Do you get hangxiety? How to cope with an anxious hangover Hangover cures
Send an apology if it’s warranted, but otherwise cut yourself some slack. Some prescription meds are not supposed to be mixed with alcohol. Maybe the blend can trigger dangerous side effects or maybe the booze just dilutes the pills’ potency. Late-night https://sober-house.net/ partying doesn’t play nice with your sleep schedule. A night of restless, barely-there sleep can unleash major irritability and anxiety in the morning. TBH, experts still haven’t pinpointed a single, concrete cause for hangover-induced anxiety.
- “It is a cultural term, but I have seen it and other medical professionals have seen it,” he says.
- Alcohol also might reduce the effectiveness of your anxiety medication, if you take it, further leading to anxiety after drinking.
- While it is possible to get a hangover even after minimal consumption, the risk of hangover-related anxiety may increase with the amount of alcohol that a person drinks.
- Hangxiety, a portmanteau of ‘hangover’ and ‘anxiety,’ is a colloquial term describing the intense feelings of anxiety following a bout of heavy drinking.
- In cases where anxiety lingers much longer, it may be a sign of a different issue, such as alcohol withdrawal or an anxiety disorder.
Research also suggests that hangovers decrease cognitive performance. A 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that hangovers increased the brain’s “cognitive load,” meaning the effort required by a person to perform a task. In turn, this affected participants’ ability to complete tasks, because the brain was overwhelmed.
Getting help for alcohol use
“Although it may sound counterintuitive, it could be good to lower your caffeine baseline and keep it at a low-moderate dose so you reap the benefits without the negative effects,” Begdache says. “Slowly lower the amount of coffee you drink every day. Leave out one-quarter of the cup every two to three days to achieve the desired dose. This way, you avoid having withdrawal symptoms.” If you aren’t sure where to start, you can speak with your primary care doctor about your symptoms. They can rule out other medical conditions, write you a prescription if needed, and can recommend a mental health professional to address anxiety symptoms. As Cyndi Turner, LSATP, MAC, LCSW, explains to Healthline that drinking alcohol triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good hormones.
What are the symptoms of hangxiety?
Remember that it’s normal to feel anxious after a night of drinking (as the body recovers, it’s not uncommon for people to experience psychological distress). Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend in the same situation. In fact, post-drinking anxiety has obtained its own colloquial term—hangxiety.
Does Coffee Really Cause or Worsen Anxiety?
For one, dopamine, which helps the body to manage anxiety, is hindered as you recover from ingesting alcohol, clinical psychologist Dr. Kendra Kubala shares in an email to USA TODAY. Additionally, cortisol, often dubbed the “stress hormone” ticks up during that recovery. Otherwise, set some boundaries for yourself and make sure to prioritize food, water, and sleep the next time you drink. If you were with a close friend, you might feel reassured by talking to them. But for the moment, it might help to take a few minutes and examine your thoughts. That impact on your judgement and reasoning can make you say or do things you usually wouldn’t.
Hangover anxiety symptoms
She explains that when endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers and feel-good hormones, are released in response to traumatic events, their levels naturally decrease over a period acetaminophen and alcohol of several days. Enjoying a few drinks with friends during a night out or at a party can make for a fun evening. That said, surprisingly little is known about alcohol tolerance.
Sometimes, even if you took all of the appropriate steps to avoid a hangover, you still might experience one, and it may bring anxiety along for the ride with it. The older you get, the harder it becomes for your body to metabolize alcohol, so you might notice that it’s harder to avoid a hangover than it used to be. If you’re experiencing hangxiety, attending to the physical needs of your hangover can also help with the emotional repercussions. If you’re planning on drinking, taking all the standard steps to avoid a hangover will also help you avoid hangxiety.
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you go to the bathroom more than you normally would. Add to that the fact that many of us are guilty of not drinking enough water in between glasses of wine and it’s very likely you don’t have enough water in your system. Dehydration, according to a 2014 study in PLoS One, can contribute to anxiety and other negative changes in your mood. This hangover-related anxiety, or “hangxiety,” can last for several hours after a person’s blood alcohol levels return to normal.
