dissociation

[strdsbrg]

I've had a couple of episodes lately when I drink heavily.  About a month ago, I had an episode where, according to a friend, I zoned out and started making faces.  He said it was like I lost my mind.  It only lasted a couple of minutes.  Last night, I was out drinking with another friend, and he told me that in the middle of a conversation, I put my head down and then looked up and started saying something that had nothing to do with our conversation.  Again, he said it was as if I'd lost my mind for about 30 seconds.  In each case, I was aware after it happened that something strange had occurred that I couldn't control.  

I have what I think is a slight anxiety disorder, but I've never really had a panic attack, or anything severe with it.  One of my friends has suggested that the alcohol might trigger the anxiety and that it's manifesting itself in these odd dissociative periods.  Could that be or could it be some other neurological thing?  Should I see a doctor?  

Years ago, I had a very bad trip when pot.  Safe to say, I never touched it again, but at the time a friend suggested that the pot might have tapped into an underlying anxiety disorder.  Here I am, many years later with some symptoms of anxiety.  Is the anxiety causing these episodes when I drink?

Please advise.  Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

first of all, when you drink too much you are poisoning your brain, so this could well be a sign of that happening. Also, you probably drink too much when you are tense and want relief, but tenseness is a sign of underlying anxiety.  that is, you drink because the anxiety is erupting, and when you are  toxic with alcohol, you have less mental control of your anxiety, and it happens. These could also be small seizures triggered by alchohol, but unlikely, but to be sure you should ask your doctor about an eeg.

[Jaquta]

Black outs can be associated with excess alcohol consumption.

I think you're replacing one ?addiction with another.

The anxiety may be driving you to numb your emotions with alcohol, etc.  It is the substance affecting you.

Alcohol abuse is extremely dangerous.  You should be careful.
Excess alcohol can also be a risk factor for many health related illnesses.

It wouldn't hurt to discuss your drinking habits, etc with a doctor.

J