Alcohol & Panic Attacks

[tanner00]

I have been drinking a lot lately and I believe it's because of the panic attacks. My question is sort of the "chicken or the egg" question.

Which came first.... panic attacks cause drinking? or drinking causing panic attacks?

[anxiety860]

Whenever I drink, well get drunk, the next morning my anxiety is always sky high. one of the reasons why i only drink lightly now a days.

[Seany92]

I suffer really bad with anxiety and always feel terrible and feel like i am going to die and my insides always hirt it is terrible, i used to drink alot now i cant even have a social drink with my friends because i get hungover for about a week it is a horrible feeling and everyday is a struggle.

[tanner00]

I have, by the "most" part, followed through it. I get my daughter 3 days a week on average and I do not drink at all when I have her. I usually just take back a couple after supper after a long day at work. Every once in a while, like last night, when I had a tough day at work and then did some exercising before supper, I drank an extra one.

[MMahon]

I don't think alcohol is 'causing' your anxiety, it's making it worse.
If you can just stop drinking without any problems then that's great.
Anxiety is a complex thing.  Everyone has anxiety in their lives and goes thru periods where it's extreme or it's hardly noticeable.  You may have 'normal life anxiety' that is being made worse by alcohol.  But if this has been an ongoing problem I'd tend to think that the anxiety you experience may need to be dealt with.  
Many alcoholics 'don't drink a lot'...  They react badly to small amounts.
I find many similarities between alcoholism and anxiety/depressive disorders and feel that there is something common about the 'nervous systems' of those who suffer with them.
What has your psychologist advised?  have you followed thru with it?
let us know how you make out.

[tanner00]

Thank you both. I love this forum because of people like you guys who understand what is happening and know how to give kind words.

[aheart]

I can tell you from experience that alcohol makes anxiety much worse. You can get excellent short term help for your anxiety from your doctor or a referral to someone who can. When you do, don't ever ever mix alcohol with these meds or it will cause problems you don't need! Good Luck you can get through it, I have before and got over it for 20 yrs.,
and now I'm just starting tx again. Your just having a rough spot, you will succeed! :- )

[tanner00]

I am seeing a psychologist. I don't drink all the time, but when I do I usually feel bad the next morning and get anxious. I never thought about AA. I did consider buying that new book that they advertise on TV about Alcohol and a Cure. I have never needed it, so I guess I will just not do it anymore if that is causing my anxiety.

[MMahon]

My guess is that you have had 'issues' with anxiety and found that alcohol helped 'see you thru' it.  You may not even have realized it for some time.  Perhaps you began drinking more and more to achieve the same results.
But alcohol can make the situation worse and is not the solution to anxiety disorder.  It only causes more problems really.  
You need to get treatment to get to the root cause of your problems.  I always recommend a psychiatrist since I feel they are the best equipped to provide the best help quickly.
I would also urge you to seek out AA.... it's a fine organization with a great program to help people cope with problems just like yours.
Good luck