Flashbacks/alcohol fear please help

[zigazigahhhh]

I'm such an idiot
I don't drink much but every few months I meet up with a friend and we go for drinks.. well i always seem to get far too drunk and turn into a complete idiot.
I used to get awful 'beer fear'/hangxiety then it seemed to be better but recently it's been awful again
I'm now at the point where I've decided it's probably best if I give up alcohol completely.. I'm not sure how this will work in terms of certain social situations yet but tbh right now i never want to leave the house anyway.
So not drinking again is the long term plan.
However just now I need advice for the short term please..
I went out on a night out in Saturday, was fun to start with then i got absolutely hammered and oh i am so embarrassed. An ex of mine turned up with their current girlfriend and i was a total idiot. Talking shit, utter nonsense, I just have images of me running around and being a knob. God knows half of what i was saying but the shame i feel.
I feel utterly depressed, like a black cloud is over me. Can barely eat or sleep and i keep feeling sick at the flashbacks.
Ok I didn't do anything dangerous or illegal or anything, i just had a night out and got too drunk so why do I feel so so so guilty and anxious?
Please help me to feel better, I'm really struggling and feel so stupid

@zigazigahhhh I hear you - it’s a horrible feeling. Alcohol causes stress to our bodies through increased cortisol production and we get super anxious. So it’s a physiological response and it will recede as your body processes the alcohol and returns to normal.

If it makes you feel better - I have done much much worse when under the influence - as I have/had (🤞) a serious drinking problem. I shudder at some of the stuff I did but I’m trying to put it behind me and move forward as a non-drinker.

The anxiety will lessen and you will start to feel better. But I’d journal/write down exactly how u are feeling right now - it may help you cut back /stop drinking.

Don’t be too hard on yourself - most of us have been there 💐

Just remember that most people are so focussed on what they've said and done that they very quickly forget what others have said and done. You have 'the fear' and it is crippling at present but it will pass.

There is a great book called 'Control Alcohol' that you might have a look at. I found it really helpful.

As pippa said, it's a physiological response to alcohol withdrawal (every time you drink, you go into a "mini-withdrawal") which increases feelings of anxiety. I bet you were nowhere near as bad as you are remembering. It's your body responding to the alcohol.

I'm a bit like you op. I don't drink a lot but can definitely overdo it on the rare occasions when I go on a big night out! I also am thinking of quitting entirely 😬. Hangovers suck more the older I get too which is another incentive.

Take it easy today and rest, drink water, have a nice shower, decent food and something salty to replace salt 💐