Alcohol or anxiety?

[ThatGirlxxxxxxxx]

Well I thought I was the only one and I am so happy I started doing some research.
So I'm 25 years old, and have been drinking pretty heavily for the past 3 years (about 4-5 times a week) Recently though I have started having very bad side effects. I am a social worker so my job can be super stressful at times. The first incident that happened I was actually in a clients house and out of nowhere I started to feel extremely dizzy, light headed, and my heart rate was through the roof. I was able to get out of there (by making up an excuse) and went straight to the hospital. I felt so weird like I wasn't even myself and everything looked different too. The hospital did blood work, blood pressure, and a EKG. Everything came back fine, they also gave me an adivan to calm me down as I was freaking out. I felt fine for a little bit then 2 days ago it hit me again. I was also at work and this time I wasn't able to leave as quickly as I would've liked. It was really scary and I felt like I was going to faint. Went to the hospital, did the same tests, all clear. Now I am going back Friday to see a specialist and put on a heart monitor for 48 hours. It happened AGAIN this morning after drinking last night. I did not go to the hospital, instead I am at home laying down writing this thread trying to calm myself down. It is absolutely the worst feeling imaginable, I don't even feel like myself. It is interfering with everything now, my job, my realasionships, and I'm just starting to feel like I'm going to be this way forever. I don't know if this some sort of anxiety disorder I have developed or if it is strictly related to my drinking. I guess the only way to find out is to stop drinking and see how I feel durning that time. If it does happen again though, does that mean I need to be on anxiety medication? If so, I have heard very negative things about anxiety medication, basically that is it very addictive and not healthy. I have never taken any except that one day at the hospital when they have me an adivan which did seem to help at the time. I just want to feel normal again. But I guess all I can do is take it one day at a time and hope for the best. I appreciate everyone who has posted on here because I cannot express how alone and "crazy" I felt before reading all this. I know I'm not alone and I know that one day I will have this under control. For now I will try my best to follow up with all my Doctors appointments, and refrain from drinking until I figure out what is really going on.
I wish you all the best and hope we all get the answers we are looking for.

Sending you all peace and love.

[ibizan]

First of all you really need to examine the alcohol use and how its adversely affecting your life!Alcohol and any type of antidepressant and or anxiety RX do not mix!The benzodiazepines are habit forming!Unfortunately there are way too many doctors and NP's prescribing them despite this.So be responsible and vigilant @ your own health!I've been sober/clean for 33 years and am in the social work field!I've found many non-chemical ways to deal with stress!Please keep us posted @ what you decide to do!

[ThatGirlxxxxxxxx]

Thank you for writing back to me. I absolutely agre e with you about everything you said. I have stopped drinking until all this gets figured out and I understand what is really happening to me. I am just worried that even if I stop drinking I will still feel this, then a doctors response to me will be that I need to take anxiety medication which I do not want to do as I know how addictive it can be. I go tomorrow to get my 48 heart monitor and then have an appointment with my family doctor after, so I will see what she makes of all this as well. Last night I did some relaxing yoga and a small work out to try and calm my nerves. What do you do to deal with your stress? I am already an anxious person as it is and being in the social work field sometimes can really get my nerves going. If you don't mind sharing what has worked for you, I would really appreciate that.