There is something worse than a hangover: hangxiety
My hangovers have gradations. You have the hangover with a slight aching pain around the eyes to the hangover with sweaty hands plus a pulsing stomach and pretty much everything in between. But what they all have in common is that they are scraping along a mental breakdown. My hangover always sits a bit between my ears.
Nothing wrong if I can binge-watch Netflix with the curtains closed, but even then I have somewhat thin nerves. It has a name: hangxiety. The remarkable thing is that hangxiety doesn't only arise from one night of heavy drinking, but also from multiple nights of alcohol consumption. Prevention manager Floor van Bakkum from Jellinek explains it clearly on evajinek.nl: ‘Alcohol affects the neurotransmitters in your head. This can lead to various psychological complaints: stress, depressive feelings, nervousness, anxiety, and worrying.’ And then you think you're just having a few evenings on the terrace. Well, think again.
The first signs of my hangxiety manifest in thick tears at a sad piece of Netflix. Is an animal dying? Then I'm even howling on the couch with gigantic sobs. My boyfriend always gets a bit flustered, wondering why I'm so sad. Well, just because of that enormous hangover and that animal. I find that completely normal during a hangover, but judging by his reaction, I know it's at least a remarkable response.
The reassuring thing is that hangxiety also disappears with the hangover. Especially if you only hit it hard once. All the sad and desperate feelings vanish with the evaporation of the alcohol. Experts actually advise not to wait for it, as I usually do, but to take action instead. A walk in the woods, cooking healthy food, or tidying up at home gives you something to do and distracts you from that feeling. You'll get rid of those thin nerves faster that way.
Prevention is always better than cure. A good gauge is how you feel before you start drinking alcohol. Are you tired, nervous, or sad from the week? Adjust your alcohol intake accordingly. Alcohol amplifies your feelings, so you can assume that hangxiety is already waiting to ruin your day the next day. And I haven't even mentioned that crying fit in the middle of the dance floor that hits you while drinking.
Source: evajinek.nl
