Anxiety/depression and alcohol effects

[sharpie2]

Hey guys,

Anxiety sufferer here since mid last year. Has anyone else's alcohol tolerance reduced? I seem to feel the effects of alcohol a lot sooner than I used to since being diagnosed with anxiety and mental health issues. Can anyone relate?

Cheers,

Sharpie

[Croix]

Dear Sharpie2~

While I can say categorically yes, this is most likely due to the interaction with my medications combined with anxiety of what might happen if I had an accident or some such disaster.

The upshot being that for many years I've had very little alcohol, and that only at home.

If I go back (very many) years when I first became ill there was a strong temptation to use alcohol as a medication of sorts, fortunately my occupation would have picked it up quite quickly so I never did. (This was to the tobacco manufacturers' great benefit however:)

Is there a possibility you may be feeling as I did/do, that the loss of control with drink can lead to too many pitfalls, making mistakes, looking silly, talking incautiously etc., and one becomes more conscious of its effect as a result?

Croix

[geoff]

Hi Sharpie, thanks for posting your comment and I agree with Croix, the medication we take will affect how you feel much quicker, plus getting older, like a person who used to drink at the pub every day has to slowly cut back, simply because the alcohol affects them sooner.

I've known people who did this and now they don't drink for this reason.

Alcohol will suddenly reduce your stress levels, which are part of your anxiety, so instead of feeling anxious the relief from alcohol will be a big change, so you feel a calming sense giving you a lower tolerance and making the effects of it happen much quicker.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[sharpie2]

Hey Croix and Geoff,

Thanks for your explanations, I understand what you're saying and I appreciate you providing a bit of clarity around that. All the best!

Sharpie