'That nagging feeling of dread': Is 'hang-xiety' a real thing?
The term 'hang-xiety' describes the psychological distress and anxiety often experienced during a hangover. Experts explain that this is caused by the brain's chemical reaction to alcohol withdrawal, specifically involving GABA and glutamate imbalances.
Why it matters
It provides a scientific explanation for a common social phenomenon, helping to destigmatize mental health experiences related to alcohol consumption.
Image source, Eleanor Tobin Image caption, Eleanor Tobin (right) says she's no stranger to hang-xiety after a night out
You wake up. Your head throbs. Then comes the second wave: a low, gnawing horror at what you might have done.
You scroll back through last night's messages, certain you said something wrong.
You replay conversations worried you offended someone, embarrassed yourself, or both.
"It's that nagging feeling of dread," says 25-year old Eleanor Tobin who works in marketing and events in London.
"If the day starts with me doing a checklist of my things - panically checking I have my bag, my phone - I know the anxiety is going to seep into everything I do beyond just reliving the night before."
This is hang-xiety, a name coined in social slang a decade ago, for the anxiety that can accompany a hangover.
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