Hangover Anxiety

What Causes Hangxiety?

Drinking alcohol can cause feelings of calmness, relaxation, and even euphoria. However, once the alcohol wears off, people can start to feel worried and restless, even more so than before they began drinking.

Having an alcohol hangover includes emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms. These things can lead to hangxiety.

Emotional dysregulation, which includes having repetitive and negative thoughts, correlates with feelings of both depression and anxiety when a hangover is being experienced. Already having anxiety also predicts an increased chance of struggling with anxiety and depression the day after drinking.

In addition, non-hangover-related anxiety is the most established predictor of experiencing hangxiety.

Can I Prevent Hangover Anxiety?

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help manage hangxiety. Hangxiety can be prevented by:

• Abstaining from alcohol
• Drinking less or at a slower pace
• Keeping yourself hydrated with water during and after drinking
• Pacing yourself while drinking
• Knowing what is considered a single drink to keep track of your intake
• Refraining from giving in to peer pressure to drink more
• Eating before or while drinking

If you experience anxiety and depression regularly, getting help for this will lower the chance you will experience hangover anxiety. Additionally, if you have emotional dysregulation when not drinking, taking steps to work on this can also be helpful, as having this quality can increase the risk of getting hangxiety.

Ineffective or unhelpful responses to emotions are correlated with increased cravings and elevated alcohol use. Effectually, the emotional dysregulation may be contributing to or causing unhealthy drinking behavior and the resulting hangover symptoms. This type of dysregulation and the negative impact it has on emotions and cognitions may have a direct effect on symptoms of anxiety and depression after an episode of drinking.

How To Get Rid Of Hangover Anxiety

The effects of hangovers, in general, dissipate with time. After drinking, the body takes time to clear itself of the toxic effects of alcohol metabolism, to rebalance hydration levels, to bring the blood alcohol level back to zero, to restore the body’s immunity, and for the brain’s activity to return to normal functioning. There is no way to speed up this recovery process in the brain, so utilizing coping methods is the most helpful approach as you experience hangxiety.

Helpful ways of dealing with hangover anxiety include:

• Relaxing
• Drinking water or electrolyte-balancing beverages
• Eating healthy foods
• Taking walks in nature
• Talking with loved ones

It is often helpful to get out of bed, shower, change your clothes, and go outside for some fresh air and sunshine.

Why Do I Keep Getting Hangover Anxiety?

If you keep experiencing hangxiety, there is a good chance that you are repeatedly drinking too much alcohol. Having high levels of shyness and hangover sensitivity are also factors that contribute to getting hangxiety. Feeling anxious and on edge when not drinking is another causative factor.

Regularly experiencing emotional dysregulation when not drinking also leads to an increased risk of going through hangxiety. Emotion dysregulation is characterized by difficulty accepting emotions, a lack of awareness and clarity, and struggling to control impulsive behavior. It also involves a tendency to not engage in helpful and appropriate coping skills to mitigate the experience of negative feelings.

Does Experiencing Hangxiety Mean I Have A Problem?

When a behavior is repeated despite causing unwanted effects, it might be time to consider if problematic behavior is occurring. Since hangxiety is usually caused by drinking too much, you might have a problem if you are experiencing it often.

Signs of alcohol misuse include heavy and frequent drinking, misuse of other substances, and neglecting obligations as a result of drinking.

If hangxiety is repeatedly causing you to miss work or school, have lowered work or academic performance, isolate yourself, or neglect your social and other obligations, you may have a problem with drinking. The following are other symptoms that may be a sign of the presence of problematic drinking or alcoholism:

Problematic drinking often goes undiagnosed in those who are struggling with it. Some people feel shame or worry about stigma, and this can lead to a reluctance or refusal to seek help. This can also lead to missed chances to get professional assistance for any medical and psychiatric problems, missed chances to learn about possible drug interactions that could be happening, and lost opportunities to get help related to substance use disorders (SUDs).

In the case that you or a loved one does have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), it can be beneficial to know that it is a medical condition, that it is not due to a lack of willpower, and that evidence-supported help is available. Additionally, even if a disorder is not present, it is important to know that the use of alcohol that is causing problems in your life does increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder in the future.

If you experience hangover anxiety frequently or feel your drinking patterns have become unhealthy, take our free alcohol assessment today. Assessments can help determine how severe the problem is, whether or not you need professional help, and at which level of care.

How To Stop It From Happening Again

The simplest way to prevent experiencing hangxiety again is by not drinking at all or not drinking too much.

It can also be beneficial to have a drink of water between every alcoholic drink, not worry about “keeping up” with the amount that others are drinking, and not drinking on an empty stomach. Some people also find it very helpful to find enjoyable activities that do not center around drinking or do not involve alcohol at all.

If you think your drinking habits are problematic, reaching out for help is key to prevent hangxiety from occurring and recurring. Additionally, it is important to take care of your mental health, as mental illnesses often co-occur with SUDs. Finding a therapist, attending 12-step groups, and educating yourself can all be steps in the right direction.

Support Is Available

Treatment programs for AUD, such as partial hospitalization or inpatient rehab with or without medical detox assistance, can be beneficial to those wanting to cut back on their alcohol consumption.

Effective therapeutic interventions utilized in these programs include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step groups
• Pharmacotherapy, including anti-craving medications
• Help for comorbid mental health conditions

Remember that help is available if you or someone you care about needs help reducing or eliminating problematic drinking behaviors.

Seeking Help

You are not alone if you have experienced hangover anxiety. Help is available for you or your loved one if alcohol consumption is a concern. If you are having a problem, it is important to be kind to yourself. If a loved one needs help, it is beneficial to be compassionate, empathetic, and supportive.

If you need assistance finding a rehab facility for alcohol use disorder, contact a treatment provider for free today. They can answer your rehab-related questions and help get you on the road to recovery.