What you get when the brain’s inhibitory system is working overtime and the stimulatory system is slowed down, is that delightfully relaxed feeling that sets in after a couple of drinks. He explains that alcohol activates the brain’s inhibitory system (that’s that GABA activity) as it simultaneously attenuates the brain’s primary stimulatory system (the glutamatergic system). Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) agrees: “I think of a hangover as, more or less, a mini-withdrawal from alcohol, and anxiety is one of the components,” he tells SELF.Īlcohol is “basically primarily a sedative,” Dr. In other words, hangover anxiety can be one of these subclinical (not severe enough to be diagnosed) symptoms of withdrawal. Someone who drinks heavily often-and then stopped suddenly-would experience more severe versions of those symptoms-vomiting, diarrhea, maybe even a panic attack. So, the morning after a night of hard partying, you may feel sick to your stomach, nauseated, irritable, and anxious. The symptoms you experience after a night of heavy drinking tend to be milder versions of what clinical alcohol withdrawal looks like, explains Michael Bogenschutz, M.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Not everyone experiences hangover anxiety-some people just feel achy or have an upset stomach-but it’s a relatively common symptom of a hangover. That said, we did talk to experts who helped us understand the big picture. One thing to keep in mind: Alcohol affects various neurotransmitter systems in the brain and trying to nail down how it affects any individual aspect is difficult because they interact with one another. It turns out that hangxiety might in fact be a thing that has both physiological and psychological explanations. The overwhelming feeling of worry and anxiety after drinking too much is an experience common enough that Reddit has devoted threads to the term: “hangxiety.” But for others, the anxiety is overwhelming, and it’s not just regret from drinking too much or your mind’s effort to piece together a hazy night. For some people, these doubts and worries are fleeting-run-of-the-mill nerves from letting their guard down after drinking alcohol the night before.
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