that I may give it up completely.

I haven't experienced that , but I definitely realised in my late 30's early 40's that my hangover recovery was like a two day visit into hell and I am just not interested in pubs or clubs , the noise , the hustle and bustle , drunk people started to annoy the bejesus out of me with their drunk dribble , no memory of the night before , loving everyone or wanting to fight everyone ...

give me a room full of stoners anytime compared to that ^^^

Alcohol is known to increase anxiety and depression. Oh yeah in my early 20s I was done with hangovers . My body just couldn't handle it anymore . With my medication I've had to give up alcohol entirely but hey I only ever had five drinks a year for years so I'm not missing much .

Thank you. I think I'll call it quits on the drinking for a few months and see how I feel. I haven't had any sort of anxiety struggles in ages and then boom... Thank you alcohol, but no thanks. I really appreciate all of your responses, I'm feeling much less insane and more like myself.

I am the exact same way. I didn't realize for many years that drinking alcohol was contributing a lot to my anxiety. My body just hates alcohol! So I just stick to marijuana now. It agrees with my body chemistry.

Definitely take a long hiatus from drinking, your mind and body will thank you.

There is drinking, and then there is drinking. One drink, even two, that's fine. Getting rat-assed drunk, not good.

It isn't the alcohol, it's the misuse thereof.

It may be time to get a physical. While your body may just be starting to tell you something, sudden alcohol intolerance can have underlying causes. Be honest about the alcohol consumption.

Obviously the solution is to cut back, but have yourself checked out. Explain your symptoms so they can run the appropriate blood tests, liver function tests, cardiac exams, etc. As you know, alcohol is technically a solvent and toxic over time to many organ systems.

If you feel you are drinking more than your body can handle or feel bad about it, why not check out the AA website and possibly sit in on a meeting to see if it pertains to you?

My heart is racing, I've got the shakes, I can't calm down, the self loathing I'm feeling for myself just won't go away even though it wasn't a bad night, I just can't function like this!

It may be time to get a physical. While your body may just be starting to tell you something, sudden alcohol intolerance can have underlying causes. Be honest about the alcohol consumption.

 

Obviously the solution is to cut back, but have yourself checked out. Explain your symptoms so they can run the appropriate blood tests, liver function tests, cardiac exams, etc. As you know, alcohol is technically a solvent and toxic over time to many organ systems.

 

If you feel you are drinking more than your body can handle or feel bad about it, why not check out the AA website and possibly sit in on a meeting to see if it pertains to you?

Completely agree with this advice.

Let us know how you're doing....