We live in a world where it seems new terms are being created for everyday vocabulary daily. Words like “adulting,” “contactless,” “doom scrolling” and “WFH” have become part of our vocabulary without most of us even realizing so.
With a big boom in many of us focusing on our health and wellness throughout this pandemic, numerous terms have been coined to describe our mental and physical state. One of those terms that have become part of daily conversations in wellness discussions is “hangxiety.”
What exactly is hangxiety, though? When is an appropriate time to use it? Most importantly, how do you cure it?
That’s where we come in, to provide you with a definition and examples of when this term works in various discourse and provide you with reliable solutions for overcoming your hangxiety.
Defining Hangxiety:
The term “hangxiety” comes from a form of anxiety triggered by the guilt of excessive drinking and the fear of an inevitable hangover that will likely come as a result.
Hangovers are something absolutely no one enjoys. Unfortunately, many of us are all too familiar with the symptoms associated with a hangover. These include unbearable headaches, feelings of nausea, extreme sensitivity to lights and a dizzy feeling that won’t go away.
As miserable as a hangover can be, most of us are likely to experience them more than once. In the moment, a night of fun and alcohol is often too hard to simply say “no” to. Likewise, the aftermath of our decisions is easy to push to the side and forget about — until reality hits us in the face the following day with yet another hangover.
Those who drink heavily regularly will likely develop a form of hangxiety, where they dread the next morning. They fear waking up and facing hangover symptoms yet again — and they likely chug as much water as possible before bed to minimize the effects of the unavoidable hangover.
Recognizing Hangxiety:
A person can suffer from hangxiety without actually having an actual anxiety disorder.
Those who experience hangxiety will likely feel restless, anxious, paranoid and have a sense of deep regret for their drinking decisions. The irony in this feeling is that it is the exact opposite sensations that drinking makes you feel because it is likely that while enjoying one too many drinks, your body was having an endorphin rush and feeling great.
This creates quite a dilemma. Should you enjoy the evening with your friends and splurge on another drink, knowing there might be physical consequences the next day? Or shy away from a drink and feel awkward or like a buzz kill in the social setting?
For most, the decision is simple. Enjoy the moment and suffer from hangxiety later.
However, we’re here to reveal a secret — as you can also enjoy the moment and prepare to combat hangxiety to minimize your symptoms.
Curing Hangxiety:
So what’s the secret to overcoming hangxiety?
Hangxiety can be dealt with in numerous ways. Here are some of our go-to’s to avoid the mental guilt and physical aftermath that comes from a big night out drinking with friends.
- Rehydrate your body:
One of the most important ways to cure a hangover, in general, is to stay hydrated. A general rule of thumb is that for every alcoholic drink you have, you should then counter that with a glass of water. The key is to be consistent with your water rather than trying to chug it all at once.
- Sign up for an IV treatment:
If you know that you cannot drink enough water to counteract the alcohol you consumed, consider signing up for an IV therapy treatment. You will actually be able to get hydration directly to your bloodstream and feel relief from hangover symptoms in as little as an hour. This is a great go-to for those that suffer from hangxiety.
- Be kind to yourself:
If you suffer from hangxiety and feel overwhelmed by the guilt of drinking, then try practicing mindfulness and forgiveness. It is okay to have fun. It is okay to drink a bit more than you probably should have. Instead of dwelling in regret and self-pity, know that you can get rid of your hangover symptoms efficiently through proper self-care and that it is all going to be okay.
So while hangxiety might be a term that is here to stay in our vocabulary, the actual feeling of anxiety is something you can find relief from relatively quickly.