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Anxiety Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to generalized anxiety, anxiety and eating, anxiety and sleeping, mood swings, and phobias.
anxiety
by vcforeigner, Dec 21, 2006 12:00AM
I've been recently diagnosed by my family doctor and a psych consult as having GAD. Up until recently my history has been 2-3 days of unease and discomfort and sometimes insomnia but that usually passes after 2-3 days. Recently I had an episode that has lasted for over 2 weeks. I'm currently taking valium 2.5mg prn as the doc's aren't convinced that this is anything but a few times a year. I have been under a great deal of stress the last 3 months at work but that will be changing next month and things should smooth out considerably.
My question is really whether abusive amounts of alcohol consumption can trigger these anxiety phases. The most recent phase was at the end of a two week period of drinking at least a few drinks everynight and some weekend nights were excessive (8-10 drinks). Does anyone know if there is any evidence that short periods of excessiving drinking can be the trigger for attacks? Both doc's don't believe I'm alcohol dependent I just sometimes overdo it. I generally enjoy drinking for the social aspects of it--but there is always that "one more round" thing I need to get past.
My symptoms are fairly mild from what I've read on other posts but since they have lasted several weeks I'm becoming more concerned. Typical symptoms, diaphoresis, palpitations, muscle twitching or tightness, slight reddening of the face/hands and some sort skin crawling feelings including in the head/brain. So far not debilitating but the fear is really that I'll have to deal with this now at this level from now on.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
My question is really whether abusive amounts of alcohol consumption can trigger these anxiety phases. The most recent phase was at the end of a two week period of drinking at least a few drinks everynight and some weekend nights were excessive (8-10 drinks). Does anyone know if there is any evidence that short periods of excessiving drinking can be the trigger for attacks? Both doc's don't believe I'm alcohol dependent I just sometimes overdo it. I generally enjoy drinking for the social aspects of it--but there is always that "one more round" thing I need to get past.
My symptoms are fairly mild from what I've read on other posts but since they have lasted several weeks I'm becoming more concerned. Typical symptoms, diaphoresis, palpitations, muscle twitching or tightness, slight reddening of the face/hands and some sort skin crawling feelings including in the head/brain. So far not debilitating but the fear is really that I'll have to deal with this now at this level from now on.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
When you drink to excess, you throw your body in a state of chaos which has to be sorted out by a few sensitive and coordinate organs, most prominently the liver and the brain.
The two most prominent psychiatric features of excessive drinking is linked to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by interfering with the bodies natural process of gluconeogenesis, or the normal release of glucose; the quick explanation is that when you drink a couple of beers, the liver begins to work exclusively on the processing of alcohol to the exclusion of all other tasks, including keeping your blood glucose balanced. The brain gets deprived of glucose; you develop fatigue, mind-fog, dizziness, and as the process progresses you can develop restlessness as the brain searches for natural alternate energy sources such as adrenaline, which can then cause anxiety and even panic attacks.
The other psycho-active effect of alcohol consumption is the depressive effect that excessive drinking has on glutamine, which is the brains natural stimulant and it is a good stimulant. Alcohol causes glutamine levels to crash and as the alcohol wears off, the glutamine levels rebound to abnormal highs which can cause tremors, inability to lay down or sit still, sweating, palpitations and yes, anxiety.
One or two drinks per day is probably okay for most people and shouldn't cause excessive anxiety, some studies indicate that light to moderate drinking is actually good for you as long as you are drinking for pleasure and not medicating yourself.
Excessive drinking can cause all of the above and more, so it is should be noted that heavy drinking is one of the worst quick-fixes for anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, it is the most common way to self-medicate.
Please - be very careful about this Rx for Valium (even though it's only 2.5 mg). That would be of great concern to me with your admission of "overdoing" it in the alcohol department and complaints of anxiety. Many, as I'm sure you know, have unintentionally overdosed on the combination of alcohol and Valium - most times because they don't remember taking that much Valium. Valium potenitates (makes more pronounced) the effects of alcohol, and vice versa. Be very VERY careful that you NEVER EVER combine the two. I can't stress that enough.
But back to your original question - most certainly alcohol in the manner you are drinking it can cause anxiety (great anxiety).
Best of luck.
Please watch out for that Valium!
Happy Holidays.
Thanks for your prompt and astute advice and support. I haven't had any drinks in the two weeks I've been on the valium as I know it is not supposed to be mixed.
Does that mean that once I get past this acute phase I can slowly reintroduce casual drinking (if controlled) or do I now have a tendancy to drop back into acute anxiety with any alcohol? I'm mostly curious. The idea of spending the rest of my life without ever having a drink is a sad thought but not even close to the thought of having to spend my life the way these last two weeks have been.
By the way, I've actually been cutting the 2.5mg pills into quarters and taking a quarter at a time prn as a full pill makes me too drowsy. So far it has been working but the first four or five days were pretty up and down until I modified the dosages.
Again, thanks to all for your thoughts and advice. Just your words have helped calm me.
When you say "the acute phase", are you talking about the symptoms you are having off alcohol? Are you asking if you can be a "controlled drinker." If they gave you a Rx for Valium to take away the anxiety that came with cessation of alcohol, then I think it's real important for you to understand (and believe) that the anxiety you feel now with this cessation will be worse with more cessations.
I wouldn't advise you to try "controlled drinking" (because what you have said already is telling me that you have a problem with drinking.) Only you can decide, though, if you do and if putting it up totally is best for you. (I tend to think it would be the best thing, though.)
I'm glad you're not mixing the two.
It doesn’t mean a panic attack sufferer is not allowed to drink! Surprisingly, maybe, but true. A person who experiences panic, even frequent panic, is not forbidden from drinking, its just suggested they don’t over-do-it. A drink or two to relax yourself is not a bad idea, it’s when a person takes their drinking too far that the real problems begin to arise. This excessive use of alcohol is what can trigger these increased panic problems, so the simple solution to this problem? Don’t drink too much.