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Anxiety, Tinnitus, Headache, Numbness In Feet And Hands After Drinking Alcohol. What To Do?
Hi,
I have had this happen to me 3 times now in my lift. I am 28. Male. Healthy other than this.
When my life gets crazy and I drink heavily in a week period or so (wedding, christmas) something "snaps" in me. One day I will feel fine, and the next I wake up with:
Severe Anxiety
Severe Tinnitus
Racing Thoughts
"Pressure" Headache
Wake up in night with numb feet and/or hands
Hives all over my body
Loose 30+ pounds in a month
Forced eating
Major Depression seems to come after about 2 weeks of feeling all of this
I am currently on day 90 of feeling all these things. The Main lingering one now is depression, and extreme anxiety in the morning when I get up.
I BELIEVE that this is a dis-regulation in my HPA Axis. My MD just wants me to go on Antidepressants, my Nat. Path thinks I have inflamed my small intestine and have "leaky gut" which leads to HPA Axis "stuff".
It is interesting that in the early days of this, all three times it has happened to me, that I get a very distinct unfamiliar burning pain on either side of my spine (right where my adrenals would).
The first time is happened to me it lasted 9 months
The second it lasted about a month.
I am now almost at 3 months this time.
What can I do about this other than sit in agony as my life falls apart around me each time this happens. I know what my triggers are and how to avoid, just need help getting through this. (I am NOT an alcoholic by any stretch)
I have had this happen to me 3 times now in my lift. I am 28. Male. Healthy other than this.
When my life gets crazy and I drink heavily in a week period or so (wedding, christmas) something "snaps" in me. One day I will feel fine, and the next I wake up with:
Severe Anxiety
Severe Tinnitus
Racing Thoughts
"Pressure" Headache
Wake up in night with numb feet and/or hands
Hives all over my body
Loose 30+ pounds in a month
Forced eating
Major Depression seems to come after about 2 weeks of feeling all of this
I am currently on day 90 of feeling all these things. The Main lingering one now is depression, and extreme anxiety in the morning when I get up.
I BELIEVE that this is a dis-regulation in my HPA Axis. My MD just wants me to go on Antidepressants, my Nat. Path thinks I have inflamed my small intestine and have "leaky gut" which leads to HPA Axis "stuff".
It is interesting that in the early days of this, all three times it has happened to me, that I get a very distinct unfamiliar burning pain on either side of my spine (right where my adrenals would).
The first time is happened to me it lasted 9 months
The second it lasted about a month.
I am now almost at 3 months this time.
What can I do about this other than sit in agony as my life falls apart around me each time this happens. I know what my triggers are and how to avoid, just need help getting through this. (I am NOT an alcoholic by any stretch)
Wed, 23 Oct 2013
Hi,
It appears that you are suffering from alcohol related mood disorder, depressive type, that is brought on by the withdrawal from a heavy bout of drinking. For withdrawal to occur, you need not be an "alcoholic". Any person indulging in a bout of heavy drinking is likely to have withdrawal symptoms afterwards, which is called "hangover" in common parlance. In your case, it precipitates a depressive episode. HPA axis dysfunction is common in depression from all causes. I agree with your doctor in recommending anti-depressants, preferably of the SSRI class (escitalopram, sertraline etc). These are safe and effective medicines and can also correct the HPA axis dysfunction seen in depression. You should avoid heavy drinking in future.
Hope this helps you. Best wishes.
It appears that you are suffering from alcohol related mood disorder, depressive type, that is brought on by the withdrawal from a heavy bout of drinking. For withdrawal to occur, you need not be an "alcoholic". Any person indulging in a bout of heavy drinking is likely to have withdrawal symptoms afterwards, which is called "hangover" in common parlance. In your case, it precipitates a depressive episode. HPA axis dysfunction is common in depression from all causes. I agree with your doctor in recommending anti-depressants, preferably of the SSRI class (escitalopram, sertraline etc). These are safe and effective medicines and can also correct the HPA axis dysfunction seen in depression. You should avoid heavy drinking in future.
Hope this helps you. Best wishes.
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