Hangxiety, Booze Blues- should I give up drinking?

[Littepinkyogapants]

Hangxiety, Booze Blues- I can’t drink anymore ?

I am an anxious person and I used to use alcohol as a ‘social lubricant’ but now , the next day after drinking - I feel so down / sad/ hopeless. Even if I have just had 2 drinks . Is it time for me to stop drinking ??? How do I do this ????

I drink a lot less than I used to as I have a darling child . I also drink less frequently. But even if i have 2/3/4 drinks , i wake up in the early hours, I feel like I’m having a panic attack.

I feel
-anxiety ( what did I say /do?)
-paranoia ( what must people think!?)
-then I replay the whole night over and over .

I’ve done 100 days sober before / weeks off drinking and of course not drank during pregnancy. I’ve craved alcohol during these periods but I have absolutely loved the sanity that not drinking gives me . But then after not drinking for a while, i kid myself that ‘this time’ if I have a few drinks I will feel different- yet I always feel so terrible!

I feel the booze blueseven if I just have 3 drinks now ! I feel I just can’t cope with drinking !!?
Does anyone feel this ( nervous /anxious )way after drinking ? Has anyone just stopped drinking?

Alcohol is a depressant. If anything if making you feel the way you describe, you need to stop it/give it up.

Yes

Read the book Alcohol Explained by William Porter. It goes through why this happens chemically.

Basically, your body is always seeking equilibrium and balance so when you take a drug (alcohol) that depresses your central nervous system, your body produces natural stimulants to counteract the effects of the alcohol. Problem is, once the alcohol has worn off your body is flooded with stimulants that then make you feel horribly anxious, jittery and off kilter. It then takes a day or two for the stimulants your body has produced to subside. When you get into a pattern of regular drinking your body over produces these stimulants even if you reduce your consumption.

My advice- give it up. Alcohol has no redeeming qualities- it messes with your brain chemicals and makes you feel anxious and depressed, just one or two glasses increases your risk of certain cancers and it increases inflammation in the body. Is all that really worth 30 mins or so of feeling a bit "woozy"? It isnt to me.

You have my sympathy, I hardly ever drink nowadays for this reason and it has made days after nights out much better

I usually use the excuse of driving to stop people pressuring me!

I had similar experiences to you and did dry January a few years ago and haven't drank since. I do miss a nice cold glass or white wine but have found other drinks to have instead.

My life is so much better since giving up. I too used alcohol for a bit of Dutch courage as I am shy but now I have done so much stuff without needing that.