Anxiety is usually fear of the potential for something happening at some point in the future.

I remember the first AA meeting I went to. I was so afraid to go through the door that I stayed in my car for the whole hour and then I went home and told my wife I went to a meeting.

I did that a few more times before I dared myself to get out of my car and walk through the door with the sign on it that read, "AA meeting inside" When I finally did get up enough courage, It was the best decision I ever made! I was met with handshakes and hugs! I was treated like family. I made lots of lifelong, sober friends who gave me a mountain of support. I got a sponsor who was available to me 24/7. His wisdom and knowledge of sobriety helped me get through my darkest days and I am not sure I could have made it without his support.

I highly recommend AA or something similar. You don't have to do anything. Just sit in the back and listen and then watch what happens! You will be surprised.
Try different meetings. You will find one you like the best and make it your home group and they will recognize you by marking your sober days and at the end of a year, they will throw you a party and celebrate with you.
There was no way I could have stayed sober without help.

Good luck on your road to recovery. May you fiind peace and contentment.along the way.

God Bless

The irony is I thought booze made me relax. Well it was actually making me have fear and anxiety. And guilt, shame and remorse. Finally I went to a meeting on a Sunday night and that was the beginning of healing. See I was medication my life, and alcohol is a drug and also a depressant. It’s a drug. I was addicted and it took help. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your bootstraps. I would try and fail every time. This time I decided to ask for help, that was the watershed moment. Cmon get busy living and going places
1is2many

There is a book by Jason Vale how to quit drinking easily. While I don't agree with the title- it ain't easy it comes at the issue from a new angle.
That there is nothing to miss in booze. It's not a will power approach. It's a logical approach.
Booze might remove the anxiety temporarily but we wake with worse anxiety and a hangover.
Read the book.. well worth it

I've had many friends struggle with alcohol dependence and I've been on the brink of alcoholism myself. I'm not sure if you have anyone in your life that you can turn to for support, but I know that true friends will be there for you and accept you for trying to overcome a big hurdle. Perhaps asking someone to go with you to the meeting might help you get through the door, even if they don't actually go in with you. I've been asked to do this for friends and it seemed to help them get over the initial hurdle. I hope this helps, but even if you don't think you know someone that will help, there are many people that are dealing with what you are dealing with so don't feel alone. Many times we are stronger than we think.

Thank you all for replying. I actually know of one I want to go to. Its in the backroom of a restaurant close by. I was thinking about going in there to eat and just kind of see what its like inside before the meeting. I don't know anyone else except my "bar friends." There are a couple other meetings close by. Tomorrow is the day. Ive gotten clean years before and I know that I will keep finding "reasons" why I can't. So I'm going to take a deep breath and try not to overthink it. I didn't drink last night. I haven't drank anything today.

Get in that meeting!

The window will only be open for a brief moment. Go Get sober!
1is2

While I was drinking I suffered from anxiety without being fully aware that I was. When I look back I see that time as a slow motion nervous breakdown. The anxiety built up because I wasn’t IN my life, I was just observing it go by on the sidelines. It’s been 17 months sober and I am just now feeling the grip of that fearful time fade. Since day one I was healing. For me it took time to forgive myself and begin to love myself. This is really important. We need to love ourselves. Say it to yourself over and over. Without this surrender our purpose here will always feel empty. If not now, WHEN? We deny ourselves a good life for all sorts of reasons. None of them are real ones. I think it comes down to denying a connection to ourselves. Which is sad and more than a little crazy when you think about it.

Hang in there, you’re an inspiration to me as I am also just starting my journey to sobriety and am very fearful but am trying so hard to be positive. Also the past right above here from finally awake now is so beautifully written and so honest and true and I feel the exact same way- it’s as if the anxiety is a slow motion breakdown and I keep drinking to feel better but then don’t realize that I’m so out of touch with myself and that I don’t love myself. Thank you for your words as I pray on them and for my remaining sober.