The 24-hour mark: My predictable and terrifying cycle of “hangxiety” and panic attacks

I think I drink a huge amount, and I’m not proud of it.

Yesterday, I had 5 Chouffes (8%) and 5 blonde (4%) ales (pints, of course). The day before was a rest day because I was hungover from the night before that. (The night before that) -> Same punishment as yesterday.

I’ve been on this disastrous cycle for about a year now, and I get those infamous “hangxiety” attacks. They usually hit exactly 24 hours after my last drink, which for me is around midnight or 1 AM (so, it’s due in about 2 hours from now…).

Generally, it starts as I’m falling asleep. About 20 minutes in, I’ll suddenly wake up because my breathing has stopped. I’ll leap out of bed, hand clutching my chest, forcing myself to take a huge breath. That breath only comes after about 5 seconds, and needless to say, I feel every single one of those seconds pass.

Following that 5-second period, a full-blown panic attack kicks in: my heart starts beating incredibly fast and hard, often irregularly; my vision gets a bit blurry, and I get the sensation that I’m about to pass out, along with an intense wave of weakness. Because I live alone, I make my way to my front door and unlock it, just in case the feeling of impending doom I’m experiencing turns out to be more than just a feeling. By this point, about a minute has passed since I jumped out of bed.

Then, I go back to my bed and use a specific breathing technique: inhale for 5 seconds, hold my breath for 5 seconds, and exhale for 6 seconds. I repeat this 5 or 6 times, and my heart starts to slow down a little. It’s a pretty effective method. Afterwards, I’ll sit at my computer and watch my anime or “Battle Through the Heavens” with English subtitles (I always find something to watch).

These episodes continue to happen every time I try to fall back asleep, right up until about 6 AM. Most nights, I just try to stay awake until then. I finally manage to sleep around 6 AM, and the next day is all about recovery: mineral water, vitamins, lemon, and eating well until I start to feel a bit better… because I still have to get through the racing heart, the sweats, and the tingling sensation on my skin.

I wanted to share my experience, as I couldn’t find anything exactly like it on here (or maybe I just searched poorly, that happens too, sorry if that’s the case).

Good luck to anyone who recognizes themselves in my story.