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View Full Version : Alcohol and health anxiety - please read


popejoan
02-02-15, 17:22
Hello everyone,

Some of you know how I suffer from health anxiety badly. It started 5 months ago and since then I avoided alcohol most of the time. I did drink on occasion but it was always one or two glasses of wine and I always made sure not to get drunk.

I was feeling better for a week. Last week I felt almost normal. I could see things rationally. My ALS fear got better and I could concentrate on my studies and my life.

On Saturday, I went to the Gym for the first time and although I got muscle aches afterwards, I was feeling well. I was almost feeling positive. It was a big step as I don't know how to relax and feel positive.

I stayed in with my boyfriend and we started drinking. I got carried away and ended up soo drunk. I even smoked a cigarette and I promised myself 5 months ago I would never ever smoke again. As I have OCD I feel like something bad's gonna happen to me because I broke my promise.

I woke up with the worst hangover ever yesterday. I felt soo weak and my health anxiety got out of control today. I convinced myself again that I have ALS and I realized I can't open the bathroom door with my left index finger. I'm in panic right now, health anxiety came back with vengeance. I can barely think clearly now. I've never felt this bad. My whole body is weak but mostly my arms. They are shaking. I feel like crying. I have butterflies in my stomach and trouble breathing.

If you're reading this please please avoid drinking. It will make you feel worse and you will have a horrible relapse. Alcohol must be avoided at all times.
bingjam
02-02-15, 19:44
Anxiety is the reason why I also don't drink anymore, I occasionally have one glass of wine, that's it, I hate the feeling of being drunk and it makes my anxiety sky high, also the hangover isn't to pleasent to deal with either, it's been over a year since I had a propper drink, I didn't even drink nye except one maybe two but that's it...

Anxiety and alcohol is never a good combo
popejoan
02-02-15, 21:28
Nope, and I knew that. I just got carried away, I thought I got better, I wanted to feel normal but it backfired pretty badly. I cried in my boyfriend's arms today, I feel like another panic attack is very close. My jaw is tense, I'm too shaky, I'm soo scared of ALS. I will never drink that much again, never.
LeighD
02-02-15, 22:30
This is a good point. My health anxiety has gotten worse because of severe stress in the work/financial front. As a result I have been drinking wine almost every night for months. Normally one or two glasses so I don't get hammered or anything.

But you just reminded me that whilst alcohol definitely relaxes me at the end of the day, and calms down the anxiety in the moment, it can make it worse the rest of the time.

Going to cut down and see what happens!
popejoan
02-02-15, 23:15
I hope it work out well for you. I learned my lesson and definitely not drinking more than 1-2 glasses of wine, maybe once a month.
Fishmanpa
03-02-15, 00:50
I learned my lesson and definitely not drinking more than 1-2 glasses of wine, maybe once a month.

Might as well not do it at all then.

Positive thoughts
popejoan
03-02-15, 00:55
That's the aim, I just wrote it as I don't want to break my promise again. Going to a gig next week and I already decided to stick with water :)
Fishmanpa
03-02-15, 01:04
That's the aim, I just wrote it as I don't want to break my promise again. Going to a gig next week and I already decided to stick with water :)

Gig? Musician? Back in the day on the road?.... ohhhh I could tell you some war stories ~lol~ I'm a total lightweight now. No alcohol at all at my shows.

Positive thoughts
popejoan
03-02-15, 01:06
Haha :) Oh just a local one here, I even forgot its name, will try to feel normal without the alcohol this time. Just experimenting being normal.
wnsos
03-02-15, 01:11
I gave up alcohol too. I was drinking pretty heavily and it was messing me up more than I realised. That's one thing I'm grateful to HA for, it stopped me drinking from worrying about what I was doing to my body! Honestly, you don't miss it.
popejoan
03-02-15, 01:19
That's a great decision. I realized after a long time without alcohol, it hits you even harder. My poor liver, I will feed it milk thistle as an apology.
Craze200
03-02-15, 03:29
A little alcohol helps me but depends on the individual. It calms me down and takes my anxiety away. Makes me feel normal for awhile. Definitely better Than meds and without all the crazy side effects.
snowflake293
03-02-15, 06:45
You poor thing *hugs* sorry you have been feeling so rotten.

I drink a lot and I find it makes my anxiety worse. I really want to stop. I know for a fact it makes anxiety worse.

Hope you are feeling better now hun xxx
missfishlash
03-02-15, 11:36
I'm definitely using alcohol at night to block out my health anxiety, but usually wake up feeling crap...need to bite the bullet and stop
popejoan
03-02-15, 12:23
You poor thing *hugs* sorry you have been feeling so rotten.

I drink a lot and I find it makes my anxiety worse. I really want to stop. I know for a fact it makes anxiety worse.

Hope you are feeling better now hun xxx

Thanks hun, I'm feeling better today, alcohol is completely out of my symptom. I felt so down yesterday, my boyfriend didn't know what to do when I cried like a baby. If we know it makes us worse we need to stay away from alcohol. At least until we get better. Hope you're feeling better too xxx

---------- Post added at 12:23 ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 ----------


I'm definitely using alcohol at night to block out my health anxiety, but usually wake up feeling crap...need to bite the bullet and stop

the idea of forgetting out worries is tempting but the next day is crap so not worth it.