Hangxiety it’s common, and you are not alone!

It’s Saturday night. You’re hanging with your girlfriends sipping on wine, singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, Cyndi Lauper would be proud! Now it’s Sunday morning. Your head is pounding and you feel slightly nauseous, but those physical symptoms don’t hold a candle to the mental ones—the overwhelming thoughts of: Are my friends mad at me? Did I pick a fight with my husband? I really shouldn’t have insisted everyone take that last tequila shot. This is called hangxiety, friends, and it’s basically the feelings of anxiety many people get after a night of drinking.

Unlike regular anxiety, hangover anxiety, or hangxiety, isn’t found in the DSM-5 meaning it’s not an actual medical condition. However, if you’ve ever experienced it, you know it’s absolutely a real thing! While anyone can feel anxious after a night of overindulging, folks who deal with anxiety on a day-to-day basis are at an even higher risk.

 People who suffer from depression are more likely to experience anxious feelings after drinking. Though alcohol can suppress anxious feelings while a person is consuming, the rebound effect can be far worse than their baseline level of anxiety. Unfortunately, those uncomfortable emotions can drive people straight back to the culprit: alcohol.

 To manage hangxiety while you’re experiencing it, try:

• Rehydrate: drink lots of water!

• Eat a healthy meal: a meal that’s easy to digest and avoid greasy, processed foods.

• Practice mindfulness: Meditation and slow-breathing exercises can help overcome symptoms of anxiety.

• Go easy on yourself: Don’t be too hard on yourself and avoid overthinking your actions. Feeling shameful is never helpful!

• Get some rest: If you’re able to, get some sleep and give yourself a chance to relax.

• Try stress-relieving activities: activities like taking a bath, drawing, yoga, walking can be helpful in remaining calm.

In short, hangxiety is common; while not everyone will experience the same symptoms or severity every time, you’re not alone in your concerns, worries, and emotions. If you’re experiencing severe hangxiety, there’s a growing range of fantastic non-alcoholic alternatives you can try to enjoy a night out without the hangover! And if you are questioning your alcohol consumption maybe it’s time to take a break.