Why does alcohol make me feel like a piece of shit person?

[heisacreep]

I'm a 30 year old female, I have a good life, a good career, an amazing daughter and generally feel like I have my life together. However, on the occasions I over indulge alcohol (like last night), the next day I feel like total shit. Not so much physically but mentally. I feel like my life is crumbling, that I'm a terrible mum, a terrible employee. When I think about the future and my responsibilities it terrifies me and I think 'I can't do it/handle it' - even though nothing has changed from the day before where I was looking forward to the future. It is such a low, horrible feeling that I get without fail every single time after drinking and I can't shake it off, sometimes it last for 3-4 days before I'm back to normal.

What is this? I've heard of the fear but I thought that was more surrounding your behaviour the previous night. However last night I sat myself and watched a film and had some wine (daughter was at her dads). I didn't communicate with anyone at all so I don't have fear surrounding my behaviour. I just feel like a piece of shit and a failure even though I know that's completely unreasonable and not true.

Alcohol is a mood-altering substance. It’s a depressant, I believe, which can remove inhibitions but can also make you feel low. You know what to do: avoid it!

This happens to most people when they reach their thirties. It happens to me, so I’ve stopped over-indulging

It's called hang-xiety and is very normal.

It’s not The Fear, you’re right. It’s alcohol induced anxiety. You’re basically ‘withdrawing’ the day after a heavy drink session and that detoxification chemical process is what triggers the anxiety, restlessness, jitters etc

in a nutshell. Alcohol - the cause of, and solution of life’s problems.

Because it's a drug and a depressant which causes neurological changes.

Happy to help.

Alcohol is a drug - this is the very well-known, well-researched and well-publicised impact of alcohol on the human body.

"Alcohol is a depressant which affects your brain's natural level of happiness chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This means that although you'll feel an initial 'boost' the night before, the next day you will be deficient in these same chemicals, which may lead to feeling anxious, down or depressed."

Because it’s a drug. This is just one of many reasons it should be illegal.

Good info here - www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-and-anxiety

You're not alone OP, I've stopped drinking completely as it just destroys my mental health, it's not worth it. Hope you feel better soon.

This. It both calms and causes anxiety. Which is why it so often becomes a vicous cycle of alcohol abuse.

Because alcohol is a poison and a depressant

Oh and if you think that sucks. Wait until peri when you get that without the booze either!!

I get a really feeling of impending doom when I’m hungover. Only lasts for one day though.
So you’re not alone.. and you already know what the solution is!

Alcohol made me feel like that and some. I've been teetotal for 10 years now and I don't miss it at all.

lol, good luck with that.

I get this too and it's the reason I barely drink anymore.
I'll enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner sometimes, but will not get past the warm fuzzy feeling on 2-3 glasses. Just isn't worth the mental health implications for me.

This used to happen to me. I could have sat merrily alone, not spoke to another soul and just watched tv whilst enjoying several drinks.
The next day however every mistake I had ever made in my life, every wrong thing I had said or done literally became magnified and exploded in my head whenever I opened my eyes.
An absolute horror story on loop playing over and over again. Yet before alcohol consumption I was happily ticking along not overly concerned about anything.
You'll be ok tomorrow op. Get some food and a bath and if you can a walk in the cold air as that will blow some of those horrible thoughts away

Oh I’m quite aware it would never happen, because the majority of the population are addicted to it.

They cannot control themselves.

Alcohol affects your brain chemistry. This Naked Mind by Annie Grace (book and podcasts) explain it well.

I'm 25 and for 3 years I haven't touched a drop of alcohol, mainly because of this!!

I could feel my mood changing as I was drinking (I'd always end the night having a good cry) and then I'd spend days feeling completely depressed and hopeless.

Now if I go out, I just drink lemonade or juice and make a dick of myself sober 🤷‍♀️ I still have fun, I just feel a lot better for it and I also feel a lot comfier in my own skin knowing I can have fun without the need of alcohol 🥰
It's been tough in the sense that other people don't understand my choice and question it none stop, but I'll never forget just how horrific I would feel x

Well alcohol is technically a poison/ toxin, so essentially it's working the way it should be.

Taking steps to hydrate yourself especially before you sleep should help dampen intensity of side effects.

Sorry OP I should have added that because of the mind horror aftereffects I stopped drinking altogether as just isnt worth losing a day of your life over

I get like this. Strange feeling isn't it, when you know you have your life together, but something in the alcohol clearly knocks us temporarily.

We call this "The fear".
The morning after my best friends wedding I was utterly convinced that she'd fallen out with my & hated me. She hadn't - It was the fear.

The majority do control themselves, even when they have it.