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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Over Dependance On Alcohol Cause Anxiety, Panic Attacks And Pounding Heart?

just recently, past year, ive noticed i get panic attacks at work i.e extreme anxiety, need to go to the toilet when i dont, cold shiver in the evening, pounding heartbeat that keeps me awake at night(its been off beat since i can remember, like sleep apnea, i stop breathing for upto 5 minutes) is this related to alcohol,seriously, or is it something more serious? i have recently decided im dependent on alcohol in the evening, i have no urge before 5pm but after it's like a timebomb, drink before 8pm and im fine, i do not socially drink, but used to, and drank heavier back then i.e 13pints 562ml per pint per night, now its more like 5-6 pints, but things have got worse????? urge has got more prominent, i even had a t.i.a back in 2008 luckily my eldest got me home from london 150 miles away, it was like someone unplugged me (fuzzy white noise TV, with a kinda burning odd feeling in my head)then re-plugged me the wrong way (temporarly 3-4 days, i lost speech, balance,have developed an issue with writing certain letters, such as N and S (i need a cray computer to write an N, loose all feeling in my fingers every now then). is it the alcohol or is it something underlying, im not wanting a lecture on alcohol consumption, im very fearful of doctors/nurses, my loss of dignity,purity and respect, i know what there like, i worked with them in A&E/ER, brainy they be, IQ and no EQ, empathy/sympathy/compassion, escapes them, truth! but since this is anonymous, look at the symtoms before i mentioned alcohol an after, their relation.
Mon, 2 Mar 2015
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to Health Care Magic.
I understand your concern.
Here I am not going to give you any lecture about you alcohol habits. You are well aware that you have strong craving for alcohol and you need to drink on daily basis. A psychiatrist does not treat alcoholism rather he treats a person. Our first concern is to motivate the person to accept that he needs to change the habit of drinking and to cut a regular need of alcohol to get things going in life.
In second step we give education about the various metabolic and harmful effect of alcohol on body, mind, social relationship, occupation and finance.
Finally when the person shows motivation about quitting alcohol, we extend our help in the form of de-addiction therapy, psychotherapy and anticraving drugs.
In your case as you say you are aware of your problem, you claim to know enough about the various effects of alcohol on body and mind. But will you mind educating you little more?
Alcohol first and foremost act on brain even before liver and cardiovascular system (as you experience effects on brain in the form of euphoria, dis-inhibition, sedation etc soon after consuming alcohol). Alcohol is a potent neurotoxic substance which causes neuronal damage even at smallest amount. Researchers have proved that chronic alcohol intake may cause “atherosclerosis” in arteries leading to heart attack, kidney failure, stroke or TIA as in your case. If a person consumes alcohol in substantial amount for more than 10 years, it causes several mental illnesses like psychosis, depression, anxiety and panic disorders.
The symptoms you are suffering at present like frequent periodic extreme anxiety of short duration, palpitation, pounding heart, shivering, sweating, breathlessness and insomnia at night point towards possible withdrawal effects (due to which you might have resorted to relief pattern of drinking) and onset of panic disorder because of prolonged alcohol use.
Definitely at this point of time you do not need lecture, but actual help from a good psychiatrist who may help you to find out a better life without alcohol.
I wish you all the best.
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Does Over Dependance On Alcohol Cause Anxiety, Panic Attacks And Pounding Heart?

Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic. I understand your concern. Here I am not going to give you any lecture about you alcohol habits. You are well aware that you have strong craving for alcohol and you need to drink on daily basis. A psychiatrist does not treat alcoholism rather he treats a person. Our first concern is to motivate the person to accept that he needs to change the habit of drinking and to cut a regular need of alcohol to get things going in life. In second step we give education about the various metabolic and harmful effect of alcohol on body, mind, social relationship, occupation and finance. Finally when the person shows motivation about quitting alcohol, we extend our help in the form of de-addiction therapy, psychotherapy and anticraving drugs. In your case as you say you are aware of your problem, you claim to know enough about the various effects of alcohol on body and mind. But will you mind educating you little more? Alcohol first and foremost act on brain even before liver and cardiovascular system (as you experience effects on brain in the form of euphoria, dis-inhibition, sedation etc soon after consuming alcohol). Alcohol is a potent neurotoxic substance which causes neuronal damage even at smallest amount. Researchers have proved that chronic alcohol intake may cause “atherosclerosis” in arteries leading to heart attack, kidney failure, stroke or TIA as in your case. If a person consumes alcohol in substantial amount for more than 10 years, it causes several mental illnesses like psychosis, depression, anxiety and panic disorders. The symptoms you are suffering at present like frequent periodic extreme anxiety of short duration, palpitation, pounding heart, shivering, sweating, breathlessness and insomnia at night point towards possible withdrawal effects (due to which you might have resorted to relief pattern of drinking) and onset of panic disorder because of prolonged alcohol use. Definitely at this point of time you do not need lecture, but actual help from a good psychiatrist who may help you to find out a better life without alcohol. I wish you all the best.