This is a very funny topic.
As earlier posters I too use to drink myself half-drunk before I even go to a party. Especially would there be people I do not know. I also quite often lobbying for drinking alcohol on occasions were it's not at all necessary, for example watching a football game on a Tuesday afternoon. I also get recklessly drunk when going out, many times I have literary been carried home, even though other people may not be that drunk at all.
The ironic thing is that due to this, I got a reputation among my friends to be a "party animal", a funny guy which never says no to a drink. And this originates from me being shy because of of of sweating and blushing.
The dark side though is that alcoholism runs in my family, on both sides. So this behavior is not good for me, and about 18 months ago I suddenly realized I was drinking practically every day, so the last year I have by purpose been cutting down on the drinking, which means I have also been cutting down on the social activities, and generally I am more miserable and unhappy now than during my "alcoholic period".
What I find drinking doing for HH is minimally. Yeah, the anxious sweating can decrease a little, but not always, and the decreasing doesn't really start until after 4-5 beers are done with. I also reckon several times I have been walking home - drunk as hell - and still sweating loads. I think my HH is both due to anxiety and genes (because I sweat more when sporting, walking etc. that is normal). But if one's HH is mainly related to anxiety, alcohol will of course help loads.
In contrast, drinking does miracle with facial blushing, as the "fight or flight response" is largely cut off because of your brain being temporarily damaged. This phenomenon, the state of not have to worrying about blushing and see the anxiety sweating somewhat reduced, is what makes me still considering ETS....
However, as far as drinking is concerned, the second day is disastrous for me as it should be for all HH sufferers. It's an all inside day.
