Social Anxiety Disorder, Alcohol
and Heart Palpitations

My heart palpitations started after I quit drinking alcohol which helped with the social anxiety disorder.

Anxiety Question:

I haven’t been to a doctor but I am pretty sure I have social anxiety disorder. Trying to deal with that is hard enough, but for the last few years I’ve been experiencing heart palpitations with it.

This is very scary and I try to do anything to try not to feel this and if any one has experienced this and knows how to deal with it please tell me!!

Deep breaths don’t work and these heart palpitations only started after I quit drinking alcohol which helped with the social anxiety.
I’m starting to think about drinking alcohol again.

Anxiety Answer:

Your heart palpitations could be from stress and anxiety. Sounds like you were self-medicating with the alcohol in order to deal with the anxiety, which is probably why you didn't have the palpitations until you stopped drinking.

There is no way to know for sure whether you have a social anxiety disorder or a heart problem without listening to your heart, running tests, getting a physical exam, etc.

If your heart palpitations are stress related, you need to treat the root of the problem which is anxiety, because if you don't treat the anxiety, then nothing will make them go away.

You should see your doctor to rule out a physical problem with your heart and get treatment (most likely medication) for your anxiety. Once you get the anxiety under control your heart palpitations should subside.

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