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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.
Alcohol and Anxiety
by FJOHNONE, Jul 22, 2008 12:30PM
I have been anxious all my life and am 66 years old. For most of my life I self-medicated using alcohol to stem my anxiety. I now have stopped drinking for 14 months and each day is a living hell. Except for God, I am defenseless against the throes of anxiety. No alcohol and Prozac (40mg) after 15 weeks doesn't work. It is just me and God.
Each day, everyday I have nausea, extreme fatigue, weakness in the limbs, upper back pain. I have ruled out all physical causes. For some reason, around 7:00pm, my symptoms lift, I can't explain it. I go to bed around 9:00 and sleep well helped by Ambien. Next morning same old thing and it has been that way for 7 months.
I will not drink today but if someone told me that I will have to go back to drinking to avoid this nightmare of symptoms, I would consider drinking again. Stopping was easy and I don't have an urge to drink. Living a quality or even normal day eludes me.
My prayer goes out to all of you that suffer.
Each day, everyday I have nausea, extreme fatigue, weakness in the limbs, upper back pain. I have ruled out all physical causes. For some reason, around 7:00pm, my symptoms lift, I can't explain it. I go to bed around 9:00 and sleep well helped by Ambien. Next morning same old thing and it has been that way for 7 months.
I will not drink today but if someone told me that I will have to go back to drinking to avoid this nightmare of symptoms, I would consider drinking again. Stopping was easy and I don't have an urge to drink. Living a quality or even normal day eludes me.
My prayer goes out to all of you that suffer.
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I'm betting that you are programmed (in your brain) to associate calming down with drinking. Maybe there's something else that can take it's place until you can do it for yourself.
Ever try chamomile? Ever try fish oil?
Honestly...don't turn back to alcohol. My honest opinion is that's why you're in this predicament. Sure, it temporarily relieves anxiety...but unless you drink 24/7 (which is a whole 'nother topic)...when you are NOT drinking...anxiety and depression will come at you like a bear.
Please keep in touch with your doctor...there are other options out there...different medications to try, sometimes it takes a bit of fooling around with meds and dosages to get the "right one". Also, if you haven't already...get yourself some "talk" therapy...that is so vital is learning how to break the cycle of anxiety...learning new ways to sope with anxiety, and even LIFE..as your normal coping mechanism is gone (drinking).
Hang in there...there are better days ahead of you...it will just take some time, and some work on your part. You have a lot of things to "un-do". Please keep us posted!
I exercise, play golf, write and walk Jack, my dog. My wife is also extremely supportive. Sometimes I'm filled with wonder as to how much I was able to accomplish with alcohol and I thought I was pretty happy. Maybe not.
I just need a break from the daily grind of symptoms. Fifteen weeks of Prozac has done nothing and my search continues for a medication that will relieve my symptoms. I am seeing a psychiatrist. I don't even want a quality day, just a normal one with ups and downs.
I am working hard and my greatest accomplishment is stopping alcohol.
Thank you again and I will keep you posted. Let me know if I can help you somehow.
that could explain why all your symptoms go away every night that time!