I’m trying to untangle my drinking and anxiety at the same time, and it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. I’ll drink to calm down, then feel more anxious the next day and convince myself I need another drink to take the edge off. It turns into this annoying loop.
I’ve been noticing that some of my anxiety feels worse after drinking, even when I’m not hungover. Sleep gets messed up, my thoughts race, and I start reading too much into every little thing. But when I try to cut back, the anxiety shows up before I even have a chance to distract myself.
I don’t want to treat the drinking like it’s completely separate from my mental health, but I also don’t want to use anxiety as an excuse to keep going. I’m trying to be honest about both instead of focusing only on whichever one feels more urgent that day.
Has anyone found a way to work on anxiety and drinking together without getting overwhelmed?
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@Linda_Jenkins, the way you’re noticing the anxiety can start before you even cut back seems really significant. That can make stopping feel like proof that alcohol is helping, even when it’s actually part of the cycle.
What helped me was bringing both pieces to the same doctor or therapist instead of trying to solve them separately. I’d also be careful about stopping suddenly if you drink heavily or daily, since withdrawal can be serious. A gradual plan with medical guidance, plus something ready for the first wave of anxiety, like a walk, a shower, or calling someone, feels more manageable than trying to white-knuckle the whole day.
@Linda_Jenkins, the part about sleep getting disrupted really stands out to me. Even when I didn’t feel hungover, poor sleep made my anxiety much louder and made drinking again seem like the easiest fix.
What helped was treating the first few days as a medical and support issue, not a test of willpower. I’d talk with a doctor before making a big change, especially if your drinking is daily or heavy, since withdrawal can be dangerous. Then I’d keep the plan small, like getting through the next hour with food, water, a shower, or a call instead of trying to solve everything at once.
Have you been able to tell a doctor how much you’re drinking and how quickly the anxiety returns when you cut back?