Anxiety/panic attacks the day after drinking - Anxiety

JennaLOVE

Oct 31, 2011

To: Everyone

Im relating far to much with the, Day after Drinking-Anxiety/Panic attack...I'm going to try to keep it short and brief because I'm really tired, and have been wrecking my brain about this for years...my anxiety/panic attacks began in my early twenties...college years coupled with my heaviest drinking days...Ive dealt and coped and researched and tried everything I could think of to FIX this issue of anxiety/panic attacks...from counseling to meditation to medication to excersise seriously you name it....but after all the experimentation and DENIAL...It does ULTIMATLEY for ME come down to DRINKING! My last full blown episode was a couple days ago at work...when I completley had a mental breakdown, and HAD TO LEAVE...not only leave, but have my parents come pick me up...not to mention I am a 25 year old successful college graduate. My issues with drinking and anxiety/panic attacks began to cycle every other day...and the past week I began journaling. After putting together all the pieces and my final BLOW OUT...I was completly honest with myself and my parents that I needed help that I think Im an alcoholic and this was the reason....I went to my first AA meeting tonight...and after an abundance of research and listening to other alcoholics stories as well as some of yours...the common denominator is ALCOHOL...and to BOOT...I quit alcohol for 8 months before...and MY ANXIETY LEFT WITH IT! After relapsing for the past year...both problems only got worse and came closer and closer together. I cant live this way anymore...and Im gonna do my best not to let it take my live. Im gonna stick with AA and take one day at a time! I wish you all the best of luck and let GOD be with you....Another thing that kept coming to my mind as well is..."If something doesn't feel right...there is probably something thats NOT right...!" One love <3

kipster1

Nov 06, 2011

To: Everyone

This is a great site. I didn't put my alcohol use and anxiety together until about 6 months ago. I won't tell my whole story because basically all of the above is my story, so I'll try to cut it short. I'm 46 and was able to drink socially up until about 9 months ago. I say socially but there were many nights in college and thereafter I'd drink to excess and even not remember what I did the next day or what I said. My life has been mainly productive, went to college, married successfully and had children. But since I can remember, I've always had problems with depression and anxiety that were manageable. I did everything to try to ameliorate my anxiety - exercise, healthy lifestyle, meditation, volunteering, church, therapy, you name it. It all helped and my anxiety was manageable. However, as I got older my anxiety worsened relative to how much I drank the night before. So the next morning off I'd go to the store to buy beer to take away the anxiety. Lo and behold it worked. So I stayed in this cycle every day for about six months. During the six months I became very unproductive, slacked on everything, my family responsibilities as a wife and mother, my exercise waned, I gained 25 pounds, and towards the end I would stay in bed under the covers shaking with anxiety until I could drag myself up and get to the store for more beer. The next day the cycle would continue. I'd do the same thing over and over. Drag myself up out of bed at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, get to the store to buy beer, drink all of it until passing out, waking up in the morning and not remembering anything I said or did the night before. I became disgusted with myself. I'm surprised nobody became disgusted with me. My family didn't even notice I was rotting away in bed like an old potato. I decided to quit drinking. I went through a week of withdrawal feeling anxiety and depression. I got through it and it was all better after that. I began to want to care for my body that I had abused all these years. I started with Bikram (hot) yoga, then I started running, swimming, cycling. I felt brand new, like I could do anything. I signed up for a triathlon and did well. I ran a half marathon and did well. I'm running one again next month and next year I'm racing in half ironmans. I'm thinking about going back to college for a masters degree and maybe a new career (at 46!) To everybody above, you are fortunate. Fortunate that you have an awareness at such a young age that your anxiety and alcohol are related. I did okay in life, but looking back I could have done much better. I was mediocre at everything. I wish I would have just quit drinking alcohol alltogether. But hey, I still have plenty of time. Now that I'm taking care of my body (i lost the 25 pounds and am now back to the 105 that I was all through high school in college) I will live longer and have the energy to do all sorts of things like travel and race, help people, help my children and family, basically to be present for life. My anxiety is completely gone. I will say that I experimented twice with drinking during this time. One night I went out and had 4 beers. I woke up the next day with that same familiar agony. I told myself "it will pass." It did. Then a couple of months later, hardheaded me tried again. This time I had one glass of wine. The next day, there I was shaking again. So here I am again completely sober and all my anxiety is gone. So the advice I have to all you above is to stop drinking entirely. All the other stuff is good too, like exercise, diet, meditation, music, etc. But it's only a matter of time that those things will stop working. You can save yourself years by quitting now. Good luck, God bless, and keep trying.

thanksfriends

Nov 06, 2011

To: everyone here

THANK YOU!  I was in the throws of a post-party night panic attack and hopped on google to look for advice to calm down and to convince myself that i wasn't having a heart attack.  Landed here and read the whole thread and I feel better... HUGELY better!!

I've been drinking/partying for about 10 years but only in the past year have I experienced these attacks the day after.  I quit smoking over this, figuring the cigarettes were causing the shortness of breath the next day.  While overall not smoking 20 cigs in one night out has been helpful, it hasn't stopped the weird feelings and thoughts and general misery of panic attacks.  I was pretty sure I would have to entirely stop drinking alcohol or end up with a heart attack!  Thats always the thought I have and the one I cant get rid of that stirs the panic to a boil is that Im convinced that my heart is just going to stop.  Like many people said, I usually wake up feeling hungover but JUST hungover... its not until 5 or so hours after waking that I feel some weird lethargic feeling or a tingle or flush of warmth and then the heart racing and then the cycle.   The GABA explanation makes SO much sense and Im so happy to have seen that all spelled out.

First I googled tips for getting through a panic attack and read some advice... This really didnt help and only made me panic more when the ideas didnt work!  Then I decided to google hangover panic attacks and voila I landed here!  I'm not crazy!!!  And Im not dying!!!  Thanks so much to everyone for sharing all of your experiences and advice and information.  I think I will make some tea and watch a movie and remind myself that soon this will all pass.  Actually, right now it feels like it already has!

I only continue because Im interested in peoples thoughts on this idea thats been plaguing me:  I am a super laid back super social person and I just love letting loose and having some grand old fun with friends.  Now that Im in my later 20s I have cut down seriously on the "party lifestyle" in that im not going on clubbing all night every weekend and drinking til I cant see straight or worse till I just pass out as I did in my younger days when I was crazy.  Ive been way more responsible in my habits as in, now I might drink beers at a BBQ in the backyard or a few cocktails on a Friday after a particularly long week, or split a bottle of wine with my neighbor.  The only time I might overindulge is like a wedding or some kind of fantastic party that only happens once in a blue moon, when I know full well I will suffer the next day and can rationalize that!  I cant rationalize the panic attack after all ive done is just have a few drinks watching a football game or something!  I guess where Im going with this is, I dont want to stop drinking over this anxiety stuff because I dont feel like Im drinking "irresponsibly" or excessively.  But then, I feel ireesponsible and stupid continuing to do something that makes me suffer such a horrible reaction!  What do you my fellow anxiety and panic hangover community think about keeping on drinking socially or stopping drinking entirely over that panic reaction

THANKS everyone :)  I guess its a long road and I dont know where ill go from here but I must say, reading yalls stories and writing this whole long shpeal myself has been incredibly helpful to my physical body and my overall mood and outlook :)

j180681

Nov 12, 2011

I'm 31 and male.

Never been a heavy drinker, too much of a lightweight. Used Marajuana for a few years, but over the past 18-24 months have been dealing with anxiety/panic.

More recenently, like many of you guys, I have identified the link between having a few beers and feeling awful the next day.

Some days it is unbearable. Some friends do not realise what or how the anxiety effects people, and think it is the same as a hangover. Its not. Hangovers are bearable, anxiety totally wipes you out!

I do not want to stop social drinking either. I only drink on weekends and not a masaaive amount

It it nice to know that there are loads of people feeling the same.

If anyone finds anything that helps, please let us all know.

dameindstress

Nov 14, 2011

To: bvjens31

I am in my 30s and I read your story and I soooo get what you say about the whole after you feel better you just do it again and again.I used to work a fulltime demanding job and would go out with the girls after work and drink almost everynight...to try and help with the anxiety I went to the doc and got put on zoloft(ofcourse telling him that I didnt drink)soon come to find out you are more likely to black out while on this and drink.I have been taking the meds for YEARS now and over time had a baby and stopped working to stay at home with my child.My husband travels and is gone 5 out of 7 days of the week and I watch another child throughout the week along with mine I had stopped drinking because I was so tired of the anxiety and my life needed to change in that aspect.But I recently had a relapse where I drank and via internet accused my sister in law of things that I shouldnt have and I am now mortified and I am done with the drinking...I forwarded an appology the very next early morning but the whole family had already heard of what I had done.I am mortified ,embarrassed,ashamed and all I want to do is stay in my house and go NO WHERE because I am so embarrassed(spell?)And all of this because of what?I thought I wanted to have just a couple of drinks.The anxiety from this last episode is really starting to affect my health and on top of EVERYTHING ELSE Thanksgiving is next week and I DO NOT want to go to the inlaws because I am so embarrassed and the whole extended family is going to be there.And yes the MAJOR reason I do not want to go is because I am so ashamed,but 2nd is because I am still trying to wrap my mind around everything that I have done and how I can fix myself .He thinks that I just need to face it but I truly feel like I need to fix myself before I am able to fix anything else.Am I wrong not want to go?The incident is still so fresh and you can imagine the anxiety I have because of what I did and it is almost paralyzing.Help me please

dameindstress

Nov 14, 2011

To: the community

I am on here because going to the doc doesnt seem to help me because I am too ashamed to be honest about my problems.I am tired of the repitition and I was doing sooo good and in doing good no anxiety-so obviously the drinking is the common denominator here.I feel like I have ruined my life but for you to understand me a little more since I have stopped working I have no friends anymore with them not having children yet or working so I feel like I have no contact with the outside world most of the time and I get anxiety about even leaving the house to go get milk so the reason I would reach for a drink( after my child was staying with my family for the night)to get that escape and I am trying to figure out why I lash out at people when I drink I never used to do that but I guess i am so lonely and want attention that I will do it even in a negative way and the lasing out never happened until I was a stay at home mom for a few months and I feel like I have lost my identity along the way.I DONT like me right now and want to change but how?How can I promise that this wont happen again when it always happens again ?I feel like I have wasted so many years of my life and when am I going to learn I feel like have have learned but thats what I thought last time.I really need some moral support right now-I am not crazy-I just feel very lost and alone right now -and still wondering what you all think about my thanksgiving situation

Ryan19841010

Nov 15, 2011

To: all

i am so happy i found this forum i thought i was going mad and having a breakdown. I have partied growing up for about 10 years but only at weekends. I have recently been struggling from major panic attacks the day after, i get really bad acid/ indigestion on my chest and spend that much time thinking about it i think i am going to have a heart attack. I have gone to a&e twice in the the past 3 months. I thought because i have done what i have done growing up i was going to die young even though all results came back fine. I got signed off work for a week from the attacks. I have recently gone out twice and only drank beer but not a lot of it and have been completely fine. I get the impression that when i drink jaeger and redbull this makes me extremely anxious, or if i go out on a complete bender all day and night then it happens. I think the key is moderation and stopping smoking completely. I am just going to try and drink but drink to enjoy myself not drink to get really hammered as i normally do and see if it works. I can't live the way i am doing currently as my mind set isn't right and i feel like im losing my marbles, reading everyones comments its so good to know that its not just me, but at the same time i am sorry to hear other people are suffering. I only smoke at the weekends when i drink and i am going to try just having the 5-6 beers when i do go out from now on rather than getting that hammered i don't know where i am or how i got home. I wonder to myself because i have hit it so hard growing up i have ruined my body, at the end of the day man or woman we are all clearly sensitive people and the extra curricular activites the majority of us will have done has more than likely made things worse. The thing i always say to myself is to try to calm down look at people who have taken drugs all there life and live in to there 70's. Look at Alice Cooper last night on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, none of us would think he would be alive today after the way he has grown up. I think its about time at the age of 27 i started to grow up a lot and stop drinking the way i do and this will all go away. I can only hope but binge drinking needs to stop. Please do let me know if anyone gets any other ideas.

Ryan19841010

Nov 15, 2011

To: Tysonosyt

so unbelievably helpful!

NickFil

Nov 16, 2011

To: http://www.medhelp.org/user_profiles/show/504046

Wow crazy how I finally found someone with the same problem . The first day after drinking ***** and u never feel 100 percent until like 3-4 days later.i use to take lorazepam the day after was ok at first but it's  still a drug and bad side effects took them for a year about 60 pills split in 2 so I took about 100 half pills in a year and I realized I'm just ruining my body even more .. But if u really need to take a med to control them stick with Ativan it's much more responsive and u don't feel brain dead lol .ive said to myself a thousand times I will never drink again and I never seem to stop after countless rushes to the emergency at the hospital and missing work. I stopped drinking for 6 month then I started again and noticed they were gone so stupid me I start partying all over again and boom 3 months later boom there it is again.   That crappy feeling I hate the most that fear that scares the **** out of u . That squeeze. In ur chest. That loss of breath that loss of feeling in ur arms the dizziness the jumping up in ur sleep the scared to fall asleep that Pail look in ur face . Damn I feel like an idiot. Today I  write this inspired by the 25 year old who started this man do I feel u . I'm 27 I quit drugs 7 years ago bcuz of this and now I've lost my social buzzing booze I just feel so boring without it . BUT After many years of suffering and xperimenting. I wanna help whoever has this cuz I wish it on no one
WAYS TO PREVENT AND COPE WITH THE DAY AFTER ATTACKS !!!!!

Best thing vitamins help in long run
Drink lots of water
Drink milk b4 drinking
Drink warm milk the day after to soothe ur mind and help fall asleep.
Drink non caffeine tea chamomile is good or if u can find a sedative tea that says soothes and calms nerves or  to help insomnia or sleep aid tea .....THIS HAS DONE ME WONDERS TEAS ARE THE BESTTT TRY IT TRUST Me!!!
Excersise helps  even the day after u will sweat out all the toxins
Ativans are last resort for me it's a narcotic and addictive but it does help :)
Stay calm relaxed get someone to rub ur head.
I avoid showers I just feel I can't breathe in that heat and I get all parenoid the day after in the shower.
Stay around people I'll feel safer
Eat  eat eat it makes u feel worse at first but u have to I find salmon is good salad light chicken eat healthy but not heavy small portion best .
Always check my blood pressure and do I notice a difference wen I'm hung over . U will be shocked try it it helps wanna improve wat we are doing to areselves
If u are Gunna drink light beer slooooowwwwly ANd max 3 and make sure ur on a full stomach b4 and after
But best not to drink

newstart20

Nov 20, 2011

OKay i am a 20 year old male i first hade a panick attack when i hot box in the car with a couple of my friends i ask him to drop me of as i walk up stairs i started to feel my heart race so i whent to lay down as i laid down more heart felt like it was about to fall out of my chest so i got up walk to the door open it tried to get a couple breaths of fresh air but that didnt work soo ii really got scared now this was at about 3:00 in the morning my dad was sleeping i busted in his room in said dad i think im haven aye heart attack lol we called the emc they cam check my heart rate said i was fine but this leads to other panick attack every so often jst last week i hade aye panick attack so badd im stel feeling the effects of it to day it feels as im here but not all the way i know this is real but dosent feel like it o get scared very easly cant think straight for get easly!!! Jst want ths scarey fake world feeling to go away

melaniej1203

Nov 21, 2011

To: bvjens31

I can't believe I found your posts! I had my first panic attack about three months ago after a very heavy night drinking vodka with friends. I am a very heavy drinker - or was.

It took me a couple more weeks and a couple more drinking sessions to link the alcohol with the panic attacks. Now sometimes I wonder if it is partially me telling myself I'm going to have a panic attack after drinking that almost starts them off. I use the techniques I read on another website abbout trying to calm yourself down, occupy your mind with nice things (reading a book, doing something you enjoy (other than drinking).

I have now come to the conclusion (as some other have on this forum) that I do actually need to quit drinking. Unforunately, I don't think I can have just one drink. I find it easier to abstain completely than to have one and then stop.

It has affected my life a lot and I didn't realise until now that drinking took up so much of my life and my money and my health. I have been trying to lose weight for a number of months with varying success. Since I stopped drinking it is falling off!

The panic attacks are pretty much the only thing that completely helped me stop drinking, I just hope I don't forget how bad they are and think "oh yeah I can have a few" for it all to come back!

good luck to everyone who is going through the same, at 25 years old it's a pretty bleak thought to think I have an issue with alcohol, and it took these dreadful panic attacks for me to realise it.

Parkerdark

Nov 22, 2011

To: all

Hello guys!! I came across this website because I have a lot to relate to and I feel like I can share this with you guys and hopefully help. I started experiencing the dizziness and anxiety the same way all of you have experienced it. When they started to happen, my best friend just died of a drug overdose, my parents split up, and my girlfriend broke up with me. I started drinking very heavily because I couldn't bare the anxiety. Anxiety is a *&^%$. You can't eat, sleep, or find anything interesting. Over time(1.5 years later) my drinking grew to a 5th a day of liquor. Full blown alcoholic because the anxiety wasn't getting better and nothing in life was getting better. Now I am 15 months sober without a drink after rehab and I feel great. Mostly. The only thing that sometimes haunts me is anxiety. The reason being and what all of you have to accept is you are on your own in life. You don't have your parents to lean on during times that are hard. This is TRUE stress and anxiety. It's normal. What people need to accept is that you drank to relieve the stress. As you grow older and build a career you have duties that need to be kept up on....bills, job tasks, and being responsible. When you feel that you are about to have an anxiety attack...don't drink. It will only grow worst. Go work out. Do something that you don't want to do right of way. In the long run it will make you feel better. Just don't drink when you have an important obligation coming up. Its a recipe for disaster. Thanks guys for sharing your thoughts, its helped me feel not alone.

Take care,

Mike Parker

Birchola

Nov 22, 2011

To: All

Hello folks.  Interesting reading all your posts.  I'd just like to add my experiences.

I'm 32 now and first experienced panic/anxiety attacks when I was 17 years old.  At the time my friends and I were experimenting with various recreational drugs.  I had a mind changing night of panic and fear after taking acid.  I blamed it all on the tab I'd taken and for months later I'd be sweating a lot of the time and experiencing constant irrational fears about death.

It only dawned on me years later that it wasn't the drugs but the massive amount of alcohol I was consuming at the time.

I'm still a heavy drinker and suffer the day after.  Not so much physically but psychologically.  The same old irrational, depressive thoughts still exist the day after a major session and always will I believe.  My friends say the same and refer to it as 'beer terrors' etc.  It's comforting to know you're not going insane and that it's just your lifestyle affecting your state of mind.

The fact is alcohol is a depressant so has a major downside.  If you want the good times you have to put up with the bad.  The only real cures are plenty of water and even more sleep.  Delaying the inevitable come down by drinking further is good for the soul (if not terrible for the body) if you know you are able to have a long relaxing sleep at the end of it.

To summarise I'd just like to say don't panic if alcohol creates such anxiety.  It's a harsh drug at the end of the day but it does play a large part in our society.  (in the UK)

If anybody wants to discuss this matter any further please contact me on liam_birch***@****  I'd be happy to hear your opinions and thoughts  :)

Birchola

Nov 22, 2011

liam_birch @ h o t m a i l. c o m

hose391

Nov 23, 2011

Well It doesn't get any better. I am 55 and never used to get till I was in my 40's. It does get old but when you drink once or twice a week and pour em down you have to pay the next day.

jayp14

Nov 28, 2011

To: All

You are not alone, as you see and I'm glad I found you all as well. I'm having one of those days today. I wasn't even really out late last night, but the alcohol took a toll on me today...I even met up with a gf last night, you'd think I'd be in a good mood today, but no.  I should also add, I do take anti-depressants now...which yes, you're not supposed to drink on, however, if you have like 2-3 drinks in a day, you'll be ok; e.g. I was at a hockey game Saturday and literally had that and I was fine. Actually, a lot times they often make you not want to drink.  Here is where I get in trouble, I have to be careful with my friends. They are all big drinkers and its easy for me to lose count with them.  I remember all that happened last night (the drinking night), I didn't get "wasted" I was in control, but my buddy just kept on ordering those pitchers...it makes it tough when your feeling "okay" or having fun in control, to realize what may happen to you the next day...you need to try and be congnizant of what your ingesting...  It's all a learning experience, and as you can see from even my experience, we do fail sometimes. However, I'm great during the week I will not drink or keep it very limited; ironically, Sunday, with football, seems to be my achilles heel - not even Friday and Saturday :-) I also think that draft beer is some of these bars can make you feel like crap too. I also have a friend that tends to call me who can still put it away and feel fine..he has his own stuff he's going through, however I can let him hinder my growth/healing and if any of you are in such a situation, you shouldn't let this happen either.

I'm most content and in control when I'm by myself, but of course, that is no way to live.  My psychologist told me its like managing endorphines, or budgeting endorphines, like you would a check book, you don't want to "bounce"; it's part of growing up I guess, which I think we all kind of resent, a little. I'm 36 now. When I was younger, as long as I paced myself approriately, I could drink for long periods of time (beer) and be fine; now, well, the total mass of that consumption will do what it does to all of us, i.e. the anxiety, not so much the hangover.  It's also things like eating that help, I didn't eat much yesterday, I definitely should've drank more water. That meds sometimes make me limit my food intake.

Personally, I also notice I tend to start feeling a lot better sharing my story or helping others on boards like this, so I apologize if I ranted a little too long.

We are all beautiful people and there is nothing wrong with us, we're just human and trying to live our lives; maybe perhaps the axiety is proof we all have a concious.  Best to you all today.  -J.

tommygun1981

Nov 29, 2011

I have the same problem after heavily binge drinking. Constant dizziness, sudden headaches, heavy heart feeling and heart racing. I feel like I'm going to pass out at times. I drive a forklift for a living so that's kinda scary. When I lay off the booze for 4 or 5 days these symptoms subside. I think alcohol has a lot to do with it. After waking up, I feel normal, no symptoms at all. As the day progresses, these symptoms slowly come back and intensify/worsens. At times, I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. Realizing that other people are experiencing these symptoms is a relief. I'll lay off the alcohol for a while and see what happens

jayp14

Dec 12, 2011

To: jayp14

Ha, it's funny I found this post, I wanted to see how long it took me to be stupid again, huh a little over two weeks, not bad.  I basically had the same exact thing happen to me again.  I'm noticing a little patern, it's sporting events and old friends.  I was supposed to go to two events and something even told me I'd be better off hanging with a gf instead, so I bailed on the other one.  But of course she wanted to drink.  This might be the worst anxiety I ever felt.  I was laying in her bed, actually praying I would die.

I'm also noticing the anti-depressant cocktail that I am on now, actually aids the drinking. I feel really good and I'm in great spirits.  I don't do anything stupid or nasty, I'm quite fun to be around.  The girl I stayed with last night even just texted me to say what a great time she had with me.  I feel bad if I have to tell her I want to steer clear of her, it's not her, I just don't like being around people, it's always when I lapse.  Working events, hanging with family, I got it all under control.  My old friends, women, if they want to have fun, its my achilles heel.

I can't live out the rest of my life being by myself though.  I think part of it as I am assimiliating back to being single, I'm doing the things, I would do as as single guy and feel real good about.  Going to a game, drinking with some friends, and then looking to hook with a girl was classic playbook for me back in the day.  I don't feel well after it though.

I need to figure a way to stop.  I have an hs friend coming into town and I know my old school buds want to hang at the dinner with them all in a few days.  I am going to decline.  Maybe I'll tell them I'll meet them out afterwards, I'll know my guard will be up and I can always use the work excuse.

Wow, I hate myself, I feel like a failure.

CrazyEE

Dec 18, 2011

I am so annoyed at myself. I have just started a new job and had slowed down on the drinking for the month before because I was sick. I was amazed because from going from SEVERE anxiety attacks every day (guaranteed) I stopped having them.

Now I have started having a few drinks again and I am having horrendous attacks again. It is bad timing with my new job. I have sat here since 8:30 this morning and done nothing. Just stared at the computer screen and freaked out. I feel like I am dying - my heart is racing. I just feel crazy.

What I am trying to tell myself though is that it is CLEARLY the alcohol considering it stopped when I stopped drinking. So if I can just get through today I will be okay. I just need to not drink so heavily.

I feel so panicked. I feel like my heart is going to stop beating - I am tired! It is awful. I hate anxiety. I hate GAD.

carl87

Dec 24, 2011

Im so glad ive finally realised whats been happening to me.
My story is very similar to others-usual hangover in the morning after a night of excess.
Then about midday nausea,sweats,panicky, weird numb feeling down my leftt arm and face,sometimes leg-intense left sided headache.
Its basically how i imagine having a stroke and heart attack combined would feel-and thats what i thought i was having when i asked my wife to call an ambulance.
Its quite embarrassing when a Doc tells you theres nothing wrong with you in A+E and you feel like your dying.
I have them on off-what helps me
Drink less!-
Excercise lots
Avoid coffee-my usual hangover cure would be sit around on the internet drinking mug after mug of strong black coffee-a sure fire recipe for a major PA
Cheers all and good luck

dani830

Jan 03, 2012

To: Everyone

SOO soo happy I found this website! I thought I was the only one expeirencing this...I am a girl 20 years old and I have been drinking HEAVILY since I was 14. I thought my heart pumping out of my chest was just my body telling me I need to slow down. It just recently started to happen to me within this past month all 3 times. I was in the backseat in traffic the first time it happened (ALWAYS happens about 10-12 hrs after I am drinking) I thought i was just claustrophobic for a minute. My heart was going crazy my hands were sweating uncontrollaby and it felt like everything was closing out on me. I got home and realized it was probably just a small panic attack which still really freaked me the F out. I drink water evveryyyyday so i didnt think that was a problem...until it happened again and I told my mom who is a nurse. She told me it is not normal for my heart to do that after drinking, but she did tell me to cough hard 4x to try and get your heart back to its normal heart rate(hope that helps someone) Anyway, LAST night was bad. It happened the usual 12 hrs after drinking then went away after a looot of water. Happened again at 2 in the morning but this time i got very dizzy and i was using every single bit of energy to keep me from just dying out. I am a very healthy person so for this to happen to me scares me, wish i was the only one but seems ike the rest of u are having this ICKY expeirence. I think we all know the answer to this, and it is to stop drinking SO heavily/STOP drinking all together. The feeling is so ugly and uncomfortable but it all goes away in time. It's sad that i am experiencing this and I am not even 21:( I Hope this new year brings AMAZING health to you ALL!!!!! Xo

Happygoluckyme

Jan 07, 2012

I can tell from what and how you've wrote where you are at with dealing with your anxiety. I was once there. I never had anxiety growing up but my Mom did. I didn't even understand what she was going through and was less than sympathetic to say the least. One night after drinking and cocaine and very little sleep my bf picked me up. I felt uber disgusting so decided a Starbucks frap with an extra shot should do the trick. It didn't help so bf rolled a joint and just as the effects of the weed stress so did a feeling of doom and fear that I had never experienced innmy life! I also had an extreme pain in my head that made me unable to put my head down even on a pillow. As the effects of the weed wore off I started to feel a little more normal but the uncertainty stayed with me until it started to disipate, prob about a week. Then one year later after partying I had a crazy panic attack without the coffee or booze. It started just because a tiny thought entered my brain about the first time. It's interesting because our bodies are protecting us. We get a surge of adrenaline to protect us from harm but because we are just hungover there is nothing to fight or flee from. Its been a tough and confusing, mind-battling venture but it does get better!!! The effects of alcohol are def the culprit but we doubt ourselves when we feel like we are going crazy. The problem is that after experiencing anxiety you can feel anxious just thinking about it. Something your mind never even knew existed before. The key is to either cut out alcohol, or learn to not binge drink. Or have something for the next day. It is def a band-aid but it's realistic if you get enjoyment out of having a couple or few glasses of wine/beer. I take an Ativan day after sometimes but don't even need to anymore some days. Everything helps, restoring your water levels, vitamin b, exercise, positive thinking, distractions, etc. Just remember that there is no real danger!! I

Happygoluckyme

Jan 07, 2012

I can tell from what and how you've wrote where you are at with dealing with your anxiety. I was once there. I never had anxiety growing up but my Mom did. I didn't even understand what she was going through and was less than sympathetic to say the least. One night after drinking and cocaine and very little sleep my bf picked me up. I felt uber disgusting so decided a Starbucks frap with an extra shot should do the trick. It didn't help so bf rolled a joint and just as the effects of the weed stress so did a feeling of doom and fear that I had never experienced innmy life! I also had an extreme pain in my head that made me unable to put my head down even on a pillow. As the effects of the weed wore off I started to feel a little more normal but the uncertainty stayed with me until it started to disipate, prob about a week. Then one year later after partying I had a crazy panic attack without the coffee or booze. It started just because a tiny thought entered my brain about the first time. It's interesting because our bodies are protecting us. We get a surge of adrenaline to protect us from harm but because we are just hungover there is nothing to fight or flee from. Its been a tough and confusing, mind-battling venture but it does get better!!! The effects of alcohol are def the culprit but we doubt ourselves when we feel like we are going crazy. The problem is that after experiencing anxiety you can feel anxious just thinking about it. Something your mind never even knew existed before. The key is to either cut out alcohol, or learn to not binge drink. Or have something for the next day. It is def a band-aid but it's realistic if you get enjoyment out of having a couple or few glasses of wine/beer. I take an Ativan day after sometimes but don't even need to anymore some days. Everything helps, restoring your water levels, vitamin b, exercise, positive thinking, distractions, etc. Just remember that there is no real danger!! I

topher280

Jan 08, 2012

I just want to comment one one thing the last post mentioned: "Just remember that there is no real danger!"  I agree with this in terms of the anxiety and panic attacks - you are not dying or going crazy!  But I commented years ago on this thread, and will again now after making a little progress.

Since we are talking about alcohol's involvement, I believe in the long term there is danger if we with these issues continue to drink.  I am quite convinced that the anxiety after drinking most of us are experiencing is a physiological withdrawal response.  Even if we wouldn't call ourselves alcoholics, only drink on the weekends, etc., when we drink or binge our brains get all out of whack when the alcohol is out of our system the next day.

It has taken weeks of not drinking for me to feel a sense of peace, to let the tension inside me fade away.  I still can get anxious if there's a legitimate reason, but I am able to function so much better.  I have realized that the alcohol-induced anxiety was horrendous the day after bingeing, but that it takes literally weeks to fade completely.  So even though I was only drinking on the weekends, I was putting my body through a cycle of binge/withdrawal every week, and it was destroying me through anxiety.

My point is just that I hope some of you take this anxiety as a serious warning, and I challenge anyone who wants to get rid of it to not drink for an entire month, and maybe keep a journal about how you feel.  It couldn't hurt.

gmzkyd

Jan 31, 2012

It is good to read these posts! i have to admit i am always wondering the internet even though i know what is wrong with me. It's still so hard to fully believe it is only anxiety. I had tried weed a few times and the last time i did it i had a panic attack, in the morning i felt normal and it left my mind. about 6 months later after a hard night of drinking and bumping into my ex it all starting. Impending doom. the full panic attack experience feeling i was going to die. and it has not stopped since, its been nearly 2 years, i do have moments that i feel better but as soon as the thoughts are there again it felt like no time has passed since i last thought about it. Vicious cycle! i do believe it's the alcohol. But it's so hard to think that my friends are fine and this stuff doesn't bother them, yet i have to deal with it. It's just an awful experience and i really hope it stops soon. i haven't been having panic attacks but weird thoughts are still lingering. I wish everyone the best of luck. Been watching a fair bit of charles linden on youtube. That seems to help, should get around to ordering the real deal.Im just skeptical! but i do have hope that i will one day no longer have these awful feelings!

albert1979

Feb 21, 2012

To: Albert

It is nice to see that I am not the only person in the world battling this terrible problem.  I am 32 and have battled with anxiety since I have been about 20.  I like to go out with friends and have a good time but I cannot handle the day after drinking in excess, and it seems to be getting worse every year. (I know not good news for some of the younger contributors)

I am able to go out and have a decent amount of drinks in a night (5-8) and feel ok the next day.  However, if I go out and decide to get blackout drunk then I can have a hangover for 4-5 days.  It is not a typical hangover either.  I cannot function, I have been in the hospital numerous time.  I try my best to understand the anxiety going on in my head.  I try to calm myself but sometimes I just do on thane the strength to battle.  I just can't calm myself.

As I have become older I try not to get out of control drunk anymore but a few times a year I allow myself to get caught up in the night and get out of control drunk.  However Saturday night I allowed myself to do it again and here I am on Tuesday and still battling to get my life back on track.  I am trying to get through the work day by finding different excuses to leave the office and taking fake phone calls on my cell to be able to walk outside.

We just have to come to the realization that we are not built like other people that have the ability to handle alcohol and function as normal members of society.  At least there is an answer to our problem, we just need the strength to either quit drinking or only have a couple drinks.

It feels good to share and I hope that my post helps at least one person through these tough times that feel like they will never end.

Jenna2335

Feb 28, 2012

To: ihatebooze727

I am so happy for your story. Lately, if I drink A LOT, I have been having spells where I feel I will pass out the next day. Happens while driving, and particularly, if I've had caffeine. It is a crazy feeling and, thank GOD, haven't actually ever passed out. The feeling comes over me so strongly, my left hand goes numb, and I immediately recognize I need to be NOT DRIVING. Scary, to say the least. I am an alcoholic and I pray to god this experience makes me stop.

goshujin

Mar 03, 2012

This issue started for me a few years back

Symptoms are the same as everyone else

Left side numbness in hands/feet, weird headaches (not so much pain rather like it will explode or something is happening in there), Feeling like I would have a stroke.

I still get these issues even though I have stopped alcohol for two years and pretty much cut out most sugars/caffeine.

It may be a form of Peripheral Neuropathy (I am not diabetic)

For me getting stressed out, having too much sugars, having caffeine, getting too excited or nervous triggers these effects in various degrees. I have been to ER a couple times like everyone else.
Drinking has a big effect on the Central Nervous System too.

Pralines

Mar 09, 2012

It brings me a lot of comfort to just know I'm not in this alone........ And I think the best way to handle this is to stay away from alcohol altogether, which is easier said than done

Best wishes,
K

bigd608

Mar 29, 2012

To: anyone

i sociably drank all my life up until ten yrs ago.the last 2 yrs my life is un managable i go on binges where i drink half a gallon of vodka a day.im a living nightmare. i have so much responsibility for other family ie grand parents poa my parents hate me my brother is very successful and he drinks same with my daughter. i drink and end up in the emergency room. i call to talk before i get too bad and nothing,wont answer phone nothing.well to sum this up i just got home from detox which were i live consists of sitting in a recliner for 3 days no medication its so brutal i feel like im not going to make it all of my fingers are numb the store is only a block away but i honestly dont want to drink anymore any help.

ucf561

May 06, 2012

To: everyone

all right ppl lets get our thoughts together and settled. First of all im 22 and go to the university of florida. I have dealt with these fear/panic moments after drinking for numerous times. It wasnt until about a year ago that ifinally linked it to the massive amount of drinking i was doing. I mean the first time i really started drinking everyday wasnt until about 6 months ago. Idk how everyone else drinks but sometimes i just find myself bored on a tuesday and pop open a beer. And yes i go out on weekends and drink and yes binge. But what has to be done is no more binging. I literally just came off of my worst withdrawal i have ever faced. I was pacing, couldnt sleep, worst thoughts, had a mental break down and cried in front of my girlfriend for the 2nd time now, feel like calling an ambulance, i had to call off work for 2 days straight because i was so exhausted from no sleep/ fear of having a panic attack at work. But today i had to go into work or else i would get fired and what my job is that im a valet parker which means constant running and exercise, i know many of these post say exercise helps but idk if its just my mind getting off the worried thoughts or its the actual exercise that is helping who knows im no doctor. But heres what im getting at,about half of the day i was at work i was having the worst anxiety because i thought to myself OMG im not going to be able to drink anymore because this happens everytime and YES it does happen everytime but only when i binge for more then 2 days in a row and when i say binge i mean getting drunk to where u can pass out. For me i dont really like get blacked out to where im stumbling out of the club i just drink all day and have a constant buzz. So here is my remedy that i hope will help all of you, basically you have to control yourself, if your going to get **** *** drunk then ya do it but no more then 2 days in a row and also drink lots of water, like tonight i went to a bar and ya had a few maybe 6 but as im writing this im drinking water. I really have lots more to write but in the end dont let this alcohol get to you and i didnt say before but the withdrawal i came off of was a 6 day binge of literally drinking atleast a 12 pack a day. Ive also noticed that staying away from energy drinks helps out a lot. I mean i like energy drinks but for some reason when im drinking a redbull vodka the next day i have instant anxiety. So know you dont have to entirely quit just know your limits. If youve got to binge just know to drink lots of water before you sleep and no more 6 day binges for me and if you literally have to drink that many days just know in the end your going to visit a living hell for atleast 3 days. Id like some comments if anyone has them i hope this helps you guys out ive read almost everypost on here and it took me about 2 or 3 fear/panic moments to actually write on here. Goodluck to you all be safe

kawasaki136

May 26, 2012

im 41 always felt a bit sick depressed, you get over it, but lately, when i go into pub sick, i go to quietiest bar not too talk to anyone untill i get two or three into me, i be shaking, when bar man stocks shelf i slug down pint, when someone looking at me i cant lift pint with shakes, its all in my head. its getting worse all the time

jimryan167

Jun 13, 2012

To: Rld88

the exact same thing happend to me i thought i was having a heart attack the day after drinking, i went off in an ambulance

jimryan167

Jun 13, 2012

To: DuneSlider

i couldent have said it better myself, this is what happend to me, a 3 day bender of heavy drinking and smoking, but the worying thing for me is im only 17

jdub1980

Jul 18, 2012

This has helped tremendously. I have had issues with both anxiety and alcohol consumption for some time now. I started drinking to help cope with the anxiety but now the drinking causes more anxiety than anything. I have been trying to avoid alcohol altogether but last night I had a relapse. I drank heavily and as a consequence I was sitting in my office this afternoon convinced I was having a stroke, heart attack, seizure or all three. I know better cognitively but in the heat of the moment it's hard to calm yourself. Reading these posts has helped me regain perspective and calm my panic attack (for now.) THANK YOU!! Now onto the bigger issue of quitting drinking and taking charge of my life again. Tonight I will attend my first AA meeting. Again, thank you everyone for sharing your stories. It has helped tremendously.

znerrah

Aug 13, 2012

I started drinking when i was 13. Im 23 now. I did not get any panic **** until i turned 19 i think. But anyways yeah before that, i drink like there's no tomorrow then wake up just the hungover no panic attacks. Then one time i woke up got in the car and i started to freak out, out of breath, light headed, numb, nausea. **** i thought i was gonna die!!! Im still alcoholic, im pain with my wife, she hates when i drink because she got tired taking care of me. Anyways, i used to drink almost everyday, then i went to every other day, then on weekends only, i came back drinking everyday again etc... Now i drink about twice a week it dont matter what days. I feel healthy, have peace of mind when i dont drink and i also do some running/walking. Most of the time i drink is because im depressed it feels like no one understands me and im very sensitive person. Anyways again! Lol. So im 23 i think and im still alcoholic but im helping myself, this drinking **** has to stop!!! Before my body stops! It's hard because im really addicted to alcohol... I don't smoke, i don't do drugs, i don't cheat to my wife but only thing she hates is my drinking. It was fine before when i met her but like what i said she got tired taking care of me when im hungover and panics. She tried everything to help me and i dont wanna go to aaa meetings and **** like that because i know no one can help me but me. She says you have "too much pride" i believe thats the only thing a man can have when everything goes bad. "pride" and "dignity."
I know we are not all the same, but my drinking has to stop so my wife don't have to worry alot.

sincerity82

Aug 14, 2012

Just wanted to add that it may sound funny but pedialyte really helps me. I find that most of my anxiety/panic attacks the day after were linked to dehydration. Now if I have one pedialyte before bed (the big bottles) and one in the morning first thing....and if it was that bad of a night maybe one more mid afternoon, the effects are minimized.

Not saying it's going to cure all, but it certainly DOES help. My friends thought I was crazy...now when we show up for a night of drinking, along with their cases of beer or whatever, they have pedialyte stocked lol.

good luck and stay strong

topher280

Aug 14, 2012

Hey everyone, I am glad many people are realizing that this is physiological dependence on alcohol, even if you don't consider it "alcoholism" because you don't drink every day.

But even after many days of not drinking, after a binge, we experience a minor withdrawal. It gets worse and worse every time - this phenomenon is called Kindling. I think everyone should research it because it can cause serious brain damage, especially if you are young, and can impair memory and emotional processing. In some ways, it is much worse than an alcoholic that drinks moderately every day and only goes through withdrawal once.

Kindling. Withdrawal. Alcoholism. Very serious stuff, but very hard to break the binge cycle.

Shoesy

Dec 16, 2012

Great posts! I have a family that loves to drink so it hard for me not to drink around them. When I hang around them I always end up drinking way past my limit and the next day I feel it. I hardly sleep post drinking and I get anxiety bad. I feel like I have done something wrong. I will keep playing the night over and over again in my head. It's terrible feeling that I never want to have again I just can't stop drinking becAuse of my friends N family always drinking . I wish I could hang out w them and not drink but if I don't drink when they are I get extesmly

Shoesy

Dec 16, 2012

To: Shoesy

Extremely annoyed. I'm 27 yrs old and I can't just stop drinking all together but I'm def gonna try to know my limit. I want to write more but I'm hungover and have anxiety right now. I will write more later. Thanks everyone for your posts!

sincerity82

Dec 17, 2012

I still go back to the dehydration thing. I think that's where 90% of my panicky anxiety behavior post drinking comes from. sparkling water, pedialyte, regular water, gatorade etc. mixed in while drinking most certainly helps. The problem is in the morning, most likely will feel horrible because of the dehydration and not be able to drink a lot...so best to chug some down before sleeping...that way you wake up and have to **** like race horse and process has already begun. It's absolutely crucial. I'd say this works about 85% of the time for me in lessening the day after jitters. The other 15%, well....I don't know but soemthing is different because it's utter hell.

barbarablueblack272

Dec 18, 2012

To: everyone

I look at the posts and see how many people are having problems with drink.
I have for over 23 years tried to cope with my son who as a drinking problem and some drugs.
It seems to me that at one time we feel nervous and the nerves feel better after a drink and we feel confident and happy , as our feeling go with the drink .
I did myself notice this myself when I was a young girl however for myself i had a good doctor and was sent to group to talk about my problems and over 3 years later I left the group with the information to help me through my life .
I was told by the consultant when I left that I was one of the lucky ones as lots of people do not get the luck to have a g p who noticed the problem and to advise you of the help we can give to people.
That now is why I know more about the problems people do have with drink and drugs.
I tried my very best to get my son into rehab but you can not force a person and now he drinks and so does his girlfriend .
To the people who are suffering with this problem I say t o you go and get into rehab if possible, and remember the pain of withdraw will go and you do get a chance to recover , and build you life , I wish my son would have done what I did and get the help that is out there.
Its important in a lot of cases to remember being a sensitive person you feel deeper and feeling get hurt easier than others.
One thing for sure when I went to group I wanted to be without my valium and antidepressants I suffered in my cash from panic attacks , but even though my problem ended up with prescription drugs it could have been like yourselves drink it comes to the same , do something that makes us feel comfortable because we feel bad about something , maybe how we look , not tall enough , too small, too thin , to fat , its the same for us all .
I hope this helps in some way , and I wish you all the best , and to win this illness , and begin to believe in yourselves .

sozzleduk

Jan 03, 2013

To: Tysonosyt

Found that really helpful thankyou. I thought i was the only person experiencing this dreadful feeling in the morning. Trouble is, all i need to do to make it go away is stop drinking.......but i just can't do it. i'm so weak. I've tried AA a few times but is wasn't for me. I dont want to feel like this anymore!

fkailer

Jan 24, 2013

i get these panic attackes the next day after a night of drinking also the feeling is unbearable the whole day. have a feeling inside that the something is going to happen. I am thinking this anxiety panic after a night of drinking is brought on more to me because when i fall asleep i can only sleep for about 3-6 hours after that i will be fully awake and i cannot go back to sleep no matter how hard i try? anyone else that cant stay asleep for long after a night of drinking? thanks

Jayboy14

Feb 24, 2013

Thanks for posting. I've had a bit of a problem for a while. I'm 25 and have been drinking socially- ravenously since I was 16. Mainly just weekends. Social anxiety & just an overall terrible feeling is what I experience after a night of hard drinking. It's usually not the day after I go out though. It's usually the day after that when I'm not still drunk from the day before. I drink to be able to socialize and go to parties now. But the days after that are miserable. Thanks for the info. I guess somehow I'm gonna have to cut alcohol out of the equation.

Aborigini

Mar 07, 2013

To: Anxiety/panic attacks the day after drinking

I suffer from binge drinking and axiety. This weekend was the last straw for my spouse when he called my dad to pick me up and take me to the ER because I binged on a 5th of vodka for three days. I was just hung over and didn't want to go to the ER. My dad talked me into going over their house to spend the night for a change of scenerie. The next morning I called my spouse and he told me NEVER to come home. He also told me to keep my distance from our 11 year old son. I felt a panic comming on and took some ativan. All day I have felt on the verge of panic with a low grade headache. I wore out my welcome in our beautiful house that he owns. I'm devestated. My binges were several months apart for a year, but this has cost me my son. I was a stay at home and he controled all the money. I will never drink again

ammh

Mar 16, 2013

To: fkailer

yes...i hardly sleep as well. i just lay there and suffer and try to drink a lot of water. Ive noticed usually about twenty four hours after my first drink the day before I start to feel it subside. So if my first drink was at 7pm..then 7pm the next day I feel like I can get up. This is a general rule. I'm not sure but maybe it has to do with the sugar that is left behind..or the massive amount of cigarettes I can smoke while drinking...ugh! I have found camomile tea or tension tamer tea to be helpful. But if you're a milk drinker maybe try some warmed. I am going to try another posts advice and try pedialite...or gatorade.

ammh

Mar 16, 2013

To: Aborigini

I hope you get another chance. But if you do go your separate ways for good, realize now about your problem with alcohol and don't get into dating with guys who drink or do drugs. You will probably realize after years of this(as I did) that I was just putting off the inevitable realization how miserable I am when I drink. And I really don't want to be with someone who does either. It really isn't that much fun and not worth the pain it brings. Best of luck to you.

ammh

Mar 16, 2013

To: fkailer

I just read on another site that when our body is fighting off the alcohol our nervous system is put into a state of hyperactivity to counteract the alcohols sedative affects. not sure quite what that means but it sounds like what i've experienced. feel tense and cant sleep. my heart will race too....and I don't think its anxiety(I know anxiety attacks well), its an actual physiological affect happening from the excess alcohol. We really are destroying our health by binge drinking.

ammh

Mar 23, 2013

To: ammh

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3268458/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindling_%28substance_withdrawal%29