Alcohol and anxiety

[lynne999]

Hi does anyone else's anxiety seem much worse the day after drinking alcohol. I'm lying in bed trying to stop my heart racing and its driving me nuts! I take 20mg citalopram to help with my anxiety but its not helping today

I really do notice that too. if I've just had a drink Im ok but if i get drunk then the next morning i feel really depressed, dizzy & lightheaded (like i am when anxious rather than drink related) and generally unable to get on with the day let alone leave home.
I know we all have different symptoms of anxiety but mine always get worse the morning after. Its worse than any hangover i could have.

Thanks for the reply mrs m! It's soo dehabilitating!

I know! I've found lots of ways to cope with my anxiety (probably not all of them to healthy!) but I've found this a real stumbling block, its quite cruel really it always seems like if i pluck up enough courage to go to a pub/party, Im punished for it the next day!

Exactly! All I want to do is curl up in bed. I've even tried caffeine free coke thinking I was having too much caffeine lol

I think you just have to ride it out
Are you alone? I always find it easier when dh is about, just not being alone makes it better for me. If you feel up to it you could try going out, even if its just sitting in the garden. Failing that maybe a nice long bath?
I hope it passes soon.

I get this. It's awful and has really put me off drinking. I didn't drink much last NYE but on new year's day i felt terrible. I was shaky and my heart was racing and towards the end of the day I got very teary and was obsessing about death. Really not worth it for me!

Yes definitely worse when ur on your own as I was yesterday normally got a busy loud house!!

I get this even though I'm not on AD's of any kind, I just think some people are genetically predisposed to being more sensitive to alcohol than others.
I try very hard to steer clear because I use up all my fun tokens and it ruins about a week.
I find what helps when Im in it is lots of TV, ringing nourishing firneds or family and an early night x

That's interesting farthingwood I've always wondered about that, there is history of drunken violence in my family and I'm wary of it. I react quite badly to alcohol and I try never to have more than a glass (or two if its spread out over a few hours) because I find it terribly hard to cope the next few days. It's not a hangover, but it definitely messes with my head.