How to handle HANGXIETY

Battling the booze blues? Take back control with these clever tips

With festivities in full swing, many of us will be enjoying a tipple or two. Morning-after fear taking the sparkle out of the celebrations? It’s not uncommon to wake up worrying that you’ve done or said something wrong while drinking. In fact, 36%* of Brits experience what has been coined ‘hangxiety’ aka hangover anxiety, after a drinking session. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to outsmart the tricks that booze is playing on your brain. Here’s everything you need to know so you can make the most of the break without sabotaging your wellbeing.

The science bit

Hangxiety is simply caused by a chemical reaction within our body. ‘Alcohol affects the receptors and neurons in the brain,’ says body psychotherapist Lorna Evans**. ‘Initially, it gives us a dopamine rush, so we feel happy, but then, as with any high, we have to come down,’ she adds. ‘Alcohol reduces our levels of the happy hormone serotonin, which can lead to feelings of sadness and overthinking following alcohol consumption.’