As cognitive-behavioral therapists, we observe many fascinating instances of the powerful connection between our minds and bodies. The “mind-body connection” means that our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning - and vice versa. In the case of “hangover anxiety,” the biological processes our bodies experience after consuming alcohol can lead to psychological symptoms and a sense of emotional unwellness. These biological processes include detoxification, decreasing endorphin levels, dehydration, and/or disturbed sleep. And these processes may manifest psychologically as anxiety, low mood, or unease in the days following an episode of heavy drinking. In Part I of this series, I will present a frame for how you can better understand if you’re dealing with hangover anxiety, and increase your awareness of if and when it manifests.
Hangover anxiety can present differently for different people. For some, it may be anxiety around what occurred during a drinking event (and what can or cannot be recalled about that event). For others, it may relate to frustration and worry over the inability to be clear-headed and productive following a night of heavy drinking. And the physical effects of a hangover can even exacerbate any pre-existing anxiety, having nothing to do with the drinking event itself.
One of the most challenging things about hangover anxiety is simply recognizing it when it arises. The best way to identify hangover anxiety is to monitor your mood and anxiety on the day or two following a drinking event. Below are some questions you can ask yourself in order to better understand your hangover anxiety.
Am I worrying about something I might have said or done while drinking alcohol? Does that worry feel intrusive or catastrophic, and am I unable to let go of it even after I’ve assessed my actions?
Am I beating myself up over my inability to be productive, motivated and clear-headed in the day(s) after drinking alcohol?
Does my life feel more challenging and stressful in the days after I drink heavily? Have those day-to-day worries that typically feel manageable suddenly become much bigger or harder to control?
If any of these questions resonate, it is likely you may have experienced hangover anxiety. Increasing your awareness about what hangover anxiety is and how it manifests is critical to moving through it without additional turmoil. Here at CTWPS, we help our patients better understand many of the mind-body interactions that shape the way we think, feel and function in the world. While hangover anxiety is often normalized and joked about within certain heavy-drinking age groups, and social scenes, the experience can be truly distressing and emotionally taxing. We want to educate you and help you cope with it. Stay tuned for Part II of this series in which we will introduce different strategies to help manage hangover anxiety.