But that advice does little good if you’re currently battling hangxiety. In that case, Wallace suggests treating the physical hangover by hydrating, resting, avoiding caffeine, and eating a healthy meal. Hangxiety, on the other hand, is a type of everyday anxiety that people tend to experience from time to time while they’re sobering up after drinking, Wallace says. Baskin-Sommers recommends reducing the total amount of alcohol in the system by alternating between hard and virgin beverages on a night out.
Otherwise, set some boundaries for yourself and make sure to prioritize food, water, and sleep the next time you drink. If moderation doesn’t work for you, consider reaching out for additional help. There’s nothing wrong with occasionally letting loose or even having a hangover from time to time.
Regret or worry
Realize that this is a temporary feeling, and forgive yourself for your sense of worry or unease. Try moving into a state of mindfulness, or doing a short guided meditation to bring yourself back into your body. Focus on what you need to feel calm, whether that’s curling up in a blanket or texting a friend, and remember that you’ll feel better soon. The simplest way to avoid the troubles of a hangover, anxiety included, is to not drink. But that’s not a reasonable alternative for many people, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
Not getting enough of the right nutrients can also affect mood symptoms. A 2011 study on adults with do alcoholics have big noses depression or anxiety suggests a link between low levels of folic acid and these conditions. As a shared experience and not a formal diagnosis, there’s no set list of symptoms that define hangxiety.
- Additionally, cortisol, often dubbed the “stress hormone” ticks up during that recovery.
- If possible, go back to bed and let your body continue to process the alcohol withdrawal while you sleep.
- If you were with a close friend, you might feel reassured by talking to them.
- Consuming alcohol can cause the body to release endorphins, resulting in a feeling of happiness and a positive mood.
Generalized anxiety disorder: What is it and how to manage it?
Research suggests some people may be more susceptible to hangxiety. According to a 2023 study of more than 5,000 university students, people sensitive to classic hangovers were also more likely to have higher levels of anxiety and stress. This is why when you drink alcohol it’s common to feel less anxious and more relaxed. If you consume high amounts of alcohol, the anxiety circuits in your brain become strongly suppressed. Pounding headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue are fairly classic symptoms in the aftermath of drinking alcohol.
“But more than three drinks can begin to impair balance, speech, thinking, reasoning, and judgment,” Turner says. Alcohol can also cause your folic acid levels to dip, which could explain why you don’t quite feel like yourself the next day. If you’re being hard on yourself about what you did under the influence of alcohol, self-compassion can help. “The more alcohol consumed, the higher chance of experiencing hangxiety,” he says.
Choose your drinks wisely
It might seem very straightforward that the cause of hangxiety is a hangover. Another key component that can drum up hangxiety is faulty memory, Andand says. 💙 Check out the Nightly Relaxation Routine session of the Daily Move for a movement routine before bed staying motivated in recovery that can actually help you feel more calm in the morning.
Hangxiety is a term that describes hangover anxiety, an addiction art therapy ideas experience of anxiousness that occurs after you’ve been drinking alcohol. If you’re experiencing recurring episodes of hangxiety when you drink alcohol, it could be a sign that you have an underlying mental health condition or alcohol use disorder. Preventing hangxiety requires a level of insight into your own emotions.
If that seems a bit too dry, you can try a few weeks or stick to some of the tips and tricks meant to dull the effects of hangxiety, like increased hydration. If it begins to drag on into two or three days, Adnand warns, this may be your body trying to tell you something more urgent. “That may not be anxiety; that might be alcohol withdrawal, and that suggests dependence to alcohol, which is a very high-risk factor for addiction.”