Does alchohol make your anxiety worse? (pos. trig.)

Well, gosh!!!
I love my morning coffee too!!!!! I consume at least 4 cups to "get going!" each morning. Now, I am thinking seriously about Parker's description of "liquid anxiety poured down your throat." Maybe switching to decaf is a good idea for us both, Grey!
Seeker

GreyGoose

I've been reading all your posts & to responses; I find it hard to post my feelings for you & your situation

Quick background, ok? I had my first drink when my brothers got me drunk at age 9; I progressed thru half a zillion illegal drugs (my 4 older brothers were all dealers) and landed in my first AODA treatment center at age 15 --- learned how to play cards, smoke alot and pull off the broken hairs I had during PM lectures; Most of my teenage years are a blur b/c I was in custody of the State until my 18th b-day; never stayed in "one place" for more than 7 months max....I just drink & drugged & kept landing in AODA treatment centers; I could quote The Big Book backwards, up-side down & in chinese
After I was 18 and legal; I went to meetings & then went out to a bar.... Then came psych wards, where I was the nurse.... During the day I was totally 100% sober & alert -- by the end of my shift...I drank while I studied & still maintaining excellent grades & clinicals; weekends were off & i'd spent $100 and/or more just on booze alone......I knew I was an alcholic....I knew all those "infamous cliche' words & phrases" You KNOW which ones I'm talking about by the way you "talk"/post....sounds like you know the infamous "Road to Recovery"



Bottom Line: We're both on some type of psych/anxiety meds; and I got the feeling you don't have to be a nurse to know NOT to drink ANYTHING (sorry about *yelling*)w/ any type of medication that has drowsiness, etc. You take a pill, have a few drinks......."Hey, maybe I'll take an extra pill..one won't matter.........a few more drinks///////face it, you're "toast" The med that you mentioned Lorazepam; you must have known that not only is it a great depressant on your CNS; but it's also a "hypnotic" (that's a BIG flashing red light) Hypnotics; especially Lorazepam, is what they give to surgery pts before surgery!!! DO NOT MIX W/ alcohol!!!! X3 the CNS depression; that's why when you wake up you're bodily functions & CNS are somewhat confused; that's why you get the "weird sensations" the next day. it's radically confused after adding alcohol.

Absolute bottom line, GreyGoose -- you & I know that what you said was "the rest of the story" Quote: I picked up a beer & that was it................... Be safe, Greygoose, you know in your heart what you have to do & so do I...PM me anytime!

In what you may feel is "in hell" I wish you peace always...
DAYZEE9

I've only gotten drunk twice, and it actually made my anxiety go down, BUT i did really foolish and stupid things that I deeply regret, and I'd rather have anxiety and deal with it on my own then doing those things again.

Just want to add my thoughts....I have over a5 years of alcohol and anxiety problems, and alcohol definitely makes it worse. Not while you are drinnking, probably, but most likely the next day and the next day after that. It definitely reduces the effectivesness of any medications you may be taking for anxiety. I have been battling this "seesaw" for what seems like a lifetime. My best suggestions to committ to not drinking ANY (not even one drink) for 45 days and see hoe you feel.

This is a great topic. Both the caffeine, booze, benzos etc. Anyone remember Karen Ann Quinlann? She ended in a coma due to barbituates and booze. Booze was the first thing I accidently found that helped my feelings of separation and battle inside. I quieted the argument. I was a little girl. I am trying hard to take the meds as perscribed and am very aware of caffiene. yes, we all know better, booze and drugs don't mix. And yet we seem to do what we do to get through the day. I don't know about anyone else but the reality for me is the anxiety, the fear, constant struggle inside, battle with the voices is beyond anxiety. It is pure hell.

I spent Mon night with a dying friend and had poured my meds in the morning. I ended up grabbing the wrong bottle of pills so didn't have my meds. I was worried how I would sleep etc. I ended up taking about 2 mgs of my friend's lorazapam. I did okay. It is something in my body, the anxiety is not really in my mind. My body reacts.

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wisewoman said: It is something in my body, the anxiety is not really in my mind. My body reacts.

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I agree with that; anxiety feels physical, it is expressed physically.

A thing about the alcohol. In a depressive phase, alcohol kills me. A couple of drinks knocks me out for days.
In a better phase, I could take a drink with the next person, and feel OK the next day. The real issue for me wasn't alcohol, it was the illness.

Cheers, M