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Posted 7/20/2008 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new to this forum but it looks good. I have experienced progressively bad anxiety attacks for about a year or so now but what i have noticed is with a hangover I seem to have no control. The thought processes of "its just your body reacting... you'll be ok.. etc" doesnt seem to work. Especially if I'm away from home. I just get on with it but its still a horrible feeling. Any of you guys have ways for dealing with this? (Apart from sobriety! tongue )
Thanks
Posted 7/20/2008 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
There is no other way apart from sobriety especially IF on meds for the a/p IMHO

There are techniques like CBT and deep breathing...... relaxation techniques

Or you might try drinking in very moderate amounts

Alcohol will cause a/p to go thru the roof .......
Glad you found us here and do hope you will continue to post and stay with us

LYN
Posted 7/20/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
When hungover, that means you've polluted your liver. When our liver is toxic, the natural process would be to try to detox. When the body has an overload of toxins and goes into detox mode, panic, anxiety, headaches, etc are prevelent.

There are a few ways to deal with this, for every drink, drink a bottle of water,
before you go out and get trashed, drink a ton of lemon water before and after drinking
Eat before and after eating
or don't drink to the point of polluting the liver
Posted 7/20/2008 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
oh and welcome to HW ;-)
Posted 7/20/2008 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P forum. I don't drink but I know a few things about the topic.
 

Alcohol is classified as a depressant because it slows down the central nervous system, causing a decrease in motor coordination, reaction time and intellectual performance. At high doses, the respiratory system slows down drastically and can cause a coma or death.
Alcohol may

  • Cause mood swings.
  • Make you less patient.
  • Give you a false sense of confidence.
  • Make you more aggressive.
  • Impede your ability to make responsible decisions.
  • Make you less cautious

Hangovers are evidence of the body’s withdrawal symptoms from alcohol use and the body's reaction to the toxicity of alcohol. The severity of symptoms varies according to the individual and the quantity of alcohol consumed.

Alcohol and drugs do not mix  which you probably know but just a gentle reminder.

The best way to avoid a hangover...........don't drink alcohol or if you do limt it to infrequently and a small amount.

Take care
Kitt

Posted 7/20/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everybody! Some wise words indeed! I'm Irish though so drinking less isnt really an option! tongue I had a hangover today and had no anxiety. If I felt it coming on I just thought this is just my bodies reaction to the alcohol reaction. I have to go out again tonight so I'd imagine alcohol will be on the cards so I'll try it in moderation (or the irish version of moderation) and see how i fare out....

Thanks so much for your advice...
Posted 7/20/2008 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm Irish and barely drink so bad excuse

Welcome and take care of you
Posted 7/21/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Dave,

it sounds to me like you are experiencing "the horrors" - when we are hungover, our nervous system is in a complete flux, thoughts go barreling through our heads and it is hard to hold onto a thought long enough to rationalise with it. Yeek! Drink in moderation, and don't use alcohol as a "medication" for anxiety. It feels just great at the time, but next day. 10 times worse. eyes If you don't want to give up the drink then vitamin B can help out with the withdrawl as your liver processes the toxins. Stay well, and welcome to HW!

Meg

Posted 7/21/2008 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everybody! Some wise words indeed! I'm Irish though so drinking less isnt really an option! tongue I had a hangover today and had no anxiety. If I felt it coming on I just thought this is just my bodies reaction to the alcohol reaction. I have to go out again tonight so I'd imagine alcohol will be on the cards so I'll try it in moderation (or the irish version of moderation) and see how i fare out....

Thanks so much for your advice...
Posted 7/21/2008 12:44 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Dave,

Irish moderation?! Try not to mix your drinks, and fill up on something healthy before you go out. My anxiety attacks grew in equal size with my alcohol consumption. It may be handy to keep a diary of drinks consumed and how you feel the next day. It can be an eye-opener (not of the whisky variety my friend!!!) Have a great night and stay safe.

Meg

Posted 7/21/2008 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Dave,

It does not sound like you want to quit drinking.

But it sounds like you need to.

Karen
Posted 7/21/2008 1:04 AM (GMT 0)

Dave,

I don't want to scare you off, or judge, but if you want to chat, you can email me (the lil blue envelope under my name). We do not judge people here, we just try to support and help, and have a good laugh every so often.

Cheers,

Meg

Posted 7/21/2008 4:13 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Dave,

Hello, this is Kitt.  I think it may be wise of you to consider that alcohol may be a problem for you. I know your Irish, lol, but please think about what the alocohol is doing to your body and how awful you feel the next day.

Hair of the dog is not the answer IMHO.  I am going to pull up Lyn's story for you..............it is very inspirational. I bumped Lyn's story to the top.

Here is link to it, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=1143015

I come from a long fmaily with a history of alcoholism and I choose not to go that route as I am sure i could easily get addicted to alcohol.

Good Luck and take care.

Kitt

Posted 7/21/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your concern but drinking in Ireland really is a part of life. I know and know of lots of bona fide Alcoholics and I'm pretty sure I'm not one of them. When I go out to a pub, I will usually, more than likely leave that establishment semi or quite drunk but never "falling down" drunk. In fact I would probably say I drink less than a lot of my peers.
I am sincerely grateful for your concerns and if I'm wrong about this maybe I should give this more attention.
That been said, I need to go out again tonight and will be working for 11 straight hours on a newspaper tomorrow. Theres a test for ya! ;)
Posted 7/22/2008 1:59 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Dave,

I know the culture of drinking, I live in Australia, and it's deemed pretty "un-australian" not to go out and get on the (insert word) from time to time. As I said, we do not judge here, we are just concerned and caring. If you don't feel you have a problem with alcohol then I'm not going to tell you I do. All I can suggest is, that if anxiety from hangovers is taking it's toll then maybe try switching alcoholic bevs for soft drinks every second round, keep a tally of what you intake, and then write down how you feel the next day. And no mixing with meds. EVER. You may not need to give up, just moderate. Goodluck with that 11 hour shift! Are you a journo?

Meg

Posted 7/23/2008 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Dave,
I generally don't drink to excess because I can't stand to be hungover. I feel so aweful and I'm not back to myself for at least a day or two. Moderation is key IMO, but I'm not Irish so maybe I can't relate. This is what helps me when I do imbibe too much: I alternate a glass of water with every drink. If that's not possible, I drink a couple of glasses of water before I go to sleep. I try not to go to sleep until I am sober. I eat a little something before I go to bed. Also don't go drinking on an empty stomach. I take a couple of aspirin before I go to sleep. In the morning I drink Gatoraide or some other type of sports drink. I find that once I'm hungover I can't drink just plain water, it makes me feel worse. I slowly sip gatoraide by itself or mixed half and half with water and I try not to move much.
Posted 7/23/2008 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well just a quick update if anyones interested. I feel I owe you guys that. I did go out that night and got slightly to semi trashed. Great craic and ended up home by 3am (ish) up again for 8am. Ordinarily this would be a waking nightmare but...... I had remembered some of the advice I had gotten here and I had a pint of water with Vit C and off I wobbled to work. When I sat down at my computer me old friends came to say good morning. The dizziness... later to you dizziness, I just grabbed some work and started clicking me mouse (I'm a graphic designer) Then the numbness in my hands said hi... not a hope, I knew that was coming.. just a physical reaction to my situation (again from something I read here ;) ) I even got that disassociation feeling which I hate and I sailed through that too. Now I don't know if it was just a lucky day or if it was just I was comfortable in my surroundings and I AM NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR DRINKING TO EXCESS as my countryman stated earlier ;) but I really felt good when I got home after that day at 11am tired but calm.

More of that i say and praises high for you clever and kind people!

Dave
Posted 7/23/2008 11:41 PM (GMT 0)

Dave,

Thanks for the update and I wish you the best. I do not judge but I do worry that you are going to pay a high price down the road for your drinking.

I came from a family of alcoholics and yes they could go to work the next day,  but in the ended the party ended and the children suffered.  So be careful.

Respectfully,

Kitt

Posted 7/24/2008 1:10 AM (GMT 0)

Dave,

Thanks for the update. What is the disassociation feeling you get? Do you think that is just hangover, does it only happen after a night out? Not trying to scare you here! Just interested.

Meg

Posted 7/24/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear the advice helped. It doesn't sound like you are getting enough sleep either. That in itself can make you dizzy and spacey. Please try to take better care of yourself, ok?
Posted 7/24/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
get more sleep and dont drink so much. Multivitamins and water/gatorade help to avoid hangovers
Posted 7/24/2008 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dave,

Against my better judgement, I will recommend that you try vitamin D for your hangovers in the morning. That should help to make you feel better and give you some energy.

I can't condone your excessive drinking, only because I see that it is hurting you in the longrun. Your liver can only take so much. It has been mentioned here that we don't judge, but I feel that I have to be honest.

Please take care of yourself. And being sober doesn't make you less of a man, as far as I am concerned it makes you more of one because you are making choices for yourself.

I lost two of my sisters to alcoholism, they were only in their 40's when they died and to me that is a waste of a life. I loved them so much. Now they are gone. But they aren't suffering anymore. Alcoholism runs on both sides of my family. I am not against drinking. I have an occasional beer (my drink of choice). But I feel I do it because I enjoy it, not to go along with the crowd. I like the taste of it.

Please keep posting, we really care about all of the members here. You sound like a wonderful person and we really, really do care.

Best wishes to you,
hugs, Karen...
Posted 7/24/2008 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

nervymeg said...
Dave,

Thanks for the update. What is the disassociation feeling you get? Do you think that is just hangover, does it only happen after a night out? Not trying to scare you here! Just interested.

Meg

Hi Meg. I get this feeling usually if I am getting a 'spell' as I used to call them. Its like I fell like I'm drifting out myself. Like I don't have control. I usually pinch myself or try to get away. I'm probably not explaining myself very well. I get it sometimes with a hangover but also at times of extreme stress or fatigue....
Posted 7/24/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not the best sleeper in the world anyway, even if I don't go out.. I dunno, I've just always been a night owl only now I need to get up dead early. I manage ok with it though. as long as I get about 7/7 hours I seem to be fine. Anything under that and I think I risk getting pannicy! Thanks again for all your comments. I truely do take them all on board.

Karen ... I'm sorry about your sisters. That must of been awful....
Posted 7/24/2008 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Oh my Dave,

It was awful. Plus I lost a friend to hep C just a couple of years ago.

I say all things in moderation I guess. I can't judge you, it is a part of your culture. But if you think it effects your anxiety, it might be time to think about cutting back a little. It ages you fast my friend, and life is short as it is.

I wish you happiness.
Hugs, Karen
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