Anxiety after drinking? Help

[Pizzarules]

The day after drinking and I’m feeling very anxious. No matter how much mg friends re assure me I have nothing to be embarrassed about or worried about I still have a horrible feeling I’ve made a fool of myself or said stupid things when drunk. Having anxiety over it pretty hard core at the moment.

[Croix]

Dear Pizzarules~

(I like the name BTW:) Alcohol does affect the chemical balance of the body, which is probably why people try to use it in small quantities to control anxiety and change their mood. Unfortunately this can rebound afterwards. In larger amounts I understand it can induce anxiety straight away.

This is a subject that has come up several times here in the Forum. If you read the last post in:

Forums / Young people / Horrible anxiety, Depression and guilt after drinking

which is written by beyondblue staff member and specialist Jay. you will see Jay suggests a healthy lifestyle, identifying the severity of the problem by keeping a form of mood tracking, and not to hesitate to get help if you think matters are getting out of hand (several avenues are listed).

I hope this has been of some help. You are welcome to come back and talk more anytime

Croix

[Quercus]

Hi Pizzarules and welcome to the forums,

When I read your post I wondered how much do you drink? Is there a reason you think you would be out of control? Can you remember the night?

I ask this because I used to be incredibly anxious about being drunk. I am uncomfortable with the idea of not being in control of myself. Of embarrassing myself. Or saying or doing things I wouldn't feel comfortable with sober.

It didn't make sense because I didn't drink to excess. I was safe and in control. But the panic and regret and worry was always there.

I made the decision of how much I was going to permit myself to drink and stuck to it. Out with friends noone cares if you're drinking a soft drink or a cocktail. It made me feel so much better and in control just drinking less as a habit.

Not sure if you'll relate to this but I figured it can't hurt to share.

I hope you can write some more about why alcohol is such a concern to you.

Nat

[Doolhof]

Hi Pizzarules,

It sounds like you don't recall exactly what you did or said when you may have had a little too much to drink.

You friends have said there is nothing to worry about, so hopefully you can tell yourself the same thing. If your friends are okay with what ever might have happened, then that is the main thing! It may well be that NOTHING happened at all, that you were just drunk and caused no one any ill effect.

I was out with my husband with some of his mates recently. I had never met some of the men before. One was quite intoxicated and was becoming quite friendly with me. I did not take any offence as I knew it was the alcohol talking.

People make allowances for some actions and words of people who have had a little too much to drink.

Maybe being anxious now may help you to control your intake next time you start to drink.

Hopefully you can settle your mind. We can not go back and change things, we can deicide to make changes in the future to how we do behave so the same thing does not occur again.

Cheers to you from Dools

[Tess2]

Hi pizzarules,

remember that alcohol, no matter what form is a toxic substance. Many people with depression and anxiety will use alcohol as a “medication “. It isn’t. It can produce feelings of anxiousness and depression all on its own. The first couple of drinks feel ok , but too much and it depresses. Lots of people have those regrets the next day, even if they didn’t do anything too startling. It is often the feeling of having let oneself down. I have depression and anxiety and have used alcohol to manage it and to feel better. I have left it alone for several months now, and mostly don’t miss it at all. Look up some reading on alcohol and it’s emotional effects. You will find you are not alone.

Look to these forums for support and don’t judge yourself. No online here here will be judging you

tess