Why are you anxious after drinking alcohol? Hangxiety

Introduction

Alcohol can cause anxiety but can also exacerbate an existing anxiety disorder primarily because it effects brain chemistry by depleting Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) an amino acid that functions as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter for the central nervous system (CNS).

Alcohol and anxiety are also linked because our body is systematically damaged when we drink – putting us under stress.

You do not digest alcohol – instead, it passes quickly into your bloodstream and travels to every part of your body affecting your brain first, then your kidneys, your lungs, and your liver.
Alcohol is a poison and there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

Another main cause of alcohol anxiety is how you may have behaved the night before whilst under the influence of alcohol. This is exacerbated when you cannot fully remember what occurred the night before.

How alcohol affects your brain

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways which affects the way the brain works.

Alcohol makes it harder for those areas of the brain that control memory, balance, speech, and judgment to function properly and this results in increased likelihood of injuries and behaviour that you might later feel embarrassed or ashamed of.

This alone can cause elevated levels of alcohol anxiety. Alcohol also leads issues with Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) because it interferes with its production. This can cause intrusive thoughts, persistent worries, and other severe mental health symptoms.

A reduction in levels of GABA in the brain can also exacerbate existing mental health issues.

Why does hangxiety happen?

As alcohol leaves our body through a process of withdrawal our brain attempts to restore the normal chemical balance by reducing the brain’s GABA (which causes calm feelings to decline) and increasing glutamate (which increases levels of anxiety).

This has the opposite effect that alcohol claims to deliver on ingestion making you less calm and more anxious.

Remember, anxiety can not only be caused by concerns about your behaviour whilst under the influence of alcohol the previous evening – it can also solely be the result of this chemical process. Read more about hangxiety

How long does anxiety last after drinking?

Anxiety after drinking alcohol can last for hours, or days. Anxiety and alcohol impact people differently, but as a rule anxiety that accompanies a hangover might last up to a day.

If you already suffer with anxiety issues anxiety from alcohol may take longer than a day to ease off.

Managing anxiety after drinking

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and energy drinks.

Drink plenty of water and sleep, rest, and relax.

Practising mindfulness or yoga can help to ameliorate the symptoms of hangxiety.

If you feel able to have a walk for some fresh air that can also be beneficial. If you are concerned about your behaviour the previous night, it can help to talk to a trusted friend and to take steps to apologise to anyone you feel you may have offended or upset by your behaviour.

When hangxiety could be a problem

Hangxiety can be a severe problem if you have to travel, work, or look after children while suffering with it.

It is hard enough to deal with it when you are comfortable and cocooned at home but feeling depressed, anxious, feeling overwhelmed, worried, or embarrassed about the night before is no fun if you are trying to spend the day with family, friends, or at work.

How do I stop feeling anxious after drinking?

1. Rehydrate. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
2. Eat a light meal of mild, healthy foods (avoid greasy or processed foods).
3. If you feel nauseous broth, crackers, bananas, or dry toast can all help settle your stomach.
4. Try to get some sleep.
5. A shower can make you feel a lot better.

Can alcohol cause anxiety the next day?

Yes, anxiety after drinking alcohol can last for hours, or days.

Anxiety and alcohol impact people differently, but as a rule anxiety that accompanies a hangover might last up to a day.

If you already suffer with anxiety issues anxiety from alcohol may take longer than a day to ease off.

What does hangxiety feel like?

It is a tense, uptight, anxious, mixed up feeling in the stomach combined with mental anguish such as the following:

• Feeling depressed and anxious.
• A sense of feeling overwhelmed, worried, or embarrassed
• Obsessed with over-analysing moments from the previous night.
• A sense of existential dread
• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness
• Inability to focus.
• Paranoia

It is possible to experience a panic attack after drinking alcohol – all caused by the above elements. If you are breathing quickly during a panic attack, doing a breathing exercise can ease your other symptoms. This can help:

• breathe in as slowly, deeply, and gently as you can, through your nose.
• breathe out slowly, deeply, and gently through your mouth.
• some people find it helpful to count steadily from 1 to 5 on each in-breath and each out-breath.
• close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

Final Thoughts

Prevention is always better than cure so avoiding alcohol can eradicate any risk of your suffering with alcohol induced anxiety.

Life becomes a whole lot more pleasant, less complicated, less stressful, and more fun when you can wake up the morning after a big event and feel fabulous.

If you think you might want to stop drinking, then Allen Carr’s Easyway to stop drinking drug free method can make it a breeze..

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