Join a Community That Understands You

Get answers from those who share your health journey

Left Image 1Middle Image 1Right Image 1
avatar

AnxiousAl

Updated 1y ago

Struggling with Alcoholism and Intense Anxiety

I was a bit of a alcoholic for years I finally stopped drinking February of 2022 it seems like this has made my anxiety even more intense .my quality of life is horrible what can I do ? I wake up nauseous I complained to doctors they find nothing at all what is it that’s causing these symptoms

Can you help? Connect today

Your Alikes say
AI-generated answer based on the text from previous posts and comments

One possible reason for your increased anxiety after stopping drinking could be withdrawal symptoms or your body adjusting to the absence of alcohol. It's important to consult with a healthcare profes...See More

avatar

LoneStar

1y

Anxiety and stress can take hundreds of different forms in your body. I have suffered from panic attacks for 20 years and every time I think I have a handle on it it changes, sometimes it's shortness of breath other times it's chest pains sometimes it's nauseous feeling sick it's always good to check with the doctor to make sure you don't have anything physically wrong with you but as long as you got a clean bill of physical health you need to focus on your mental health
avatar

AnxiousAl

1y

it always feels like it’s physical but it just may be mental i need a damn mentor 🥲
avatar

Utahperson

1y

I have found nic o tine candy pills. O t c help with moods. No burning. No poi sons added.
avatar

Betynka

1y

I get A LOT of physical symptoms when I'm both stressed and anxious, so it is very likely to be that (including going to the emergency room, only to be told I have anxiety). The best thing to do is try to relax more often. The best things I've found are staying off your phone (social media and things like true crime or fast games that increase your heart rate can be a trigger), meditating at least once a day (even if it doesn't feel like it works), taking baths, and doing overall relaxing tasks can really help. Also there's a really strong connection between the stomach and anxiety, so make sure you're eating as best you can, and if you can't, you're drinking plenty of water, eating regularly and taking ant acids if you need them
avatar

PhoenixA

1y

If you were using alcohol to numb your anxiety as I did, the withdrawal will be both physical and psychological. The mental side takes longer because it takes a while to remember how to fully walk without the crutch. Heightened anxiety can definitely cause intense nausea for many. Mine gets so bad sometimes that I actually can't eat without medication assisting because I'll have trouble swallowing from the nausea or just won't get hungry. Talk to your physical doctor about what they could prescribe if your nausea is anxiety related. If you have a psychiatrist, talk about different meds or doses for anxiety. But honestly what helped me more than anything (and I still drink small amounts so keep in mind I am not fully crutch free) was a really awesome therapist who was like a hundred years old but an awesome, active listener, related to what I had to say, and offered suggestions on mental tricks I could try. This specific therapist was also a recovered alcoholic. So he understood more fully my specific journey with self medicating. They also put me on mirtazapine through my regular provider. It basically makes me so hungry that it fights through the nausea, then once I'm completely full, I get very tired, natural feeling tired, and I sleep very deep as long as my body needs it. Sometimes 5 hours is enough, other times I need 12. But whenever I'm ready and it's time to actually get up, I feel fully awake. So i never feel "drugged". If you look into that route, know it's likely you will gain weight. But if you are nauseous enough to be skipping meals, that'll probably be a good thing. *I take nothing else for the anxiety, no psychological pills at all. Anxiety feels mostly manageable, and before mirtazapine it was so bad that I was borderline agoraphobic for almost 10 years. And a lifelong insomniac. So this one medication proved to be the exact right one for me personally, and quality of life improved almost biblically!
avatar

penguinfrend

1y

Depending on when you stopped in February, and how long you had been drinking for, this is still likely your body getting used to going without. I would give it 3 months before deciding if it's worth staying sober. It gets better
avatar

AnxiousAl

1y

no I stopped in February of last year and still getting symptoms is crazy

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

feed-footer-0

Free unlimited access

to all community content

feed-footer-1

Find others who are

medically similar to you

feed-footer-2

Pose questions and join

meaningful discussions

pp-logo

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

appStoreBtngooglePlayBtn

© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc