Anxiety after drinking alcohol

[thinkhappythoughts2156]

hi everyone

this is my first time posting but after seeing a few threads yesterday I did want to post as I have been suffering massively after drinking alcohol.

recently i have had such bad memory loss after drinking and anxiety is at an all time high after. I doubt myself and what I have done or said and am so paranoid it reduces me to tears.

i make up scenarios in my head that I have offended someone and I need constant re assurance from my friends. I honestly convince myself that i have said something terrible and dread looking at my phone the next day.

The only things i ever do is dance silly and make people laugh - nothing that i should ever need to worry about but it just completely ruins me for days and the anxiety is awful. I get to a point when I utterly convince myself that i am a bad person - and that even when i ask friends/family for re assurance i am also certain that they are lying to me to make me feel better. My friends never say anything embarassing and just ask how my head is..

other than not drink - has anyone else dealt with anxiety like this after drinking alcohol??

i do have some personal issues at the moment and going out and drinking was probably not my best idea.

Contrary to popular opinion on Mumsnet, alcohol is absolutely terrible for you OP. Some people just can't cope with the effects of it..you sound like one of them.

It depletes your body of essential nutrients and causes depression and anxiety.

There IS no solution other than completely stopping alcohol.

This happened to me for a while. I stopped drinking. I now drink again (2 glasses max - I’m not a big drinker anymore), am in a much better place mentally and this doesn’t happen anymore.

I was the same and got progressively worse, I stopped drinking all together, just can't handle it. It's not worth feeling bad. Much better mentally since then.

other than not drink - has anyone else dealt with anxiety like this after drinking alcohol??

The problem with anxiety is you need to remove the cause. The cause is alcohol. Your solution is to stop.

Do you drink a lot?

Its so common to have alcohol induced anxiety. Known as 'the dreads' in my circle
of friends.

When I was in my twenties I partied a lot and suffered like this. Now I'm a settled mother in my mid thirties I rarely drink more than a glass or two of wine maybe once a quarter (small children + hangovers = no thank you!) and I don't get like it anymore even when I do drink. Probably because I'm never ever drunk enough to be out of control, or get memory loss. I hate the thought of not being capable of looking after my child in an emergency, or even if they were to wake an need me in the night so I don't do it.

The only solution is to stop drinking I'm afraid.

I do think there is a difference between the 'beer fear' (drinking too much and not remembering what you did / said / being out of control) to actual anxiety with a hangover. Mine can last for days / weeks sometimes and really affects me to the point of not being able to function, work, even get out of bed at times. I seem to be better if my mood is un-anxious before drinking, and if I keep myself busy the following day (rather than just stewing in the house hungover) but honestly, not drinking is the only measure that works. It might not be what you want to hear OP, but alcohol is a depressant so it will have an affect, particularly if you already have underlying MH issues.

Ah, the horrors! Yes, I think everyone gets them OP but mine certainly have got worse in my 40's. I don't ever forget anything but do tend to 'catastrophise' every situation when I first wake up.

Even worse if I have not eaten properly/5 a day etc. It just all goes downhill!

Nothing like waking up after a proper detox/eating healthily/early nights for a few weeks! Feels so great.

You'll be ok

Get your B12 levels checked, get a copy of the results & read up on the deficiency on Tracey Wittys B12 website as tests can be wrong.

Alcohol affects vitamin B12 & speaking from experience, if you are already low & dont know it, any alcohol will make you feel very ill.

Though that said, even with treatment I still can't tolerate alcohol anymore

Meant to say. Anxiety can be a big symptom

I'm exactly the same. Going out is not worth it. I'm nearly 47 and now I only go out occasionally with very good friends who I am comfortable with and I don't overdo it. Wine, prosecco etc go straight to my head so I've avoided them for years. I agree with all the posters, not drinking is, really the only solution but having said that of I fancy a few drinks I only drink with my close girl friends and as I've said I don't overdo it.
I never go on works do's as I'm a supply teacher and I know I would be able to convince myself I've upset someone or spoken out of turn to the head - neither of which I would do!
You're not alone but there is options.

The only thing I've ever found that helped was not drinking.

Can you at least not drink when your in a bad place or a bad mood?

I stopped drinking alcohol as soon as I was diagnosed with anxiety. I know it just makes it worse.

OP, I used to get this when out drinking when younger until a friend said to me remember most people that your interacting with are under the influence too! Your worrying imaging the other person was stone cold sober, they wouldn't have been