Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Feels LikeWhat Causes Hangxiety?What to DoPreventionHow Can I Get Help?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Feels Like
What Causes Hangxiety?
What to Do
Prevention
How Can I Get Help?
“Hangxiety” is a term used to describe a feeling of nervousness or unease after drinking alcohol. Usually, these symptoms of irritability or a sense of apprehension begin about eight to 12 hours after drinking, as the effects of alcohol wear off.
Sometimes, people feel anxious while under the influence of alcohol, which can manifest as feelings of suspicion or anger. This article will explain what hangxiety feels like, how to recognize it in yourself or someone else, how to prevent it, and what to do when hangxiety happens.
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What Does Hangxiety Feel Like?
Hangxiety can last for several hours or longer.It can cause a variety of feelings and associated actions.
You might feel or act in the following ways:
In some situations, hangxiety can feel like a panic attack, with symptoms of shortness of breath, sweating, and shaking.
Differences Between Panic Disorder and GAD
Hangxiety is one of the symptoms ofa hangover. A combination of the toxic effects of alcohol and the withdrawal from the effects of alcohol causes a hangover.
As the effects of alcohol begin to wear off, you will experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Common hangover symptoms include:
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur as the body adjusts to a sudden decline in the chemicals that are components of alcohol. Additionally, as alcohol is broken down and removed from the body, certain chemical toxins produce inflammation and oxidative stress.
Health issues such askidney diseaseorliver diseasecan make you more prone to adverse effects of alcohol and more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
It is hard to predict whether you or someone else will experience anxiety after an episode of drinking or during a hangover. Some studies suggest that people who have underlyingdepressionoranxiety disordersmight be more likely to experience anxiety during hangovers.However, these results are inconsistent, and other factors may be involved.
The Impact of Alcohol on Your Body
What Should I Do When I Feel Hangxiety?
Having hangxiety or being with someone going through it can be very distressing to everyone involved. There aren’t any definite cures or ways to get rid of hangxiety symptoms, except with time, but there are ways that you can cope.
Some of the ways of managing hangxiety are the same as thestrategies for combating a hangover, but there are also additional things you can keep in mind to specifically tackle your anxiety feelings.
It can help to do the following:
Recognizing the symptoms and understanding that they are the result of alcohol use and withdrawal can provide some sense of assurance that the symptoms will wear off after a few hours.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf the symptoms of a hangover or hangxiety are severe—or if you are having shaking, tremors, a fever, changes in consciousness, or seizures—get prompt medical attention.If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive alcohol use, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If the symptoms of a hangover or hangxiety are severe—or if you are having shaking, tremors, a fever, changes in consciousness, or seizures—get prompt medical attention.If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive alcohol use, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
If the symptoms of a hangover or hangxiety are severe—or if you are having shaking, tremors, a fever, changes in consciousness, or seizures—get prompt medical attention.
If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive alcohol use, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
How Can I Prevent Hangxiety?
Preventing hangxiety requires a level of insight into your own emotions. If you have anxiety or depression, drinking can exacerbate that.You may experience anxiety-related emotions while under the influence of alcohol and/or as the effects of alcohol begin to wear off.
If you’ve had episodes of hangxiety, the best way to prevent it from happening again is to avoid alcohol. Getting professional help for managing anxiety and depression can also substantially improve your quality of life.
Even if you’re not prone to anxiety or depression, you can take measures to prevent hangxiety from happening, including:
Some adults can safely tolerate two or three alcoholic beverages when consumed with food, but many cannot tolerate more than one drink.
Some healthy adults can become sick from consuming even a small amount of alcohol. Knowing your limits is a key factor in preventing hangovers and symptoms of anxiety during a hangover.
The Truth About “ Cocktail Headaches”
If you find that you’re experiencing unpleasant effects during or after drinking alcohol, consider not drinking at all. If you’re at a point at which you have become so dependent on alcohol that you are unable to decrease your consumption—even in light of these unpleasant effects—then it’s important to get professional help.
You should make an appointment to see a healthcare provider or mental health professional who can assess your mental health and diagnose underlying conditions such as depression or anxiety that can predispose you to hangxiety.
Additionally, discuss your use of alcohol with a healthcare provider or mental health professional who can screen you foralcohol use disorderand help guide you to appropriate treatment. Many people recover from alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder with proper medical supervision.
Summary
Hangxiety is anxiety that is associated with alcohol withdrawal. In general, alcohol causes people to become less aware of their surroundings, and often reduces anxiety. Withdrawal from the effects of alcohol may lead to increased anxiety that can last for hours or longer.
Getting rid of hangxiety involves resting, avoiding anxiety-provoking challenges during the episode, staying with a supportive person, getting something to eat, and staying hydrated.
If you’re experiencing recurring episodes of hangxiety when you drink alcohol, it could be a sign that you have an underlying mental health condition or alcohol use disorder.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Benson S, Ayre E, Garrisson H, Wetherell MA, Verster JC, Scholey A.Alcohol hangover and multitasking: effects on mood, cognitive performance, stress reactivity, and perceived effort.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1154. doi:10.3390/jcm9041154Terpstra C, Verster JC, Scholey A, Benson S.Associations between mental resilience, mood, coping, personality, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2240. doi:10.3390/jcm11082240Palmer E, Tyacke R, Sastre M, Lingford-Hughes A, Nutt D, Ward RJ.Alcohol hangover: underlying biochemical, inflammatory and neurochemical mechanisms.Alcohol Alcohol.2019;54(3):196-203. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agz016Mackus M, Loo AJV, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Scholey A, Verster JC.The role of alcohol metabolism in the pathology of alcohol hangover.J Clin Med.2020;9(11):3421. doi:10.3390/jcm9113421Tellez-Monnery K, Berghoff CR, McDermott MJ.Investigating the effects of emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking on alcohol hangover anxiety and depression.Addict Behav. 2023;140:107619. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107619Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, et al.L-cysteine containing vitamin supplement which prevents or alleviates alcohol-related hangover symptoms: Nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol.2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Benson S, Ayre E, Garrisson H, Wetherell MA, Verster JC, Scholey A.Alcohol hangover and multitasking: effects on mood, cognitive performance, stress reactivity, and perceived effort.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1154. doi:10.3390/jcm9041154Terpstra C, Verster JC, Scholey A, Benson S.Associations between mental resilience, mood, coping, personality, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2240. doi:10.3390/jcm11082240Palmer E, Tyacke R, Sastre M, Lingford-Hughes A, Nutt D, Ward RJ.Alcohol hangover: underlying biochemical, inflammatory and neurochemical mechanisms.Alcohol Alcohol.2019;54(3):196-203. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agz016Mackus M, Loo AJV, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Scholey A, Verster JC.The role of alcohol metabolism in the pathology of alcohol hangover.J Clin Med.2020;9(11):3421. doi:10.3390/jcm9113421Tellez-Monnery K, Berghoff CR, McDermott MJ.Investigating the effects of emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking on alcohol hangover anxiety and depression.Addict Behav. 2023;140:107619. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107619Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, et al.L-cysteine containing vitamin supplement which prevents or alleviates alcohol-related hangover symptoms: Nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol.2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Benson S, Ayre E, Garrisson H, Wetherell MA, Verster JC, Scholey A.Alcohol hangover and multitasking: effects on mood, cognitive performance, stress reactivity, and perceived effort.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1154. doi:10.3390/jcm9041154Terpstra C, Verster JC, Scholey A, Benson S.Associations between mental resilience, mood, coping, personality, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2240. doi:10.3390/jcm11082240Palmer E, Tyacke R, Sastre M, Lingford-Hughes A, Nutt D, Ward RJ.Alcohol hangover: underlying biochemical, inflammatory and neurochemical mechanisms.Alcohol Alcohol.2019;54(3):196-203. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agz016Mackus M, Loo AJV, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Scholey A, Verster JC.The role of alcohol metabolism in the pathology of alcohol hangover.J Clin Med.2020;9(11):3421. doi:10.3390/jcm9113421Tellez-Monnery K, Berghoff CR, McDermott MJ.Investigating the effects of emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking on alcohol hangover anxiety and depression.Addict Behav. 2023;140:107619. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107619Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, et al.L-cysteine containing vitamin supplement which prevents or alleviates alcohol-related hangover symptoms: Nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol.2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.
Benson S, Ayre E, Garrisson H, Wetherell MA, Verster JC, Scholey A.Alcohol hangover and multitasking: effects on mood, cognitive performance, stress reactivity, and perceived effort.J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1154. doi:10.3390/jcm9041154
Terpstra C, Verster JC, Scholey A, Benson S.Associations between mental resilience, mood, coping, personality, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2240. doi:10.3390/jcm11082240
Palmer E, Tyacke R, Sastre M, Lingford-Hughes A, Nutt D, Ward RJ.Alcohol hangover: underlying biochemical, inflammatory and neurochemical mechanisms.Alcohol Alcohol.2019;54(3):196-203. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agz016
Mackus M, Loo AJV, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Scholey A, Verster JC.The role of alcohol metabolism in the pathology of alcohol hangover.J Clin Med.2020;9(11):3421. doi:10.3390/jcm9113421
Tellez-Monnery K, Berghoff CR, McDermott MJ.Investigating the effects of emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking on alcohol hangover anxiety and depression.Addict Behav. 2023;140:107619. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107619
Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, et al.L-cysteine containing vitamin supplement which prevents or alleviates alcohol-related hangover symptoms: Nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol.2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
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