I was exactly where you are. Yes, alcohol makes it worse. Although it gives that brief euphoric feeling it is a depressant and is toxic to our body. That cycle you are in of drinking to feel better then feeling worse is never ending and it only gets worse. The ONLY way to remove the craving is to stop and it will start getting so much better. I am going on two weeks now and the craving is almost gone. In fact I am starting to wonder how I let it get such a hold of me. That is after drinking my entire life, from the time I was barely a teenager. I've started exercising and eating right and drinking plenty of water. The first week involved quite a bit of brain fog and an upset stomach but then things began to come into a beautiful focus and I feel great. I know you can do this, because I can do this. Welcome aboard and I hope to see you on the forum. A big part of it is as you mentioned, giving encouragement to others on the forum.

That is the proverbial "vicious circle". Welcome

welcome to the group....have you got any thoughts about stopping drinking one day at a time and seeing if you can stay stopped?

that is the beginning...a desire to accept help with what is or has become problems of drinking...

I have been there as well. Add PTSD to that mix of anxiety, depression and panic attacks. This is the group that helped me to heal. There is a lot of hope for you. Here is the link -
http://www.radiantrecovery.com/alcohol.html

BTW, I have been sober for 10 years now. :)

Laura

I was a binger. I got worse after my kids grew up and left home. It wasn't until my son (a lost everything almost dying kind of alcoholic) quit drinking that I quit "to support him"...I stayed sober for 6 months, then I had a glass of wine and got a sick as the day ways long. I figured out my body was telling me to quit. So I did.
My anxiety is still there, but more managed, I think I am far less depressed. I feel healthier.
Go for a walk, or work out for a release of endorphins.
Go to a meeting if you want to try it.
eat chocolate, keep busy, think about the feelings and feel them and find out that you can control them instead of them controling you.
Do whatever it takes to make not drinking a priority. You are worth it, so is your family. I was on a slippery slope, with my own son showing me how I could end up. You don't have to "hit bottom" you can quit before you destroy your life and your health. Good luck.

Thank you to you all for your stories and best wishes. It is nice to know that I am not alone in this!