Anxiety or Alcohol withdrawl(withdrawal)

Had my first panic attack about 9 months ago while driving on the highway.  Scared the living crap out of me since I thought I was having a heart attack.  Now my life has completely changed.  Everyday its dizziness, lightheaded, the ground feels likes it's moving, my hands sweat so much I get prune-like finger tips as if I was in the bathtub too long and hazy vision.  Unfortunately I've turned to alcohol to help with my symptoms.  My symptoms are absent when I'm at home and only occur when in public or at work.   On the weekends I will actually drink a little before I go somewhere with my wife and of course will make her drive, but it makes me feel better and I don't have the attacks.  I was put on .5mg of xanax and it worked wonders but am out and my doctor is so overbooked I can't get in and am afraid to find a new doctor and tell them "I need xanax".   The bottle of xanax lasted me 3 months and my doctor wont call in a script after that long.  I have a ton of sample bottles of Lexipro but I suck at taking 1 a day and after a few days I forget or just stop taking them since nothing changes, but I know it takes weeks.   Also, my right eye has been twitching almost everyday since my first attack (except when I'm drinking.)  My question is that I look at the symptoms for alcohol withdrawl (withdrawal) and they almost exactly match the symptoms for anxiety / panic disorder.   Has anyone quit the drinking and felt better?  I only started drinking more after the panic attacks started...and other than xanax it has been one of the only things that helps me but of course I dont do this during the day while working so I'm wondering if my attacks are from alcohol or are anxiety connected.  I know "stop drinking" will be the answer but it's hard since it helps so much.

[r9c]

Never take any anti anxiety meds with alcohol,they might give u nasty side effects,thats wat most doctors told,when they prescribe u the meds.

[bbq33]

I had the same problem and was self medicating myself with Alcohol. Problem is I found out I had the disease of Alcoholism and my body metabilized the alcohol differently so I can't drink any more. I am now on Klonopin for panic attacks and off of alcohol. I go to AA meetings as a medicine for my alcoholism disese (disease) and take the Klonopin medicine for my panic disorter disease. Problem solved.
bbq33

[sarahlou1984]

i also suffer with bad panic attacks th day after i have consumed alot of alcohol so i think its time to quit as th fear i put myself through is unreal i actually feel like am dying the pending doom feeling is awful i have had my heart,thyroid,liver,sugers tested i have had ecg's and al come back normal these attacks have changed my life i carnt do alot of things i used to enjoy doin now :(

[nursegirl6572]

sarahlou...you're finding out like so many of us did just how alcohol will massively increase your anxiety the day after a night of drinking.

The simple solution is to abstain from drinking and of course get some help with the anxiety/panic.