Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Psychopharmacology Alcohol

Hangxiety 101: the brain chemistry behind post-drinking dread

by Blair Aitken and Rebecca Rothman
November 26, 2024
in Alcohol, Anxiety
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay informed on the latest psychology and neuroscience research—follow PsyPost on LinkedIn for daily updates and insights.

You had a great night out, but the next morning, anxiety hits: your heart races, and you replay every conversation from the night before in your head. This feeling, known as hangover anxiety or “hangxiety”, affects around 22% of social drinkers.

While for some people, it’s mild nerves, for others, it’s a wave of anxiety that feels impossible to ride out. The “Sunday scaries” may make you feel panicked, filled with dread and unable to relax.

Hangover anxiety can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Here’s why it happens, and what you can do about it.

What does alcohol do to our brains?

A hangover is the body’s way of recovering after drinking alcohol, bringing with it a range of symptoms.

Dehydration and disrupted sleep play a large part in the pounding headaches and nausea many of us know too well after a big night out. But hangovers aren’t just physical – there’s a strong mental side too.

Alcohol is a nervous system depressant, meaning it alters how certain chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters) behave in the brain. Alcohol relaxes you by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurotransmitter that makes you feel calm and lowers inhibitions. It decreases glutamate and this also slows down your thoughts and helps ease you into a more relaxed state.

Together, this interaction affects your mood, emotions and alertness. This is why when we drink, we often feel more sociable, carefree and willing to let our guard down.

As the effects of the alcohol wear off, your brain works to rebalance these chemicals by reducing GABA and increasing glutamate. This shift has the opposite effect of the night before, causing your brain to become more excitable and overstimulated, which can lead to feelings of anxiety.

So why do some people get hangxiety, while others don’t? There isn’t one clear answer to this question, as several factors can play a role in whether someone experiences hangover-related anxiety.

Genes play a role

For some, a hangover is simply a matter of how much they drank or how hydrated they are. But genetics may also play a significant role. Research shows your genes can explain almost half the reason why you wake up feeling hungover, while your friend might not.

Because genes influence how your body processes alcohol, some people may experience more intense hangover symptoms, such as headaches or dehydration. These stronger physical effects can, in turn, trigger anxiety during a hangover, making you more susceptible to “hangxiety.”

Do you remember what you said last night?

But one of the most common culprits for feeling anxious the next day is often what you do while drinking.

Let’s say you’ve had a big night out and you can’t quite recall a conversation you had or something you did. Maybe you acted in ways that you now regret or feel embarrassed about. You might fixate on these thoughts and get trapped in a cycle of worrying and rumination. This cycle can be hard to break and can make you feel more anxious.

Research suggests people who already struggle with feelings of anxiety in their day-to-day lives are especially vulnerable to hangxiety.

Some people drink alcohol to unwind after a stressful day or to make themselves feel more comfortable at social events. This often leads to heavier consumption, which can make hangover symptoms more severe. It can also begin a cycle of drinking to feel better, making hangxiety even harder to escape.

Preventing hangover anxiety

The best way to prevent hangxiety is to limit your alcohol consumption. The Australian guidelines recommend having no more than ten standard drinks per week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day.

Generally, the more you drink, the more intense your hangover symptoms might be, and the worse you are likely to feel.

Mixing other drugs with alcohol can also increase the risk of hangxiety. This is especially true for party drugs, such as ecstasy or MDMA, that give you a temporary high but can lead to anxiety as they wear off and you are coming down.

If you do wake up feeling anxious:

  • focus on the physical recovery to help ease the mental strain
  • drink plenty of water, eat a light meal and allow yourself time to rest
  • try mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises, especially if anxiety keeps you awake or your mind races
  • consider journalling. This can help re-frame anxious thoughts, put your feelings into perspective and encourage self-compassion
  • talk to a close friend. This can provide a safe space to express concerns and feel less isolated.

Hangxiety is an unwelcome guest after a night out. Understanding why hangxiety happens – and how you can manage it – can make the morning after a little less daunting, and help keep those anxious thoughts at bay.The Conversation

 

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

TweetSendScanShareSendPinShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is
Anxiety

Highly irritable teens are more likely to bully others, but anxiety mitigates this tendency

July 12, 2025

Social anxiety weakens the link between irritability and bullying in adolescents—irritable teens are less likely to bully others if they also have social anxiety. This moderating effect was not seen with generalized anxiety or other forms of aggression.

Read moreDetails
Adults with ADHD face significantly shorter life expectancy, study finds
Anxiety

Study finds “Anxious Mondays” linked to long-term stress and heart health risks in older adults

July 10, 2025

Researchers have discovered that anxiety felt on Mondays is associated with higher long-term cortisol levels in older adults, suggesting the start of the week may contribute to biological stress in ways that extend far beyond the office.

Read moreDetails
Ketamine repairs reward circuitry to reverse stress-induced anhedonia
Anxiety

Virtual reality meditation eases caregiver anxiety during pediatric hospital stays, with stronger benefits for Spanish speakers

July 9, 2025

Researchers at Stanford found that a six-minute guided meditation delivered through a VR headset lowered anxiety levels in parents of hospitalized children. The intervention outperformed standard relaxation methods, with Spanish-speaking caregivers experiencing the greatest benefit.

Read moreDetails
Heightened anxiety linked to an impaired ability to simulate alternative versions of past events
Anxiety

New research reveals emotional control deficits in generalized anxiety disorder

July 7, 2025

A new study suggests that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulty focusing on relevant emotional information and shifting attention between emotional tasks, highlighting impairments in affective control that may contribute to chronic anxiety symptoms.

Read moreDetails
Liver health may influence mental health via inflammation and glutamate levels
Anxiety

Liver health may influence mental health via inflammation and glutamate levels

June 28, 2025

A new study suggests that diets high in fat and fructose can damage the liver and trigger anxiety-like behaviors in mice. The research also found that corilagin, a natural compound, reversed many of these harmful effects.

Read moreDetails
How people end romantic relationships: New study pinpoints three common break up strategies
Anxiety

Spider fear inflates size perception, highlighting the role of emotion in threat assessment

June 26, 2025

A new study finds that people afraid of spiders perceive them as larger than they really are, while arachnology experts judge their size accurately. The findings shed light on how emotion and knowledge shape perception of threatening creatures.

Read moreDetails
Anxious minds don’t always fixate on danger, according to new study
Anxiety

Anxious minds don’t always fixate on danger, according to new study

June 25, 2025

A new study challenges long‑held ideas about anxiety and attention. It finds that when motivated, anxious people can shift focus from threats just as quickly as others — suggesting that “dwelling” on threats may be more about circumstance than an inherent deficit.

Read moreDetails
Indirect exposure to gun violence linked to reduced quality of life in four different domains
Anxiety

Economic data reveal the disturbing “echo of anxiety” after fatal school shootings

June 25, 2025

A new study finds that fatal school shootings have lasting economic impacts far beyond the tragedy itself. Fear and anxiety ripple through communities, leading people to spend less on groceries, restaurants, and other public spaces for months after the shooting.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Brain scans reveal who may benefit most from MDMA for trauma-related symptoms

Frequent egg consumption linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s dementia, study finds

Psychopathic personality and weak impulse control pair up to predict teen property crime

Low sexual activity, body shape, and mood may combine in ways that shorten lives, new study suggests

Highly irritable teens are more likely to bully others, but anxiety mitigates this tendency

Neuroscientists identify brain pathway that prioritizes safety over other needs

Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is

Neuroscientists shed new light on how heroin disrupts prefrontal brain function

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy