Very often, patients in their memories of the details of the first attack of a panic attack find a connection with the consumption of a significant amount of alcohol. Indeed! Alcohol dependence and abuse of alcoholic beverages is one of the most common triggers that provoke the development of panic attacks.
Thus, the assumption that alcohol alleviates anxiety, helps cope with stress, and is a sedative and hypnotic is fundamentally incorrect.
Rare and moderate consumption of good quality alcoholic beverages can temporarily improve mood and relieve stress symptoms, but with regular use it can have a radically opposite effect: namely, provoke the development of persistent withdrawal syndrome and post-alcohol depression, which are together one of the dominant factors provoking the development of panic. attacks.
Why do alcohol cause panic attacks? It is important to note that alcohol itself, as such, is not the underlying trigger for a panic attack, unlike poor health caused by excessive consumption of strong drinks.
Alcohol poisoning is far from a rare phenomenon, and in the case of a stressful state, against the backdrop of a situation favorable for the development of a panic attack, withdrawal syndrome, or more simply put, a “hangover”, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, headaches, vegetative-vascular dystonia and general energy and emotional decline can easily trigger the development of a neurotic syndrome and a panic attack.
In order to consider in more detail the issue of prevention and treatment of panic attacks, let's remember their main symptoms.
What are panic attacks
Panic attacks are a very scary psychological disease in which uncontrollable panic attacks occur without any particular reason.
But many people who suffer from such disorders do not really understand that this panic can be controlled and treated. People often have a very difficult time when such disorders arise, but they do not turn to specialists who are ready to provide them with some help. There are quite a lot of reasons here. One of these reasons is the lack of special information about such a disease.
Many people think that panic attacks cannot be cured or, on the contrary, are afraid that treatment by a psychiatrist will negatively affect their social status. Some try to get rid of this disease at home. But few people know the true nature of panic attacks.
Content:
- Pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of anxiety after binge drinking: 1.1. Withdrawal and anxiety.
- What is the danger of anxiety after binge drinking?
- How to get rid of emotional discomfort.
A multi-day alcoholic excess is accompanied by extremely severe complications from almost all organs and systems. An attempt to suddenly quit drinking is accompanied not only by physical, but also by emotional discomfort. Anxiety after binge drinking is an integral symptom of withdrawal symptoms. But if at the initial stages of binge drinking a person can cope with such a condition on his own (albeit not without difficulty), already at the third stage of alcoholism professional help is required due to the risk of severe complications.
Causes and factors in the formation of a panic attack
Such attacks appear as a result of vegetative-vascular dystonia. Or similar attacks can occur after stressful situations that have happened to a person.
A panic attack can be triggered by taking certain medications or stimulants, ranging from caffeine to strong central nervous system stimulants. And finally, panic disorder may be one of the manifestations of depression.
Why does anxiety occur?
A feeling of anxiety appears when drinking alcohol or due to a hangover. The cause of a panic attack, as well as unreasonable fears, is ethanol, which is part of alcoholic beverages. Once in the body, it quickly spreads through the blood vessels and gains access to the internal organs.
The psychotropic substance ethanol has a destructive effect on the health of the nervous system, undermining its functioning. When a small dose of this substance is taken, ethanol provokes the release of dopamine, which causes a feeling of overexcitation and euphoria. In the case of frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, ethanol depresses the nervous system, replacing the feeling of euphoria with regular obsessive thoughts, hysterics, sadness, and a feeling of uselessness. This reaction provokes a decrease in glucose in the blood of the alcohol addict. The condition negatively affects the general condition of a person, causing lethargy, fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased concentration, and short temper.
What does a seizure look like?
A panic attack is a rather sharp attack of fear, which can be characterized by completely different symptoms until the deterioration of well-being. Attacks occur very unexpectedly, and under the most normal conditions for a person. That is, in order for a panic attack to occur, there is no need to go to any special place. This situation can make a person’s condition much worse, and the person often begins to feel as if he is defenseless against any attack. During such an attack, a person may begin to choke, experience sudden movements, and be nervous. He constantly worries that this attack will return to him again.
What is primary in the occurrence of anxiety-depressive syndrome – depression or alcoholism?
In this couple of diseases, it is difficult to determine what was the root cause - depression or alcoholism. Their cause-and-effect relationship is often implicit. It all depends on the specific case. Quite often, a person in a stressful situation reaches for a glass of alcohol as a lifeline. Stress can be caused by various circumstances - conflicts at work and in the family, loss of income, death of loved ones, social problems and even a simple quarrel in transport. The more unexpected the negative event, the stronger the stress state it causes.
On the other hand, it is known that chronic alcoholism causes a failure of the “stress” system, similar to depressive states with increased release of corticotropin and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. It is corticotropin that is responsible for increasing the formation of cortisol in the adrenal glands, which is responsible for loss of appetite, the emergence of a subjective feeling of anxiety, immunosuppression and increased inflammatory reactions. These changes prolong depression after alcohol abstinence for up to four weeks. When alcoholism and depression are combined, the risk of their occurrence doubles, and long-term use of large doses of ethanol increases the risk of developing depression, suicide attempts and anxiety by 40%.
By the way, a huge role in the development of depression and alcohol addiction belongs to the common hereditary factor. It is responsible for 35-60% of the occurrence of these diseases.
Acupuncture treatment is an effective way to get rid of alcohol addiction in the early stages of the disease.
How to quickly eliminate an attack
The following rules will help you cope with this attack:
Correct breathing and its normalization
When a person feels fear, his breathing becomes faster and more oxygen enters the blood. The gas balance becomes disturbed, which can lead to hyperventilation.
The person feels like he doesn't have enough air. But during panic attacks, on the contrary, the oxygen content increases by about 40%. Here the main task will be to make the oxygen supply much smaller. In this case, the person needs to use the bag to breathe into it. Thus, reducing the flow of air into the body. It is worth breathing into it until the person’s condition returns to normal. But if it so happens that the package is not nearby, then you can simply press your palm tightly to your mouth and nose and breathe while doing so.
Businessman holding paper bag over mouth as if having a panic attack
Activating your senses will also help.
When we give the brain certain information from different organs of perception. There is a way to switch the brain to process this signal so that the fear disappears on its own.
In this case, a much simpler option would be to use the sense of touch. For example, if you feel panic overtaking you again, just pinch yourself. You can also wear an elastic band on your arm. And in the event that PA overwhelms you again, pull back this rubber band to get a click and a sign that the brain needs to switch from this fear to something more pleasant. Washing with cold water can also help in this situation.
It is important to control your movements
During experiences, a person may experience repetitive movements that he makes completely unconsciously, and may even experience numbness. This reaction will definitely not allow the patient to get out of this state.
It is important to return control to the body. To do this, it is necessary to focus your attention on the muscles of the legs and arms, and also gradually make your movements smooth.
Another way is to try to switch your attention from the internal to the external environment.
Often experiencing panic attacks, a person can withdraw within himself, and then various symptoms begin to appear. The fear begins to become stronger. But if the brain can focus on something outside, then it will become much easier for the patient. For example, start counting cars on the street or people passing by. There can really be a lot of ways. You can also call a friend or even chat with a stranger.
Short-term memory loss
Taking large doses of alcohol can impair clarity of consciousness and a person may experience memory loss. Short-term amnesia after sobering up causes anxiety or fear in some people. Some experience anxiety until, on their own or with the help of drinking buddies, they reconstruct the series of events that happened the day before.
Some people, under the influence of alcohol, begin to behave strangely. They become completely inadequate. But some people can't remember this. After the alcoholic intoxication wears off, they are horrified by the realization that a series of ridiculous incidents are their doing. In addition, a person begins to be tormented by shame in front of loved ones for his actions and regret that nothing can be corrected now.
Help from a psychotherapist during attacks
To eliminate such panic attacks, psychotherapy is divided into:
- Directive - one that really requires the presence of a leader or simply a guide.
- Psychotherapy can also be non-directive - which is used when working with educated people.
In psychotherapy, specialists begin to analyze in detail the situation of anxiety. They also help to sort out all situations so that the patient can cope with them independently. He just has to show that he can get rid of any panic attack. Everything is in his hands.
And also in the process of all psychotherapy, it is quite important that there is interpersonal contact between the patient and the doctor.
Hangover anxiety. How to get rid
Since anxiety, like fear, are characteristic signs of poisoning, they should be dealt with by means of detoxifying the body.
Replenishing the lack of water and minerals
Severe diuresis and impaired salt balance are a consequence of poisoning . Therefore, if you have a hangover, you need to drink more fluids. Suitable:
- fruit drink,
- herbal decoctions or infusions,
- green or black tea,
- ayran or tan or other fermented milk drinks.
Treating like with like and eliminating a hangover by drinking alcohol is strictly contraindicated.
Taking vitamin and mineral complexes will help. Vitamins C and group B will help well, as they speed up metabolism and tissue regeneration and the removal of toxins. If necessary, you should try to administer thiamine intramuscularly. Aspirin or Alko-Seltzer will help you cope with a hangover.
During treatment, you should always remember about contraindications and chronic diseases. A contrast shower helps eliminate anxiety and restlessness. If a person has diseases of the cardiovascular system, then a contrast shower will have to be abandoned.
When answering the question of how to relieve anxiety from a hangover, do not forget about folk remedies. They also help improve the condition and eliminate poisoning.
Over time, the body will cope with the poisoning itself. He needs help with this. For example, through a balanced diet. Vegetable soup or chicken broth works well.
Taking medications
Of course, we have already mentioned that panic attacks can also be treated with various medications.
This type of treatment often requires that the patient begins treatment only on the recommendation of a doctor. And nothing else.
Drugs that help relieve a patient from panic attacks can be divided into 5 general groups:
- Sedatives;
- Anxiolytics;
- Antidepressants;
- Neuroleptic drugs;
- Nootropics.
Breathing exercises during an attack
You can get rid of a panic attack using diaphragmatic breathing.
This exercise is performed according to the following algorithm:
You need to relax thoroughly and start breathing through the diaphragm. To do this, you need to place your hand on your stomach in order to fully begin to control the entire process. It is worth inhaling air for 3-4 counts, and holding it for approximately 2 counts. And you need to exhale air in approximately 6 counts, and rather slowly.
It is also necessary to focus on relaxing the body, while it is important to leave all thoughts alone. It is also important to repeat this pace for 10-15 minutes.
This exercise can be performed in addition to home, also on the street, in a store or in any other place.
Mental components of hangover anxiety
Why can a person develop feelings of anxiety after drinking alcohol? psychological may come into play . Fear can intensify if a person tries to solve the problems of ordinary life with the help of alcohol or drinks to escape from them.
But alcohol will not help solve problems. On the contrary, the neglected situation will only worsen. Plus, a person will experience fear from a hangover and panic if he remembers his problems.
Application of auto-training
In a short time you can get rid of panic attacks using auto-training. Auto-training will help the patient feel safe; it will also be possible to convince him that nothing is happening around him and there is no reason to worry.
Autotraining operates on the principle of hypnosis, helping a person to suggest what he needs to understand. So, thanks to auto-training, you can get a positive result from this procedure and, finally, get rid of harmful panic attacks.
Medicines
There are no medications that can completely get rid of attacks. You should not take painkillers, antivirals or other medications and think that they will relieve a person from attacks. Seizures are not a disease and cannot be cured by taking a pill.
There are medications that can suppress anxiety, reducing the symptoms of panic. You can use folk remedies - soothing decoctions of medicinal herbs.
You can take medications only under the supervision of a doctor - a neurologist or psychotherapist.
The list of medications that a doctor can prescribe includes:
- sedative (based on plant components - valerian, motherwort),
- a tranquilizer, anxiolytic or a synthetic broad-spectrum agent (phenazepam, afobazole, seduxen).
But addiction to medications quickly develops. The doctor may prescribe an adrenergic blocker. But all these remedies are not a panacea. They don't always help. Rather, they are designed to save others from possible manifestations of unmotivated aggressiveness on the part of people susceptible to attacks. Medicines help keep the patient either in a state of semi-asleep or in a very relaxed state. At the same time, the person is conscious. The fear of not being able to gather oneself and physically respond to an ever-increasing threat can only intensify the manifestation of panic.
Medicines can only be taken in a state of absolute sobriety. Otherwise, the combination of alcohol and sedatives may cause unpredictable reactions. To the point where the person falls into a coma.
Can you drink alcohol during panic attacks?
Of course, alcohol can help get rid of the fear of a panic attack, but it can only drown out this fear for a while, and will not completely get rid of this problem. Therefore, in this case, it is better not to get used to drinking alcohol at all, because you can easily turn from getting rid of panic attacks to alcoholism. So, trying to get rid of panic attacks, a person will suffer from drinking alcohol. Therefore, it is advisable to treat attacks without drinking alcohol. After all, this is only a delusion or a muffling of fear, but not a complete deliverance from it.
Symptoms
The degree of anxiety and fear that arises from a hangover depends on:
- on the amount of alcohol consumed,
- his fortresses
- the presence of fusel oils and other toxic impurities,
- the person’s health status and the time that has passed since the last time he drank alcohol.
Women, having a different constitution and lower body weight and subject to longer breakdown of alcohols, suffer more from feelings of anxiety or fear.
Along with severe fear, almost every person experiences panic attacks . Their signs are:
- increased heart rate,
- accelerated breathing,
- severe fatigue and desire to fall asleep immediately,
- trembling and weakness in the arms and legs,
- bouts of sweating,
- frequent urination,
- feeling of horror
- auditory and visual visions of a threatening or frightening nature.
Not everyone experiences such symptoms. And hallucinations occur only in alcoholics who try to overcome a hangover without the help of doctors.
But it is impossible to cope with panic attacks in the later stages of alcoholism. Under the influence of strong fear, the patient may harm himself by jumping out of a window or running away from imaginary pursuit through busy roads. Therefore, if an alcoholic has such an attack, it is better to immediately call an ambulance.
