New Member - Anxiety getting worse

[AlySeattle]

This is my first time visiting this website, or posting on ANY anxiety related forum to be honest. I'm 25 and trying to deal with my anxiety, but it's getting very frusterating. I've realized that I've had this my entire life, but it shows itself in different ways as I get older. When I was younger it was always induced by public speaking, or drinking coffee or energy drinks. I would get bright red while talking to people... I know that seems very minor but it's so embarrassing! Then I couldn't stop picking at my skin, and hair (seems wierd I know). That went away and now I seems to be developing a social anxiety that I've never had before! I love social interactions but then randomnly I get panicky and feel faint. I don't want to leave the house sometimes. I know that's not healthy, so I do leave the house and go about my life but I have anxiety about having an anxiety attack while I'm out. I worry about everything constantly and it's exhausting. I feel like its all in my head, but sometimes I even feel sick... it's taking a toll on my body.

I have a perscription for .5mg Xanax which I take a couple days a week. usually I only take .25 mg and that seems to help. I DO NOT want to develop a dependancy for this so I'm trying not to take it very often. My doctor seems to think if I only take it a few times a week thats reasonable. Does anyone have experience with this?

The one thing I know makes my anxiety worse is drinking alcohol... funny because it seems to help while drinking it, but the next day I'm a mess. I don't binge drink all the time, but I do have at least 1 or 2 a day. I know this isn't healthy, so that's why I've decided to go a week without drinking and see if my anxiety gets better. I know it will, but I hope I'll feel so much better I'll cut drinking way down. Does anyone else experience bad anxiety the day after drinking?

I know this is kind of a rambling mess, but I'm a little confused about why my anxiety seems to change forms over the years.

[marmaladesreturn]

Hi AlySeatle,

Yeah, I'm the same with alcohol and anxiety. I've actually stopped drinking altogether and only drink 1-2 glasses of wine on special occasions. This usually equates to about once every 2 months. Its funny, I used to enjoy drinking (even binge drinking) and thought that it was horrible that anxiety was affected by alcohol (I thought the world was a very cruel place). But, the funny thing is that I have found that by not drinking my mind is healthy and my body is feeling a lot better for it.

Some friends won't understand why your not drinking, but thats cool - unless you have anxiety it hard for other people to understand. The offshoot of not drinking is that you also save money and you start living more healthier.

The best thing I have found is the more you look after yourself (the kinder you are to your body), the less severe the anxiety is. :)

[KevGuy]

Since my anxiety has returned, i have stopped drinking. I was never much of a drinker, maybe a beer or two a month. Now i drink no alcohol at all.

[Marlow]

Yea, I drank during my sisters grad party so i woulden't freek out (before getting prescribed) The next couple of days where the worst days of my life. Im on some anxiety meds now and trying to progress a bit

[Jenny]

Yes i also find that i had almost no anxiety but then after a weekend of drinking the week after that is really bad with anxiety hypervetilation exc!!!!

[AlySeattle]

It sounds like most of you can relate! I've been trying to take better care of myself which includes cutting down on alcohol and eating better in general. I feel better this week, but we all know how that can change in a heartbeat. Thanks for all the helpful advice! I'm feeling very optimistic right now that things will continue to get better.