Alcohol & Health anxiety. Hello everyone!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2
Alcohol & Health anxiety. Hello everyone!
Not sure if this is where I start, but I’ll keep it short!
Ive had a crazy journey for the last two years from experimenting with drugs to drinking everyday. For the last year I’ve been dealing with health anxiety & pretty severe chronic pain. My brain feels like it isn’t functioning correctly & I feel as if I’m going to have a seizure or something. I think it’s what one would call depersonalization. I always have left arm pain & chest pain likely due to gerd but I think I’m dying no mater what the root cause is. My pain & anxiety get so severe that it’s a full blown panic attack all day sometimes. I guess what I’m asking is for advice.
I drink 6-8 light beers a day 4.2 apv. I know it’s not that much! But I want to quit & I know it isn’t helping me at all if anything it’s amplifying everything.
I’m aware I need to quit & I know I have a problem.
Here’s were things get super interesting & hopefully this makes sense! I’m so afraid of having a seizure or going through dt’s because of my health anxiety that I can’t seem to shake the habit of grabbing a beer & drinking it to make sure I won’t die. This leads to multiple beers consumed & thus turns into a terrible cycle. I’ve successfully tappered myself to 3 beers a night but I can’t get any further down! I absolutely 100% need & want to quit. Doctors aren’t much help I’m only 22 so nothing is wrong to them I feel like an old man on his last day of life almost everyday. My question is did anyone ever feel so bad at a young age from drinking so little I mean some kids at my college drink three times what I do & have hangovers not the feeling of death 24/7 like I do. Sorry for the long post. I’ve just turned to this site to hopefully get some advice on how to quit if it’s safe & if you share similar issues! Thank you!
Ive had a crazy journey for the last two years from experimenting with drugs to drinking everyday. For the last year I’ve been dealing with health anxiety & pretty severe chronic pain. My brain feels like it isn’t functioning correctly & I feel as if I’m going to have a seizure or something. I think it’s what one would call depersonalization. I always have left arm pain & chest pain likely due to gerd but I think I’m dying no mater what the root cause is. My pain & anxiety get so severe that it’s a full blown panic attack all day sometimes. I guess what I’m asking is for advice.
I drink 6-8 light beers a day 4.2 apv. I know it’s not that much! But I want to quit & I know it isn’t helping me at all if anything it’s amplifying everything.
I’m aware I need to quit & I know I have a problem.
Here’s were things get super interesting & hopefully this makes sense! I’m so afraid of having a seizure or going through dt’s because of my health anxiety that I can’t seem to shake the habit of grabbing a beer & drinking it to make sure I won’t die. This leads to multiple beers consumed & thus turns into a terrible cycle. I’ve successfully tappered myself to 3 beers a night but I can’t get any further down! I absolutely 100% need & want to quit. Doctors aren’t much help I’m only 22 so nothing is wrong to them I feel like an old man on his last day of life almost everyday. My question is did anyone ever feel so bad at a young age from drinking so little I mean some kids at my college drink three times what I do & have hangovers not the feeling of death 24/7 like I do. Sorry for the long post. I’ve just turned to this site to hopefully get some advice on how to quit if it’s safe & if you share similar issues! Thank you!
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
Hi welcome to SR . While we are here for support the rules are that we don't offer medical advice only our own experience .
Can you seek a second opinion from another doctor ?
In my experience stopping drinking was essential then dealing with the health anxiety .
I can relate to the vicious cycle ,it is common to use alcohol to get out of this panic feeling but as you know it doesn't help .
The way the doctors explained health anxiety to me holding one hand level with his chest area and the other above his head saying most people process pain and sensations down here ( at the lower area ) and people with health anxiety problems process away up here ( at the higher area ) .
For many people CBT which is a talking therapy is very helpful and for me having a complete check over and blood work done for peace of mind helped alot .
But ! and I repeat you must look at ways to stop the alcohol and drugs to break this vicious cycle . At 22 you are not going to die , Oh and did I mention you must stop drinking alcohol and drugs .
Wish you well .
Can you seek a second opinion from another doctor ?
In my experience stopping drinking was essential then dealing with the health anxiety .
I can relate to the vicious cycle ,it is common to use alcohol to get out of this panic feeling but as you know it doesn't help .
The way the doctors explained health anxiety to me holding one hand level with his chest area and the other above his head saying most people process pain and sensations down here ( at the lower area ) and people with health anxiety problems process away up here ( at the higher area ) .
For many people CBT which is a talking therapy is very helpful and for me having a complete check over and blood work done for peace of mind helped alot .
But ! and I repeat you must look at ways to stop the alcohol and drugs to break this vicious cycle . At 22 you are not going to die , Oh and did I mention you must stop drinking alcohol and drugs .
Wish you well .
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by Thomas59 
Hi welcome to SR . While we are here for support the rules are that we don't offer medical advice only our own experience .
Can you seek a second opinion from another doctor ?
In my experience stopping drinking was essential then dealing with the health anxiety .
I can relate to the vicious cycle ,it is common to use alcohol to get out of this panic feeling but as you know it doesn't help .
The way the doctors explained health anxiety to me holding one hand level with his chest area and the other above his head saying most people process pain and sensations down here ( at the lower area ) and people with health anxiety problems process away up here ( at the higher area ) .
For many people CBT which is a talking therapy is very helpful and for me having a complete check over and blood work done for peace of mind helped alot .
But ! and I repeat you must look at ways to stop the alcohol and drugs to break this vicious cycle . At 22 you are not going to die , Oh and did I mention you must stop drinking alcohol and drugs .
Wish you well .
Can you seek a second opinion from another doctor ?
In my experience stopping drinking was essential then dealing with the health anxiety .
I can relate to the vicious cycle ,it is common to use alcohol to get out of this panic feeling but as you know it doesn't help .
The way the doctors explained health anxiety to me holding one hand level with his chest area and the other above his head saying most people process pain and sensations down here ( at the lower area ) and people with health anxiety problems process away up here ( at the higher area ) .
For many people CBT which is a talking therapy is very helpful and for me having a complete check over and blood work done for peace of mind helped alot .
But ! and I repeat you must look at ways to stop the alcohol and drugs to break this vicious cycle . At 22 you are not going to die , Oh and did I mention you must stop drinking alcohol and drugs .
Wish you well .
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 874
I had similar anxiety. It was a terrible way to go through life. I worried about everything. It was almost debilitating. No more! When I stopped drinking, it was truely a miracle. It started to go away within a few days.
You need a better doctor who will take you seriously.
You need a better doctor who will take you seriously.
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