Hangxiety: How to Overcome Hangover Anxiety

If you consume high amounts of alcohol, the anxiety circuits in your brain become strongly suppressed. Especially if your hangover anxiety turns into a panic attack, focusing on your breath is hugely helpful. “I recommend sitting quietly, upright and focusing on your breath to feel present in the moment,” says Irina Firstein, LCSW, a licensed individual and couple’s therapist. “As soon as thoughts come in, focus on the breath again,” she says. This is a form of mindfulness meditation, and Firstein recommends doing it for at least ten minutes to truly feel the benefits. Science also supports this approach; researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that mindful meditation can help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

1. Find what’s comfortable for you then, practice gently letting go of your thoughts until the negative clouds and anxieties have floated up and away from your body.
2. Other factors found in classic hangovers may also make you more likely to experience anxiety.
3. Since caffeine has an impact on the body’s stress response, your system releases cortisol and adrenaline when you drink coffee.

Consider contacting a mental health professional for additional support if your anxiety is severe. Yes, a hot cup of coffee might sound delicious when you wake up hungover, but when feeling anxious, trying to avoid stimulants is essential. Chances are, coffee will make you feel even more on edge or exacerbate other anxiety symptoms. Generally, the more you drink the more intense your hangover symptoms, including anxiety, might be. It’s important to remember many of the anxious thoughts or feelings you might experience after drinking could be caused by the chemical changes in your brain.

Can I prevent hangxiety?

Hangover-related anxiety — or, hangxiety — is a significant increase in anxiety experienced the day after heavy drinking. Eat mild foods, such as soup or crackers, to settle your stomach is queasy or nauseas. If possible, go back to bed and let your body continue to process the alcohol withdrawal while you sleep. There are many different forms of anxiety, but in general the word is used to describe when you feel afraid or worried without a specific reason to.

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Another 2023 study suggested hangover symptoms like anxiety were more common among people with poor emotional regulation. 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. People with anxiety disorders may use alcohol to cope with the symptoms. As a result, they will typically feel more anxious when they are not drinking. For example, a person with a hangover may drink coffee to relieve the symptoms.

Psychological causes

“It also has an addictive property, which means if you stop taking it, you may experience withdrawal effects,” she says. If the factors involved in a classic hangover can also contribute to anxiety, treating your physical hangover may help you mentally. If these symptoms are a part of hangxiety, Feifel indicates they will typically appear 6 hours to 20 hours https://soberhome.net/ after you stop drinking. According to survey results, this “hangxiety” is a hangover symptom for approximately 22% of people under the age of 30 years. As we just mentioned, dehydration can be a major factor in bringing about or worsening hangxiety. It’s crucial, then, to make sure you’re getting enough water the morning after to combat this dehydration.

Hangxiety is the mash-up term pop culture has given to that feeling of anxiety or sadness that can follow an evening of heavy drinking. Everyone has a different degree of tolerance to alcohol, which can also vary over time. Some individuals can drink vast quantities of alcohol and only experience mild hangovers, while others struggle even after small quantities. Trying to avoid hangxiety by “sleeping off” hangover symptoms may not be an effective strategy, some studies suggest.

Since caffeine has an impact on the body’s stress response, your system releases cortisol and adrenaline when you drink coffee. The function of these stress hormones is to prepare the body for the flight and fight response, Begdache explains. Persistent anxiety could be the sign of an anxiety disorder, or regular hangover anxiety could hint at excessive drinking habits or alcohol use disorder. Being mindful about alcohol consumption and its effects can help you cope with — or prevent — this unpleasant feeling. Ask your friends if they’ve ever felt anxious after a night out. Even if they don’t know the term hangxiety, we’re pretty sure they’ve felt it at least a little bit.

What is ‘hangxiety’ and why do some people experience it?

We’ll look at why hangxiety occurs and what you can do about it. First, let’s make sure we understand the words that combine to create this term. The ten signs and symptoms listed below generally make up hangover anxiety, which can be distressing and hinder one’s ability to carry out routine tasks and responsibilities.

It’s easy to fall into a cycle of drinking to reduce anxiety symptoms, only to have them return tenfold the next morning. Experts theorize that hangxiety is related to using alcohol to overcome social anxiety. While alcohol can help make you feel more relaxed, it can also have less-than-positive effects on your mental can you drink alcohol on prednisolone and physical health. Following this idea, a 2019 study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences measured levels of anxiety among social drinkers before, during and after drinking. It found that participants who scored as “highly shy” experienced the highest levels of anxiety the following day.

Or you’re turning to alcohol to ease tension and unwind most days, rather than once in a while. If you drink before you drive or start work, you might also feel anxious about someone noticing your alcohol use. Why do some people wake up after drinking feeling relaxed and ready for brunch, while others stay wrapped in a blanket, feeling the weight of the world? New research suggests highly shy people may have a higher risk of experiencing anxiety with a hangover. Other symptoms include sleepiness or excitability and warm, flushed skin, especially on your face and neck.