Stress Center Peer Support

I've had anxiety for about 3 years now. I get panick attacks here and there , not to many recently, and I worry a lot. But for some reason, after a night out drinking, the next day I get bad discomfort in my chest , and it usually takes a day to feel better, but I still feel bad for about a week. I had recently not drank for 20 days straight and started to feel normal, but my 21st bday came along and now I feel like crap still. does anybody else have anything like that??

I just wanted to mention that the same exact thing happened to me last week! I had SEVERE panic attacks from the age of 18-20 yrs old. I used the attacking anxiety program and I was able to go off of my meds and had been "fine" since. Of course, I'd get the occasional "what if..." going through my head, or I'd get anxious for actual reasons, but I was always able to calm myself and talk myself out of having an attack.
That is, until last Saturday, at my company Xmas party, where I decided that 1, 2 or 3 vodka tonics was not enough for me. I lost count of how many drinks I actually had that night. The next morning, I woke up with a fear I haven't felt in years. And it's been horrible ever since. I absolutely believe that my panic attacks this week were induced by my drinking last weekend, and that I'm still recovering from the physical effects of it.
Oddly, reading your post made me feel better - maybe relief is in sight. I've been taking xanax to take the edge off of the anxiety, but I know I can't keep taking them for long because I don't want to become dependent.
Anyway, best of luck to you - and sadly, yes, as fun as drinking can be at the moment, when we have an underlying anxiety issue, it's really quite toxic to put our brains through it. But you know that already, and I'm preaching to the choir. Best of luck!

Just wanted to add one more thing - I know exactly how liberating it is to turn 21, and to feel the freedom of being able to drink at the bars, etc. I'm not sure what your social life is like; if you have buddies that encourage you to drink 10 shots of jager so you can have a good time, or whatever....I don't want to make any assumptions. This is an important time in your life where you can choose to try to keep up with others, and deny the fact that you have anxiety issues, or you can face them head on and NOT take a drink again. Take it from me - I did sooo many things under the influence of alcohol when I was in my early 20's that I regret to this very day...ugh. And having anxiety issues on top of that embarassment, well, is not a good mix. If drinking makes you feel like crap, avoid it as much as you can. Your true friends will understand why you don't feel the need to party every night. Only you know what is best for you, though. Best wishes.

Thank you for this post, it is JUST what I needed to hear. I keep drinking the wine to relax and then the pounding in my chest the next day is vicious and so I drink another glass of wine to relieve the pressure again.

I just did my very first session today.

JDog, I agree with Denae, if drinking brings on such terrible results for you, just don't do it. I remember my 20's, the drinking was part of 'being cool'. I'd like to encourage you to 'Dare to be different'! Believe me, your friends secretly ask themselves 'why the heck do I do this?', it's human nature! I have regrets just like Denae, and EVERYONE who gets drunk regret certain things!
Alcohol is a mind altering substance, and that's what we deal directly with, the mind (more specifically our thinking) but they also effect our physical body, and your body is the ONLY one you will ever have, so take care of it.
Again, I urge you 'Dare to be different' because your whole future depends on it!

Later,
Rod

Alcohol increases anxiety period. I should know, I do it to myself all the time. You take the drinkl of wine to self-medicate, which can lead to another...the lessening of inhibitions...it was all fun at the beginning - I finally felt "normal" with the alcohol - but it was a lie. I thought I had found my best friend, my new love - alcohol - be he turned on me.
I just started this program and I'm hoping for ways to reduce my anxiety, stress, and depression without the alcohol. I am 51 and alcohol does not work for me anymore - it never did...

Boomer