adywhu

Hi everyone,

Been a drinker for 20 years, also suffered panic and anxiety attacks on and off for last 16, basically I was prescribed meds for those, which would work, been on and off the same med until 3 years ago when I suffered extreme intrusive thoughts, so I came off them and started using booze as my medicine!! I then read about withdrawal seizures from alcohol and have basically had around 1 -1.5 bottles of wine each night, my wife thought I was using the withdrawal fear as an excuse (there may be some truth in that) but the only days I didn't drink was when I was poorly (I managed a whole 5 days a few months ago, no withdrawal symptons at all, but still started back on it.).

Around a month ago the panic attacks started again, and my days are basically in a state of panic, until I finish work have a glass of wine then start to feel normalish, however finally decided to go and see a doctor last week, she didn't give me meds but sent me to a drug and alcohol resource centre, and told me to have a liver function test.

Now I am absolutely terrified i will find I have severe liver damage or cancer which has set me to panic overload, I have to go to a group session at the centre on Thursday which I will go through with, then the blood tests on Friday which I am on the verge of cancelling out of fear, I walk about six miles per day, also take vitamin tabs especially for the liver, I eat and am overweight, but all this worry is making my life a misery for me and my family, just wondered if there was anyone out there with similar experiences?

Sorry to witter on like this!!

Ady

ulfr

Breathe ... i know how intrusive though are very upsetting I have OCD and i get them all the time and take panic attacks
i know that drinking may make things easier but it will wreak your body
glad your seeing a dr
i hope the liver test goes well and you are ok
just do it one day at a time and if you cant do that one minute at a time

SoulShine8

Stop drinking - that is certainly not going to hurt your liver scores.
I sympathize - I just went through a bunch of health related things after drinking for 35 years I am attempting sobriety. I took supplements which were okay with my physician (milk thistle) and drank lots of water. A stomach pill I was taking did make my liver test worse. Read up on meds and the liver - meds have to go through it. I was on anti-anxiety meds too. And had/still get anxiety attacks. I am trying to find ways to work through those without the meds. But that is me. Talk to your physician and figure out what is best for you.
Take a deep breath and deal with JUST the next thing you have to do. You will get through this one thing at a time.

Gottalife

I don't know about panic attacks while drinking, but I did get regular visits from the hideous four horsemen, terror, bewilderment, frustration and despair. Many alcholics relate to this.

FreeOwl

recovery from alcohol can help you with what you're struggling through.

sounds like alongside that, you will benefit from therapy and the supervision of a good doctor - at least for a while.

often, issues with anxiety and depression are hugely exacerbated by alcohol - even if at first they seemed to 'treat' them.

often, issues with anxiety and depression can be managed to a point that they no longer plague us or go into remission - or are at the very least tolerable and allow us to live full and even happy lives.

but - one thing is for certain; using alcohol as a coping or medicating strategy is a downward spiral and only serves to worsen anxiety, depression and other things.