The Reason Your Hangover Anxiety Is Worse Than Ever

We always get a touch of hangover anxiety now and again, but ever since lockdown eased, it's been hitting us with full force after just a few drinks.

Sometimes, we can't pinpoint exactly why we feel anxious, while at other times, our minds are racing. Did we embarrass ourselves? Should we have had that extra gin... What were we banging on to that person about?

Often, it takes us a good couple of days to shake.

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If you've been feeling particularly anxious after a post 'Freedom Day' night out, you're certainly not alone.

According to new research by non-alcoholic spirit Caleño, 65 per cent of people aged 18-39 have experienced 'hangxiety' with 43 per cent seeing their post drinking anxiety worsen in recent months.

Meanwhile, a quarter of all Brits who drink say hangovers have a negative effect on their overall mental health, admitting they'd forgotten just how bad they could be during lockdown.

Former Love Island-er Dr Alex George explained: “With things opening again and Freedom Day around the corner, we’ve gone into a bit of a socialising overdrive, which can also mean increased drinking which is what is leading to this rise in ‘hangxiety’.

"What people tend to forget is that alcohol is a depressant and changes levels of serotonin and other chemicals within the brain, which means it can increase anxiety. That’s why people are noticing such a negative impact on their mental health."

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But why are we feeling the anxiety so much more now?

We chatted to nutritionist Jessica Overfield for the answers. She explained that post-lockdown stress, social anxiety and long periods of isolation have resulted in a 'volatile cocktail'.

"Post night out dread is very real, and has been in discussion for years. A chemical reaction that tends to play havoc with our emotions after a night of heavy drinking, ‘beer fear’ has become a more prominent talking point due to, in some studies, the increase in drinking over lockdown, both during, and now after," Jessica tells Tyla.

"Anxiety in Britain (in fact, across the globe) has been on the rise for years in people below the age of 45, and with the added pandemic, people naturally are finding it harder and harder to settle back into a relaxed state of mind.

"Although drinking over the last 12 months has increased, the UK is unfortunately already a country of heavy drinkers, so the rise in volume doesn’t fully explain the new, more common problems.

"People have more to be stressed about and added to social anxiety of meeting up with people after long periods of self-isolation is obviously a volatile cocktail."

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So what can we do to ease the hangxiety?

Well, Dr Alex explains it's about balance. “This isn’t about not drinking altogether, it’s about balancing your drinking. So for every alcoholic drink, enjoy a non-alcoholic one.

"Have the confidence to say no to a drink, and don’t let anyone pressure you into 'just another one.' And find your personal stop button – listen to your body when you know you’d had enough, you’ll be pleased you did the next morning!”

Topics: Health, Life

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot.

@lucedevine