Hello people. Just wanted to ask if anyone has any tips? I have been off work for nearly two months because I have terrible anxiety issues. I have been to the doctor today and they okayed me to go back in. I’m feeling so panicked about going back and normally I would drink these feelings away but been sober over two weeks now so I’m not sure how to deal with it. Any help appreciated 
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Good for you, it’s a big step going back to work however it can feel fulfilling.
I would suggest to take it moment by moment. Download some positive podcasts if you’re able to listen at work or on your commute.
There are also great breathing apps for any time you feel anxious, slowing your breath is something you can do anywhere and discreetly.
Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Keeping yourself and your mind busy on positive or productive things can help the time go by and distract you from any old thought patterns that may cause overwhelm.
You got this, best of luck!
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That’s brilliant. Thank you very much for your advice and kind words. Appreciate you taking the time
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I recommend book by Phil Stutz - The tools. Helped me a lot to overcome anxiety and fears I faced. It’s mental training, techniques you’ll need to try and master over time but they do bring results.
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Awesome. Thank you for your help and time 
I used Alan Carr’s Easy Way book to help me quit smoking and learned that the anxiety I felt while quitting smoking was often anxiety related to withdrawal from the actual cigarettes, if that makes sense. I haven’t read his book on alcohol but the quitting smoking one flipped the script for me on anxiety around substances.
I have anxiety and used to think alcohol helped too. I remember feeling an anxious build up and then I would binge drink and imagine that the anxiety was gone. Then I would get hit with a crippling shame hangover a few days down the line on my binge.
Alcohol doesn’t help long term anxiety for alcoholics. “Normal” drinkers might have a drink on a plane to relax. I, as an alcoholic, would drink that drink and then continue drinking until I collapse into an anxious hangover. Maybe not in the same day or week but as an alcoholic my off switch is broken. I drink them all until there are no more. But its that first drink that gets you. Avoid that first sip and you are on the right track.
Stepping out of that cycle is the only way forward. Just for today, go to bed sober. Every time you do this you become a little braver because you trust yourself a little more. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.
In my really early days I was pretty quiet around others but just talking about anxiety really helps too. Practice saying “I’m feeling anxious today” to someone. As a drinker I never felt any of my emotions, sitting with those emotions and giving them names helps a lot.
I’ve gone on too long but this feelings wheel helped me too. Often I thought I was feeling anxious when I was actually angry or scared or a little sad. All the feelings I drank not to feel.
Be gentle with yourself and hop on here if you need support. Someone is always around.
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Thank you for that. Yep that’s me, the anxiety would kick off I’d spiral and massively over think anything. Things that have happened, things that might happen and things that I know won’t happen. It gets to the stage when my brain is just full of stuff and then I’d just binge drink until I didn’t care no more and then carry on till I passed out. I’m determined to not do that now.
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I used to think that my system was foolproof, I’d let my anxiety build and then drink to clean the slate. Looking back, hoping to drink until I didn’t think seems like madness.
I’m still anxious, but my brain doesn’t ramp up and build like that anymore.
My husband (sometimes unhelpfully) points out that I was fearless as a drinker. Yep, because I didn’t care if I lived or died. Now I care again.
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