Are Panic Attacks And Drinking Alcohol Related?

Do you suffer from panic attacks or have a drinking problem? Anxiety attacks and alcohol may be related.

For years after drinking, I would suffer from panic attacks, alcohol related it seemed. I could never figure out why this was, but the attacks were debilitating. The more I drank, the worse off I would be the next morning, and the panic attacks alcohol brought about began seriously affecting my enjoyment of life.

Many People Suffer From Panic Attacks Related To Alcohol

It turns out I’m not alone. Millions of people out there suffer from alcohol-related panic attacks and are looking for an answer and a solution. A doctor at MedHelp.org gave the following advice:

A panic disorder with agoraphobia attack is a brief period of intense fear or discomfort that comes on suddenly and usually it is accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, abdominal distress, dizziness, fear of losing control or going crazy or fear of dying. Panic attacks occur in many different situations and for different reasons. It is important to note that these symptoms can be confused with medical illness so physical problems should be ruled out. When people have recurrent panic attacks with anticipatory anxiety and phobic avoidance this may represent panic disorder.

What Is The “Panic Attacks & Alcohol” Relationship?

The relationship between alcohol and panic attacks can be tricky. Sometimes alcohol can be a trigger for panic or anxiety, just like many people say pot can cause paranoia. But, for other folks, the anxiety and panic attack problems may come first, and they are using alcohol as a way to self-medicate and try to get rid of the panicky feelings. but sometimes people use alcohol to treat anxiety. In that case, I recommend that you discontinue drinking alcohol as there appears to be some link. If you find it difficult to quit drinking, there may be a question of whether you have a problem with alcohol.

Addiction is a nasty word, but it’s much braver to address an alcohol addiction with alcohol treatments or going to a rehab center or AA group then to ignore it. In any event, you should have a physical exam to rule out medical illness and if your problem persist without explanation, you should be evaluated further by a psychiatrist.

This may seem rather alarmist, but when it comes to your health, it pays to be cautious. Both alcohol addiction and panic or anxiety disorders can be treated with medication, therapy, and other types of treatments. Don’t continue to suffer – get help.

The Body-Brain Link Behind Panic Attacks And Alcohol

It’s important to know that there’s a physiological reason for panic attacks alcohol related. When you drink alcohol, you deplete your body’s stores of vitamin B, B-12 and several other related vitamins. These are vitamins that regulate your mood to some extent. In other words, when you engage in heavy drinking, you’re eliminating an important vitamin in your body which helps regulate your mood and reduce your chances of having a panic attack.

The way to solve the problem of imbalance in your body is simple: Either drink alcohol that’s loaded with vitamin B (unfiltered beer is one example; anything mixed with Red Bull is another), or just pop a vitamin B supplement before bedtime with those two aspirin and pint of water that I know you already slam to avoid a hangover.

If that doesn’t work, then yes, you should either stop drinking or see a doctor or both. But chances are it will work, and you can go back to drinking responsibly while reducing your chances for having a panic attack as a result.

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