r/stopdrinking • u/kinleedofficial • 2d ago
Anxiety attacks
I am an alcoholic. I have drank heavily for the last 2 years. I have recently started waking up with SEVERE panic attacks every time I drink. Last night the panic attacks started WHILE I was drinking. Now obviously, this is my sign to stop drinking and I will be. I went four days last week without drinking because of the first day of panic attacks after alcohol, but I thought I could try it again and nope.
I guess my question is has anyone else gone through this?
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u/Green_L3af 780 days 2d ago
Yep. After 20 years of heavy drinking/smoking I now get panic attacks. I did not stop when they first started and they became so bad/ frequent I developed panic disorder.
I am only able to control them by abstaining from alcohol/weed and taking SSRI. Good news is my life is infinitely better now after addressing my underlying anxiety and depression.
Iwndwyt
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u/kinleedofficial 2d ago
I've been on lexapro since I've started drinking as well. I start EDRM therapy next week.
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u/Microfaradspico Day 70 1d ago
If you drink on SSRIs you might as well be throwing them in the garbage(speaking from personal experience.) I struggle with anxiety and depression as a baseline. I certainly still have them, but not drinking has made them significantly more manageable. I DO NOT miss hangover anxiety. Wishing you the best. It does get better if you can get some sober time.
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u/A_Thing_or_Two 288 days 2d ago
Anyone? More like everyone. We’re more alike than different. It’s chemistry.
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u/OGOngoGablogian 1017 days 1d ago
The anxiety is the main reason I quit drinking. I'm pretty sure I had a panic attack at age 25 after drinking for 4 days straight at a music festival. Later in my 20s and into my early 30s I would drink heavily at home, by myself usually. I lost so many days to wallowing in bed with a feeling of impending doom, sometimes driven to tears by it. I couldn't bring my heart rate down into double digits, even when half asleep, normally I rest around 55 bpm. Just recounting it now makes me feel a little ill, remembering the misery I put myself through every weekend, and some weekdays. It got worse with age, until at age 33 I decided enough was enough. I haven't felt like that in almost 3 years, but the occasional recalling of those feelings is what keeps me sober.
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u/A_Thing_or_Two 288 days 1h ago
Just add it to the list of benefits of sobriety! I was wriddled with anxiety myself after drinking. The juice was literally not worth the squeeze!
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u/Content-Waltz8045 2d ago
I was stuck in the trap for years of thinking drinking was the only thing keeping my anxiety attacks at bay. You’ll be so happy once you get off that hamster wheel!
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u/guitar_up_my_ass Day 64 1d ago
Same. I haven't been anxious at all after I stopped. Well once very slightly but I acknowledged it and it went away. But boy i don't miss being hungover and so anxious that I am afraid my heartbeat breaks my rib cage. Yea drinking is fun, but like 95% is pure hell for me that follows. Felt like I was going insane.
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u/Content-Waltz8045 1d ago
I was thinking this morning about the times something minor would happen, like getting a text response that I didn’t agree with, and how it felt like my body was going to shatter. Like the shakes that would start from inside my body. Yuck. That kind of anxiety was pure hell.
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u/pagesinthesun Day 1,022 2d ago
3am anxiety is a big reason I finally quit drinking. It became debilitating. I was afraid to go to bed because I knew what was coming.
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u/kinleedofficial 2d ago
This literally. Being terrified to sleep is terrifying
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u/pagesinthesun Day 1,022 2d ago
Quitting drinking is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Yes, it was hard. But, the side effects of drinking are way harder. It's not sustainable if you want to live a happy, healthy life.
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u/blindexhibitionist 1187 days 2d ago
Don’t miss those at all. I used to think it was normal to sweat through my sheets. Have insane anxiety. I still get the initial anxious moment but my ability to navigate it is night and day compared to how it was. Now I’m present and I can breathe through it. Let it work itself out. Not white knuckle on the bed while I doom scroll and feel like I’m crawling out of my skin.
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u/kinleedofficial 2d ago
Literally only thing that calms me down is doom scrolling on my phone with two wet wraps around my neck
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u/OutlanderMom Day 2,435 2d ago
Yes, anxiety was crippling me the last couple of years I drank. Several times I had to pull my car over to puke or cry, and the slightest inconvenience made me melt down and hyperventilate. I would wake up during the night with crushing anxiety and dark thoughts. When all that wasn’t going on, I was deeply depressed. I thought I was just crazy, and alcohol helped me relax. But once I stopped drinking, the anxiety and depression started going away. Don’t get impatient because it takes some months for the body to rebalance all the hormones and learn to function without booze. But by six months or so sober, 90% of it had gone away, and I realized the booze was causing it. I’m still “high strung” as my mother called it, but I can deal with bad news and car trips and mondays without crying.
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u/AZChico71 Day 1,020 1d ago
This was exactly my experience!
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u/OutlanderMom Day 2,435 1d ago edited 19h ago
I’m glad you also feel better! And look at you with that shiny new comma you’re sporting!
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u/CountOnBeingAwesome Day 231 1d ago
Be careful with the frequent starts and stops of alcohol abuse. They are really bad for you. The good news, amoungst a hundred other things, is that you never need to go through this again.
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u/kinleedofficial 1d ago
Why are they bad for you?
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u/CountOnBeingAwesome Day 231 1d ago
Look up "kindling effect"
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u/Dangerous-Pickle4400 Day 7 1d ago
I've gone through this. Very disturbing especially if it catches you off guard.
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u/CountOnBeingAwesome Day 231 1d ago
Yup, KE was a major contributor to my cirrhosis. I had no idea it was even a thing.
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u/RandomBeyonder Day 90 1d ago
Also consider reading section 4 of “Living Sober.” It can be found to read or to listen to in the “Everything AA” App on iOS and Android.
I don’t think the text references the kindling effect by name - discusses that alcohol use is a “incurable, progressive, and fatal disease.”
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u/Specific_Smoke2803 1d ago
Yes, this happened to me yesterday while I was drinking. It lasted for hours. I thought I was losing my mind and was going to die. My heart rattled until I finally fell asleep at 4:30 this morning. I poured out the rest of my drinks and made a post on here about it. I have not had a drink today. My body has been screaming at me to stop and the panic attacks have never been this severe for me either.
IWNDWYT
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u/crazyhorse198 203 days 2d ago
I was diagnosed with anxiety related disorders over 20 years ago. I thought drinking would help me calm…. I was wrong.
My level of anxiety has been soooo much lower since I quit.
The level of peace I feel while living a sober lifestyle greatly outweighs any temptation I have for the dopamine rush alcohol provides.
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u/BattleSquidZ Day 150 1d ago
Waking up to the sheer terror that i didn't have any alcohol to combat withdrawal...
Terror because I didnt have the thing that caused said Terror in the first place
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u/corcomi Day 662 1d ago
This may not be everyone’s experience but, my panic and anxiety is gone after quitting drinking. Took about 3-6 months to really settle down. I still get anxious but, it’s usually at an appropriate times (funerals, challenging tasks, events with a lot of alcohol). Good luck and IWNDWYT
.
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u/No_Yard_7363 Day 166 1d ago
Ohh yes. Almost 6 months sober now and my anxiety is way down. Drinking was my coping for anxiety and a cause. Lexapro and propanolol during the day and hydroxyzine at night has been my savior.
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u/kinleedofficial 1d ago
I'm in lex 20 mg. Can't take hydro bc it caused me to sleep through my kids and they were terrified and woke up to their dad in my house
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u/No_Yard_7363 Day 166 1d ago
Oh yikes. I don't have kids, but hoping to soon, so that's good to know. I know if I mix it with clonidine I'm a zombie and can barely open my eyes. Lexapro is good to raise my baseline, but I still need a second anxiety relief med for that extra oompf
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u/Hungry_Eye2102 1d ago
Anxiety is the main reason I quit. Broken marriage, health issues, accidents, no problem! But the anxiety and lack of sleep did me in. I love my sobriety now more than drinking, and I drank and loved the comradery a lot and it defined my life unfortunately. I’m using the time I have left to live as the real me without the fear of waking up to that BS. You can do this as many people prove on here everyday.
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u/jungldude3 1d ago
Yep! Drank for 18 years. Every day for atleast 10. I had constant anxiety when I woke up for probably the past 4-5 years? I don’t remember when I started I just kind of ignored it that whole time. But 5 months ago it got really bad. I also tried drinking again after like a week break and the next day was the worst panic attack of my life. I’ve been sober 5 months since then
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u/gamerdudeNYC 2d ago
Right there with you, the anxiety is just so awful and happens for no reason at all.
I’ve been off of all caffeine and basically have drank only water for the past two weeks and it’s helped a lot with the anxiety and I can get to sleep quickly and sleep longer.
I do miss a strong cup of black coffee but it’s definitely helped me.
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u/kinleedofficial 2d ago
I have general anxiety and panic disorder so don't even drink caffeine ever already. I'm sorry you're struggling
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u/gamerdudeNYC 1d ago
I’ve started jumping on virtual AA meetings, a few times a day, and I mainly listen and it’s helped a lot.
I’ll have it on while doing chores or cooking and listening to other people tell their stories helps me not to drink. I just can’t buy into the religious aspect of it or all the 12 steps but there’s some helpful things there.
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u/Hugh_Jampton Day 17 2d ago
Got to be linked to the withdrawals. And yeah you can go into withdrawal even while drinking.
My first 6 days of this quit were anxiety panic city. Then it dropped off.
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u/squally007 Day 1,100 2d ago
Alcohol and anxiety go hand in hand. It’s the top reason why I quit. Haven’t had a panic attack since.
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u/Sober_Alcoholic_ 1174 days 2d ago
Yep.
It’s a vicious cycle because the more I drank, the more anxious I got. The more anxious I got, I needed more alcohol to get it under control, which led to more anxiety, which needed more alcohol to get under control…. The positive feedback loop of decline and unmanageability is obvious.
That describes me in my late 20’s and early 30’s (36 now). Full on withdrawals and DTs were not far behind for me.
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u/coteachermomma 2257 days 2d ago
Nope. The anxiety is only going to get worse. The anxiety is why I quit. The anxiety was the worst at the end. Listen to Episode 29 and 58 of Sober Powered. It will only get worse!! That is exactly why I will never drink again. Hangover anxiety. It will only get worse. I refuse to ever do that again. Alcohol is gasoline to anxiety - Laura McKowen. Read Push Off from Here. You can find Sober Powered wherever there are podcasts. It’s free. Let me know if you need links. No matter how hard life has been in the last 2257 days, not adding hangovers to it is why I have stayed sober.
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u/newsdaylaura18 1770 days 1d ago
It’s called Hangxiety. Only gets worse the longer you drink
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u/kinleedofficial 1d ago
This is way worse than my normal hangxiety lol WAYYYY worse
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u/newsdaylaura18 1770 days 1h ago
Look up kindling in alcohol use. The more we drink and as we age, hangover symptoms get progressively worse.
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u/Odd-Leg6389 2d ago
Ice cold water, drink lots of it, use a fan while sleeping, take a cold shower. All of the above helps with my panic attacks that I get weekly.
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u/Own_Dealer4075 1d ago
Yup this happened to me. It was extremely intense and happened on and off for a few years. Sense they started i got on anxiety medication. I also ended up quiting drinking this year because no matter what the days following a night of drinking I would have panic attacks. I wouldn't drink all week then binge on the weekends and it would put my body in like shock and when I stopped my body would just react this way.
I also didn't just have a beer or 2 I would drink to get drunk so this didn't help either haha. Now I eat a lot of sweets but I havent had anh panic attacks! Lol
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u/Swp321 1d ago
Similar here, was already an alcoholic and the anxiety started coming full force. Seen a doc told them about the anxiety and not the drinking and got prescribed benzos. Took the benzos to combat the anxiety from the alcoholism which turned into rebound anxiety from increased drinking and benzo intake and boom there i was in treatment the first time. Almost two and a half years this time no alcohol or pills, no crippling anxiety, ill keep at it. So should everyone who needs it.
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u/_call_me_the_sloth 455 days 1d ago
This was me. I just didn’t know it as the time. I called it blood sugar, circulation, etc.
After I got sober and went to therapy it was explained to me that they were panic attacks and/or withdrawal symptoms.
I won’t lie to you, they were REALLY bad the first week of sobriety. But I can also not lie to you that they are a memory now. I literally haven’t had one in forever and don’t even think about them. I used to plan for them. Take a swig of liquor to “calm” me. Plan to make sure I had booze to quell them if they came. The whole nine yards.
Not a proud memory to be honest, but one that reinforces the good decisions I make today.
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u/kitkatrat 1378 days 1d ago
I used to get what I think are described as “brain zaps”. It would feel like over the span of a few seconds I’d get what felt like tunnel vision, I’d feel the sensation coming, feel a whirring in my ears, feel vertigo, and I’d have to “push” it out by shaking my head.
It would be a scary feeling like the problem was in my head, but I live in my head so I can’t escape it. I’d get myself to breathe until it passed.
Since I’ve quit I have not had those happen.
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u/wetonwater 118 days 1d ago
Brain zaps to me came when i closed my eyes to doze off to sleep and I would literally feel a zap go off in my head that would wake me up. The energy as if two big boulders crashed into one another.
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u/getrdone24 248 days 1d ago
1000%...for the last 2-3 years of my consistent drinking + the handful of relapses when I was trying to get sober I would get crippling anxiety afterwards. I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety for well over a decade due to other things, but never had 'flare ups' from drinking, then it was like a switch was flipped. Worst anxiety of my life those mornings/the day after. Don't miss that at all...it honestly ended up being a major motivator to fully quit bc my brain finally associated drinking with the crippling anxiety.
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u/MrAlanShore 243 days 1d ago
What worked for me was heavy doses of vitamin B, be very hydrated and this breathing method https://youtu.be/kSZKIupBUuc?is=ypiUaYwZjhYMeyYj
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u/Concert_Lover 1d ago
Yep the hangxiety makes it not worth it. I’ve switched over to THC drinks but now those are getting banned by govt.
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u/RuinFabulous3077 1d ago
The anxiety, depression (impending doom) is a great reason to stop.
Early in my excessive drinking (90s) I was self medicating my anxiety and insomnia, I was only making it worse.
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u/chill_bamba Day 45 1d ago
Yup, I realized last night that I drank for relief of stress and anxiety. All the while, alcohol was causing my stress and anxiety.
My spouses close family member was involved in a bad car accident, requiring surgery and potentially help at home for a while from us and they live far away, so its been a lot of worry. Work has also been stressful.
Stopped drinking a little over 40 days ago. I realized last night, that I am handling everything so well. Of course I have some anxiety and worries due to concern for my spouse and their family member but its not crushing and causing me to shut down, like I would have. Which would have inevitably caused me to drink more, causing me to feel worse and ultimately not being there for my spouse like I have been and should be.
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u/Tall_Quality_3395 Day 31 1d ago
One thing I noticed is my anxiety got worse the first 10 days but after battling through it it seems to be getting better. It’s still there but, better.
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u/Scat_Olympics Day 1 1d ago
Many of us have gone through it unfortunately. It seems to be the barrier for me right now; 2 days in and I feel a little better/ish , and want to ease my anxiety with a shot or two of liquor, but I cant stop.
It’s like I’m a comedian. I get one laugh, there’s gotta be a bigger laugh behind it? Right? Only it’s not laughs. It’s sorrow, dread , disappointment, and terrible hanxiety.
Im a fool with 2 days, had 9 years but I decided I was better…. Wrong
What’s great is alcohol not working. Like 10 shots in and having a panic attack. It’s a bitter pill to swallow
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u/Broad-Back1659 1d ago
Not to be rude in any way but I really don't need to listen to a podcast to realize that alcohol makes anxiety 100 times worse. I just don't drink anymore. Therefore, problem solved. Also cigarettes too. Poison, all of it. Iwndwyt
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u/Madonna0202 2d ago
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It is so damaging to the body and brain. I’m 20 days sober and my anxiety has reduced significantly but I still experience shakes, surges of adrenaline and fight or flight responses in the body and brain when situations throw me.