Serious question

[schmalex]

I've been getting pretty bad anxiety lately, and I'm wondering if anybody knows if giving up alcohol is likely to help. I'm not really a massive drinker, but I do enjoy drinking on a night out. I'd probably average out to drinking once a week, anything from about 3-7 drinks(ish, I'm not really sure). Everything I find either says that being a heavy drinker can cause anxiety in the long run, or that alcohol isn't a long term fix for anxiety, or that hangovers can give you worse anxiety. I want to know whether giving up social drinking can help, even though I don't drink that much.

[vexx]

dont know about you but pretty sure for most people that alcohol is a temporary cure for anxiety, it's why a lot of people drink and why there are so many alcoholics. haha, it's acts for most as a relaxant, so it's not going to make you too anxious, especially not for many days after consuming..
everyone at the moment is very anxious, i personally cannot even work anymore because of stress and basically cant do anything. i try not to go out as much because i know how amazing alcohol is for stress, and how i will just get too drunk and won't stop until i pass out, etc.
it's just how it is, iin this horrible third term, absolutely horrible.

[ninwa]

Do you get anxious while drinking? Or does it just happen any time?

[schmalex]

It has no correlation to my drinking at all. Last weekend and the weekend before I didn't drink at all and last week I was just dreadful.

[Eriny]

It's hard to say. Sometimes mental health issues can be made worse through drinking and not getting good sleep and not eating well. But then again, clinical anxiety isn't necessary caused by these things. So, you might find that not drinking will help, but if you are suffering from clinical anxiety, it's not going to be enough and you should probably see a GP or someone at your school if you are worried.

Your feelings of anxiety could just be situational and normal though. If you're in the last year of high school, there are a lot of different pressures and its normal to feel overwhelmed. However, if your feelings of anxiety are beginning to interfere with your normal life, for instance, if you can't do your school work/job, then that probably indicates that something more serious is happening.

[schmalex]

Yeah, the school psychologist was pretty useless really. She was basically just like "oh you're just worried about school, it'll be okay don't worry so much" and then said to sleep well and be healthy. But I really don't think school is the main thing considering for most of the year I haven't really cared since I have guaranteed entry into my course of choice with a 90 and I've already got a 43.4 and 45.5 after scaling according to the ATAR calculator. Getting enough sleep is also easier said than done for obvious reasons. Basically, at this point I'm willing to try anything that could work, but at the same time I really like drinking and don't want to give it up if it won't help :S

[Hutchoo]

To overcome/lessen anxiety, have you tried something relaxing? (yoga/martial arts etc)
That always keeps me calm when im anxious/nervous or something. Try it.

[TrueLight]

well if you didn't drink and you still got anxious then its probably something else. is it really bad, does it become full blown panic attacks?
find out what is causing your anxiety... is it something in particular about school? also in what situations does it trigger etc... and then try and think of reasons why is it in those stituations you get anxious

but yeah relaxation methods are very good- try deep breathing etc...
sleeping correct times

[Glockmeister]

Yeah, the school psychologist was pretty useless really. She was basically just like "oh you're just worried about school, it'll be okay don't worry so much" and then said to sleep well and be healthy. But I really don't think school is the main thing considering for most of the year I haven't really cared since I have guaranteed entry into my course of choice with a 90 and I've already got a 43.4 and 45.5 after scaling according to the ATAR calculator. Getting enough sleep is also easier said than done for obvious reasons. Basically, at this point I'm willing to try anything that could work, but at the same time I really like drinking and don't want to give it up if it won't help :S

First of all, I echo the call made by Eriny - if you are generally concerned about this, then go see your GP or Psychologist.

But, you'd be surprised of the things that might not seem to stress you out, but in reality are.

In terms of the drinking, look it really depends what you're using the alcohol for. If you're using it as a way to dull the feelings so to speak then you've got a major problem and yes you do need to stop. If it's just social drinking (and by that I don't mean getting piss drunk every weekend), then I don't think it's much of a problem.

[TrueLight]

yep and also if you don't think your school psychologist is helping ... try find another private one via gp

[Hutchoo]

You can actually just book an appointment for a psychologist. You only need a referral from a GP if you want to see a psychiatrist.

[TrueLight]

yeah u can but if u get it from gp its subsidised it right for like 4 or 6 lessons right?

[Hutchoo]

Well, GP's can also diagnose people with a mental illness (depression for example) but they usually don't because they don't specialise in that field.
They use the DSM:IV for it.. But, psychologist is usually best for emotional problems and anxiety.. Unless you have schizophrenia or a mental illness that can be/needs to be treated via medicine .. Going to a psychiatrist isn't really essential.

@TrueLight - Not sure.

[TrueLight]

yep if its just anxiety psychologists trump psychiatrists... psychiatrists are there to give you drugs lol

[Hutchoo]

Yeah, pretty much I would highly recommend to do various things- start off with yoga/tai chi/something that relaxs you.. Stop drinking- eat healthier etc.. If that doesn't work.. Talk to the school psychologist, and if that doesn't work.. Go to a more "professional" psychologist outside of school.
Social drinking = Okay.
Drinking to get away from problems etc= Bad.