Although arguably the merriest time of year, many would agree that hangover anxiety hits hardest during winter time. But why?
Dr Elisabeth Philipps, a clinical neuroscientist from health and wellbeing brand, fourfive, reveals the science behind ‘hangxiety’, its effects on your brain and tips on combating those Christmas hangovers.
What is hangxiety?
Dr Philipps says, “Hangxiety is a combination of the words ‘hangover’ and ‘anxiety’ which describes the lingering sense of worry, shame or uneasiness that can follow a night of heavy drinking.”
Hangxiety differs from person to person – some people experience their heart racing and find it difficult to settle, whereas others can feel uneasy about situations or outcomes from the previous night. This may be worrying or over analysing how they acted, things they said or may have done. Generally, anxiousness can leave people feeling inadequate or not quite themselves for a period of time which will typically wear off once a hangover goes away.”
Why do we get hangxiety?
“There are many factors for why we may experience hangxiety. First of all, our livers can only process so much alcohol at a time while functioning as normal. When our livers can no longer help eliminate toxins that are absorbed, our blood sugar levels drop. This can cause fatigue, weakness, shakiness and low mood the following day which could heighten feelings of anxiety.
Alcohol consumption affects our brain, even if we fall asleep quicker, it leads to poor sleep quality and can negatively impact rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The way our brain stores memories is also affected, making it more difficult to remember occurrences while you were intoxicated – uncertainty of what happened could possibly play a factor in anxious thoughts too.”
Top tips to ease hangxiety
“Most importantly, know your limits with alcohol and be mindful of the number of drinks you’re having as it’s extremely easy to lose count and convince yourself that you’ve not drunk ‘too much’.
Make sure you keep hydrated throughout your night, alternate between alcoholic drinks with a glass of water so you’re consistently rehydrating yourself. Hydration tablets are also another good way to replenish your electrolyte levels and replace lost fluids in your body. Taking one before a night out and one the following morning is a great way to ease a hangover as they contain electrolytes that help you rehydrate quicker than water alone. They will also help to replace vital salt, potassium and magnesium that your body needs.
Another important thing is to support your blood sugars by eating healthy fats and complex carbs. Healthy fats help line your stomach and will slow down how quickly alcohol is absorbed – avocado smoothies or hummus are two of my recommendations. Complex carbohydrates are found in whole, unprocessed foods, including grains, beans and certain vegetables. Brown rice and sourdough are great options for this. Avoid processed meats, too much sugar and caffeine as this can worsen hangxiety effects.”