does the anxiaty from drinking ever go away?

[lintlicker21]

i wont bore you with too much but basically i was drinking 100 beer's a week yeah i know thats really bad it's all i lived for while i was drinking i developed anxiaty i quit drinking honestly because of the anxiaty it was so horriable i did it all work out -  stop drinking - eat right but still the anxiaty remains it's so bad i cant work or hang out with friends it started while i was drinking so i don't know if i had this coming or it was the beer either way i take xanax for the anxiaty some people say that's bad well they probably never had severe anxiaty if not take my word for it it's a bi*ch i cant sleep and it's been 5 month's when will i ever get better?

[stutterheart]

Dito to the first case. It took me about 6 months of not drinking, of seeing a psychaiatrist and sorting out some very simple yet real problems, developing some coping mechanisms like putting aside 30 minutes a day to relax and contemplate things, and of taking anxiety meds. Additionally, I think the thing that really worked for me was benzodiazapine. It's a narcotic grade 'chill pill' and not recommended for those with substance abuse problems but for me, when I was really in a mental jam, taking one would relieve so much stress that I could clear my slate and go another few weeks with the anxiety building up again until another breaking point. The burden becomes easier to bear and the reliance on benzos subsideds from 3 times a week to 1 time a month.
That's my story at least. Probably bad advice for some of us here.

[Clarkos]

Hi, I've taken to the gym as a way of controlling my alcohol related anxiety and as a bonus lost 25 killos of body fat although i still drink, (red wine 13.5%) 1 to 3 three ltr casks per week. That's a lot of alcohol. I think incremental reduction is another good way way of controlling the anxiety. Stopping cold turkey could be dangerous, but reducing by a can or two per week allows the body to readjust without to much cravings and anxiety. At one point i was drinking a cask over a 7 day period, now I'm back to 1 - 3 per week.

[boogieman]

so glad you're still doing well. it has its ups and downs, but you sound like you're off to a good start!    take care,   gm

[TJack]

I have had one awful night.  Anxiety big time.  I prayed through and deep breathed alot.
It is so discouraging.   Got probably 3 hours total of sleep.  Someone mentioned B vitamins and i do take all of those and even b 12 shots.  Will see a doc today one way or another.   Oh just to be normal again.  I never knew how great it was.  And so how goes it for all of you?  Lint,  are you any better?  TJ

[TJack]

I really don't even think a drink would help and nor do i want one. So maybe that part is the naltraxadone?  thanks. tj

[TJack]

I feel for you Lint, as i am in your shoes right now.  This anxiety won't go away.  My Doc is out of office today and i need something.  I just hate to go to urgent care.  But it was worse going to the hospital at 2:30 the other morning.  The ER doc gave me a script for 15 adivan and i should have seen my doc Yesterday to get a script but thought i could get by without and now i am a mess.  It is almost unbearable.  The naltraxodone isn't doing anything.  Boogie i will be at  a meeting tomorrow night and get back in to my therapist soon.  But, right now i need a bandaid to get through this.
Hang in there lint, TJ

[Jacker]

Sometimes it takes awhile to find a medication that works for you.  My wife is bi-polar and she had to try several mixtures of meds before settling on the right combo.

A couple of other questons - do you have high blood pressure?  If so, treat it!  It will help the anxiety.

Do you exercise? If not, start doing it.  That really helps take the edge off.

Finally, make sure you stay away from caffiene.  

Alcohol & genes gave me high BP and I take some medication for it.  I noticed a difference within a week.  

[billgonz1]

Zanax Is alcohol in pill form . What you need is a good B- complex vitamin . It  can take up to 2 years to heal nerve damage . If you went to far it may not heal . Plus it can become a learned behavior . My Doc told me Centrum Silver . I would not take Benzos less i had to it will slow down your body recovering . Bill

[ibizan]

Boggie as always giving good advice......i see xanax causing cross addiction factors for alcs/addicts.....what truly works and we have been practicing it for many 24 hours.....change the ppl places and things that got us loaded....and have a sober/clean support system......be it 12 step church or whatever will work best for u.

[boogieman]

like i said, these types of disorders often respond best when treated with multiple therapies. the xanax will probably remain effective only for treating acute symptoms. there are other antianxiety meds available that are not antidepressants as well. best wishes, gm

[lintlicker21]

thanks for the reply my doctor doesn't want me on anti-depresants so i just take xanax so do you think it will go away

[boogieman]

hi. anxiety based disorders frequently appear as a result of heavy alcohol intake, but the solution to them often requires more than pharmaceutical therapy. do you consider yourself to be an alcoholic? if you are, you have a condition that can't be treated with just medication. i suffer from alcohol and opiate based chemical dependency, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. i'm on a few different medications for these but i also attend aa meetings and see a therapist on a regular basis. it takes all of these to control my symptoms, and some days are still very difficult. xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which are good for treating anxiety in some folks, but are risky with people who have chemical dependency issues, as they have a high potential for abuse. i would recommend trying aa or other support group in your area (it may be stressful at first around people you don't know, but it will improve in time), or even 1 to 1 therapy. you may also want to consider a different antianxiety med that works more on the underlying neurological imbalances as opposed to something fast acting. your doctor would be the best person to talk with about this. hope this helps,  gm