I used to drink for years. Not everyday by any stretch, but when I went out with friends, I would have quite a few cocktails. I found as time went on that it took more drinks to make me feel relaxed. But, since my first panic attack last year, I can't drink at all anymore. The feelings I have the next day are worse than any hangover I've ever had in my life. Pounding headache that doesn't go away, nausea, dizzy, and VERY panicky. I basically had to give it up except for an occasional beer every now and then. Anyone else feel the same way after drinking? Oh, my drink of choice then was rum and diet coke. I think the alchohol combined with caffiene really took it's toll on me. It's like my adrenals are still recovering from the years of it.

I don't drink very often, but when I do I notice how relaxed and confident I can be. Both side of my family has a lot of alcoholism. That scares me.

I make it a point to KNOW that I am my own confidence and I can choose to be relaxed and make it happen. I do not want to depend on alcohol or drugs for that. I can find it in myself.

Helen

JBean

My experience is similar to yours. I can't drink very much, except maybe the occasional beer (not when I'm taking meds, though, just to be safe). I find that other alcohol or drinking too much alcohol makes me panicky. I think that, in my case, there are two reasons for this: 1) I have mitral valve prolapse, and alcohol has been known to exacerbate some of the symptoms of that, and 2) I don't like feeling "out of control." It's funny, the "relaxed" feeling I get from alcohol freaks me out because it is not under my control. I don't like not being able to control the effect something is going to have on me. I had very similar experiences with marijuana, where knowing that there was *nothing* I could do about the state of my body for the next four or so hours just totally freaked me out. Even a good feeling, like being relaxed, I find hard to handle if I feel out of control of it. So, I think that maybe some of the problems stemming from alcohol with regards to anxiety might be control issues.

Lori, I feel the same way you do in that I don't like how it makes me feel anymore, and I think you're right.. it's a control issue. I used to love how it made me feel, all tingly and relaxed and mellow. Not anymore. I can have 1 or 2 beers, but that's it, then I start feeling like I'm not in control. All in all, it's not a bad thing really, I'm glad I don't drink much anymore.

YES I know how you feel. I was surprised to read that I was not alone.

I am finally at a point where I can enjoy ONE glass of wine 2-3 days a week without suffering any side effects the next day.

I quit drinking about 15 years ago after feeling so panicky the next day, too. But then again I wasn't only drinking one glass every now and then.

I also used to get pains in my muscles when I drank. I think it is the sugars going into the muscles. It was especially bad when I drank Vodka/Orange Juuice.

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Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)

I stopped drinking when all of this started as well. Even one drink would send me into a panic. Everything seemed to turn into a spinning out of control feeling, rather than a mellow goofy mood. So naturally, being that i felt out of control with this condition, I couldnt do anything that made me more out of control........

Hi JBean,
Not drinking is definitely a challenge for me! Since my anxiety started back in '98, if I drink expecially if it is a lot, my heart will pound and my pulse will race afterwards and continue into the next day. I can't stand this symptom because I like to drink and socialize with friend at bars, clubs, parties, home, etc. The one thing I do like about drinking is that all of my other anxiety symptoms will dissapear. No chest pains/pressure, difficulty breathing, but the symptoms return when I am sober usually worse than before!
I can say that I gave up caffeine totally though. It will make you anxious and nervous for sure.
-Ben

I am in college and used to drink and not have any problems. But now I eve think about alcohol and want to throw up. Ever since I have had anxiety problems I cannot drink because of how I feel the next day. I almost think its cause I worry about having a hangover so much that I literally make myself sick... I get all anxious and nervous... Its deffinately not worth it. Also I can't go to bed drunk cause I worry so much about the next day. I hate having the spins and I start freaking out. I'm so glad I'm not alone though

Boy do i ever feel the same as most of you. I used to be a huge drinker/partier. Drinking with all my buddies, going to all the parties and all the bars/clubs. The next day was always extremely bad. I always had the worst hangovers out of all of my friends.
Then my sister had her wedding about 6 months ago. I went on 5 day major binge and it caused all my anxiety to come back. I'm now 21 and will hardley even have a beer with my buddies. Its actually pretty disapointing. But its all for the better right?

Take care everyone!

Phil,

I started drinking at a young age of 14... looked older and was able to go to the store/bar in urban areas and get served. I stopped drinking for about 2 years when i got pregnamt with my daughter.... after i split with her father I started going out to clubs drinking with friends, which probably was reason I suffered anxiety and depression soon after in 99. I only had a drink when out with friends after that , until my father passsed in 2002... from then i had a fear of drinking because he was an alcoholic. I noticed that drinking always made me feel worse the next day , somewhat depressed so now I don't drink at all.

I am scared that if i stop drinking I will not know how to act around others. I have had this fake life now for over 5 years. I have lost wonderful friends because I will not go somewhere unless I know I can drink or already have a good buzz on. I am not even 30 yet but I feel I have already lost so much of my life. My family has a history of alcohlism and I always told myself that it would never happen to me. Until my older sister passed away, I think that is where I lost all hope. It was down hill from there. I do not want to live this lifestyle any longer because I want to live and experience life without alcohol. Will this program help me?Am I alone?

I spent the last twenty years of my life playing music in bars and as you can guess, water was never the drink of choice. I was loaded 5 nights a week for 20yrs! And also, being a little OCD, if I was at a party and I was already a little drunk, I'd have another beer JUST BECAUSE IT WAS THERE. No self control whatsoever. I'm still this way with sweets and other things so I don't keep them around much anymore.
Last year, before I had my major panic attack, the one that changed my whole world, I was drinking a half a bottle of wine a night or sometimes the whole thing, every night. There was no off night. At one point, upon checking my online statement for Jan, I noticed that I had spent $390 in my favorite liquor store on wine. IN ONE MONTH!
After my panic attack I attempted to drink more every day off I had, to try and squelch the demons in my head. It didn't work. It didn't make me relax. Quite the opposite, really. Same with smoking. (Which I've finally been able to stop!)
Now, I buy a bottle of wine occassionally and will have a couple of glasses before bed every once in a while. AND, if I buy a bottle of wine I don't always open it as soon as I get home JUST BECAUSE IT'S THERE because I think I've finally gotten a little hold on the OCD thing.
Even when I go out with my girl and we go to a restaurant, bar, or concert, I no longer have to get a beer or other drink IMMEDIATELY because it's there or drink 5 or 6 to have a good time. I guess I leave it up to me to relax (as someone else already said) and don't put the power into something that comes out of a bottle. I drink now for the taste and the enjoyment of that. And let's face it, after 4-6 drinks we are not in control of ourselves. What's the point of that?
Especially at our ages??
I've done the program, work out and run on a weekly basis (Body for Life), and started takin Celexa (which I've only been on for about 5 wks but have had a VERY positive reaction to!) and am a LOT happier than I've been in months and years.
At first, I was afraid to change as much or more as I was of the future, but you gotta change things in your life if you want to feel better. That's the truth.
Anyway, sorry for the rant and maybe getting OT but I felt compelled to say some of this stuff.
Alcohol in moderation can be ok but do yourself a favor and drink more water and less booze. It's not something that is needed all the time.
Thanks for listening.
Good luck out there. You can do it!!!