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Original poster

Hangover and anxiety

62 replies

Wishgad · 26/08/2019 19:14

Last night I got drunk (myself and DH at home). I'm not a big drinker but last night just went a bit OTT. Mixed my drinks and was just a bit foolish.

I woke up at 1am feeling utter terror. I had to wake up DH who sat with me until 3am. I've never experienced anything like it in my life before. Just an overwhelming feeling of doom and a feeling of total loss of control. I was absolutely terrified even to the point I thought I was going to die Sad

Finally fell asleep. Woke up with a hangover but mentally feeling much better. The 'episode' had thankfully passed, whatever it was.

I've now been feeling a constant low-level anxiety/panic all day today as well as physically a bit dodgy which I think is the hangover.

I'm late 30s and have never had anything like this happen before. DH was really concerned and it's left me really shaken up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wishgad · 26/08/2019 20:18

Oh man Sad I'm just thankful DH could deal with me last night otherwise I think I may have ended up in A&E too! It just felt like someone had pulled the plug on my life. Almost like an out of body experience.

OP posts:
SureTry · 26/08/2019 20:25

Does this only happen if you've overindulged?

HeyMonkey · 26/08/2019 20:26

Yep, Beer Fear.

I've on a few occasions spent a day hungover in bed feeling like I was having a full on panic attack, full of regret and anxiety.

Think it's pretty common. White wine does it to me far worse than anything else. White wine hangovers make me cry.

Original poster
Wishgad · 26/08/2019 20:42

Sure - for me, yes. I overdid it on the booze and I also mixed my drinks.

OP posts:
TragicallyTrying · 26/08/2019 20:52

Op do you take any medication?
Since starting citalopram I get horrendous panic attack’s in the night if I drink too much. They wake me from sleep around 4 hours after stopping drinking, my heart races, my whole body burns like my skins on fire, I feel sick and I’m soaked with sweat. The first few times it happened I was convinced I was going to die. I still like to enjoy the odd night out but drink lots of water and know my limits. Occasionally I misjudge it or it happens after much less alcohol than usual but although really scary I can let it happen and know it will be ok, it tends to be over sooner that way.

timshelthechoice · 26/08/2019 20:56

I stopped drinking because I get such bad hangovers. Just sleep like shit, wake in panic attacks, feel shitty all day or two days later. Just cut it out. It's easy to do and life is so much better now.

Original poster
Wishgad · 26/08/2019 21:28

No I don't take any medication Tragically. Your experience sounds similar to mine last night. Racing heart, sweating, felt totally detached from reality, huge panic, hyperventilating, imminent fear of death....just horrible.

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Northernsoullover · 26/08/2019 21:35

Before I quit '

Northernsoullover · 26/08/2019 21:38

Try again.. before I quit 'the fear' was getting worse and worse. I have quit drinking so many times but I'm confident I'll not start again this time for a variety of reasons, suffering from the fear ever again is one of them!

sweetiepie1979 · 26/08/2019 21:41

Oh you poor thing so unfair after trying to have a relaxing night and drink with loved one.
It’s not happened to me but I’ve had to stop having more than 1 or 2 recently because of the anxiety the next day.... it just started in my late 30s.... shame....

Hopefully it won’t happen you again but st least you know it will pass next time x

WinterHare · 26/08/2019 21:46

Had the same thing happen to me recently! White wine hangover. I don't even like wine.

Woke up at 4am, convinced that was it for me. Dh was away. Scary experience not to be repeated anytime soon. I've heard of the fear but thought it was more to do with memory and scared you'd insulted people or embarrassed yourself whilst drunk.

Original poster
Wishgad · 26/08/2019 21:48

Gosh it's surprisingly common. I hadn't even heard of it before this thread.

It's definitely put me off drinking for good. I'm not a big drinker anyway so won't miss it much.

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tirednhungry247 · 26/08/2019 21:53

Omg I get this every time
I get so anxious I don't even answer my phone or look at it all day
Nothing worse

isthisit42 · 26/08/2019 22:02

I get this all the time, I dread drinking because of it but still do it! I just feel dear and uneasy, can't sleep, need to be reassured constantly. It's not pleasant.

Iv actually been able to take some reassurance from friends who are big drinkers and never get any 'fear' and when I see them the morning after laughing about the night before it calms me. They have good attitudes to life and don't sweat the small stuff, it helps me slightly but not always.

hittheroadjack1 · 26/08/2019 22:04

"The fear" is a real thing.

It's why I don't drink anymore, it's just not worth it.

lavenderlove · 26/08/2019 22:12

I was just talking to my friends about this! I never used to suffer with anything like this but I hit my mid 20's and now I can't get drunk without being woken by at least 3 panicky episodes through the night Sad I also suffer really bad the next day (sometimes 2 days) with a constant feeling of dread and doom. It was interesting how a couple of my friends said they suffer with the exact same thing!
I'm not normally an anxious person either which makes it even more strange! X

lostlalaloopsy · 26/08/2019 22:39

I get this - The Fear. It is horrible, I wake up feeling like it's the end of the world. It triggers my anxiety and just sends me into a downward spiral. I very rarely drink now and I now hate going on nights out!

Original poster
Wishgad · 27/08/2019 09:09

Gosh I can't get over how many of you can relate to this! I may ask around my friends. Maybe they get it too but just don't about it!

Thank you all for the reassurance. I've still got that horrible anxiety knot in my stomach this morning but hopefully it'll pass.

Flowers
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Ligresa · 27/08/2019 09:12

I'm going to be an outlier here and say what you had was a panic attack, probably exacerbated by drinking. You may find you need to reduce your stress levels and not just knock the booze on the head.

tirednhungry247 · 27/08/2019 09:14

yes it's obviously panic attacks, I had one at 4am this morning and feel a bit teary eyed and sensitive this morning too.

I'm really considered quitting booze all together

Ligresa · 27/08/2019 09:15

Alcohol will not be the only cause.

Ligresa · 27/08/2019 09:17

I had a 2 year period where I struggled badly with anxiety and panic attacks. Heavy drinking would definitely have made them worse but were not the main cause. I had counselling and now don't get them any more (even after a very rare night of heavy drinking!)

Original poster
Wishgad · 27/08/2019 09:17

Ligresa - I do feel like I've got a lot on my plate at the moment. Low level anxiety has been in my life for years.

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Ligresa · 27/08/2019 09:20

I wondered that - hence the heavy drinking? Time to try and address it. Look for ways to be kind to yourself (getting smashed isn't one!) and remember, if you do regular deep breathing you physically cannot have a panic attack. Also horrible as they are they will not physically harm you. I used to try and let the panic wash over me, to accept it and not fight it.

Original poster
Wishgad · 27/08/2019 09:25

I'm not usually a big drinker, it just doesn't appeal.

I will look into the deep breathing techniques. I've got a meditation app on my phone that I sometimes listen to.

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