Hangovers and Anxiety: The Not-So-Dynamic Duo

If you’ve ever experienced the groggy, uneasy feeling that can follow a night of drinking more than your limit, you’re not alone. A fun night out drinking with your buddies can feel like a great way to relax, but you may wake up hungover and regretful of your choices from the night before and wonder—was it worth it? No matter how much you think you can drink, hangovers can affect the best of us, and they often come with an unwelcome companion: anxiety. Read on to learn more about how hangovers can cause anxiety and find tips to tackle it head on.

How are hangovers and anxiety connected?

Drinking alcohol disrupts brain chemistry which can cause mood shifts and higher stress levels. If you don’t drink responsibly, you might wake up with a foggy memory and question what exactly happened the night before. Feelings of anxiety and confusion can creep in as you try to fill in the blanks. Add in dehydration, nausea and a throbbing headache, and it’s a recipe for a morning-after disaster. When you wake up feeling overwhelmed or nervous after a night of drinking, remember that hangover anxiety, or “hangxiety”, may be the culprit.

How to tackle hangxiety:

• Practice responsible drinking. Reduce the risk of hangovers by cutting back or hitting pause on alcohol. Keep in mind that low risk drinking is no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 for men. And always remember that you can say no to another drink!
• Hydration is key. Alcohol can deplete your body’s water content. Stay well hydrated throughout the day and alternate alcohol and water to help get ahead of future hangover symptoms, including anxiety.
• Get your blood flowing. Try working off the hangxiety with exercise. Movement can help you burn off the calories from drinking the night before and clear your head.
• Try some mindfulness. A little mindfulness can always help to bring stress levels down. If you wake up feeling anxious, consider trying these tips to help you chill the [bleep] out!

Hangovers and anxiety can be a not-so-dynamic duo for your well-being. The pair may also make a duty day after a night of drinking especially challenging or worrisome. If hangxiety is a regular visitor in your life, consider checking your drinking habits so you can stop waking up on the wrong side of the bed and ditch that hangover deja vu for good.