Like drinking but hate the day after anxiety, should I stop?

[Abs1992]

I don’t drink alcohol regularly mainly because I don’t like the taste of many alcoholic drinks so never have one with dinner etc. It’s only when I go out with friends so basically to get drunk.. which isn’t every weekend but maybe a couple of times a month sometimes more sometimes less. I like drinking and being a bit merry and dancing. But the next day.. the hangover physically never that bad but the anxiety about what I’ve said or done or how I came across/looked, and often my mental health in general just goes downhill for a day or two, feel a bit down (I guess due to the depressant that alcohol is!) and not quite myself.. overthinking a lot. I have thought about going totally sober before but just don’t want to miss out on the fun with friends, im not confident enough to dance if im sober (unless alone!) Any advice?

I no longer drink really. One of the best things is never having that horrible anxious feeling afterwards, alcohol is awful for mental health.

You don't have to make a big decision, why not just try it one night and see how you find it?

I didn't intentionally stop drinking, it just happened.

That's why I quit. I never drank very regularly but I drank to get drunk, then I'd get major rebound anxiety starting in the night and continuing into the next day. My heart would beat too fast and I'd feel panicky and tearful. I didn't even have to be very drunk to get it and the effect was reliable and real. I quit a few months ago and my mental health is much better for it. I don't miss it really. Occasionally I think it would be nice to get drunk but then I remember how I'll feel afterwards and I'm put right off.

Unfortunately alcohol just doesn't agree with some people - in fact a lot of us if we are honest. I drunk way more than you because of anxiety only to finally realise it was drinking that was making it worse!

My adult daughter rarely drinks because she didn't like the hangovers but still goes out and has a good time. She dances and everything! Feel the fear I say. Something I will share...when I became sober I volunteered to be designated driver, so I didn't weaken whilst out. It was a real eye opener as to what alcohol does to people and was kind of glad to be sober and not worry that I had offended people. I actually decided my 'life and soul of the party' brother was actually no fun at all as I tried to get him home in one piece.

Let us know how you get on

Try quitting. It doesn’t sound like you will miss it.

I have this exact same thing. When I was pregnant I went out partying with friends and even though they got smashed, I still found I could dance like a loon and have a really great time, but with decent sleep and no hangover. As soon as my babies were old enough, I went straight back to old ways but remembering the fun I had sober, I'm wondering whether to try not drinking and whether it is the best of both worlds.

I wish I’d realised this when I was younger. I drank all that time at university / in my twenties and attributed the crippling anxiety to my personality. These days I rarely drink - its been a natural change over time - and when I do I can’t believe how awful I feel emotionally the next day. It’s so clearly the cause and not remotely worth it.

Sorry, my indirect advice there was to try going out sober and push through the awkwardness. You’ll be so much better off in the long run!

Is there a happy medium? Do you need to have 10+ drinks when you go out? Can you have 3-4 and still have a good time and not have those issues? If not then yeah probably best to just stop.