For some drinkers, hangxietythats hangoveranxiety, for the uninitiatedis almost as reliable as thepounding headacheand queasy stomach.
Its the feeling of dread that follows a night of heavy imbibing.
That chill, fun vibe that accompanies having a few (or a bunch) of drinks is gone.
Adobe Stock / Mariela Naplatanova
Now you just feel anxious.
Your mind races, maybe your palms sweat, maybe you get a stomachache.
It turns out that hangxiety might in fact be a thing that has both physiological and psychological explanations.
That said, we did talk to experts who helped us understand the big picture.
Why does hangxiety happen?
The problem is that dopamine rush is short-lived with alcohol, Dr. Iyer says.
Thats part of why your mood and anxiety levels might be impacted for the worse later on.
It can range from panic to feeling depressed to feeling impulsive to feeling agitated and irritable.
Alcohol actually has effects on multiple neurological pathways.
Alcohol increasesGABAactivity in the brain.
A number of medications used to treat anxiety,including benzodiazepines, also target GABA.
Alcohol is basically primarily a sedative, Dr. Bogenschutz tells SELF.
When this happens, you may feel jittery, irritable, and anxious.
In other words, cue the hangxiety.
Hangxiety vs. anxiety
Of course, just about anyone can feel anxious after a night of drinking.
But that kind of hangover anxiety is different from what people who already experience anxiety may end up feeling.
But how do you know if you have an anxiety disorder?
You may worry frequently about everyday situations.
Whats more, those temporary calm vibes will likely be interrupted by an anxiety rebound.
If you get intense hangxiety frequently, it could be an indicator of a bigger problem.
One of those is continuing to drink even though it makes you feel depressed or anxious.
Some people claim that drinking more alcohol helps cure hangovers, but that can only make things worse.
Theres no magic pill to improve your mood, butmanaging your hangover symptomscan make you feel better overall.
TheCleveland Clinicrecommends that you avoid taking acetaminophenfound in Tylenolsince it can be toxic when theres alcohol in your system.
Deep breathing,mindful meditation, and exercise can all help you to relax and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Of course, finding an affordable therapist who you feel comfortable talking to can be challenging.
If you have health insurance, ask your provider for recommendations.
Otherwise, you could research therapists in your area and ask if theyaccept sliding-scale fees.
(Here is more information aboutscheduling medical appointmentsduring COVID-19.)
Queer AA isanother optionfor people in LGBTQ+ communities specifically.
It will take some work, but its worth making your mental health a priority whenever possible.
Additional reporting by Sally Tamarkin and Melissa Matthews
