The euphoria of a fun-filled evening often gives way to a morning marred by pounding headaches and unrelenting anxiety. This phenomenon, often dubbed "hangxiety," isn't merely a figment of one's imagination. Delving beyond the surface of regret and embarrassing behaviour lies a physiological reality.
"Almost anyone who drinks any alcohol will experience alterations in their brain when they’re coming off the alcohol. With a small amount of drinking, that may manifest as confusion, but after larger quantities you can have anxiety," David Nutt, an author and neuropsychopharmacologist specializing in alcohol's effects on the brain at Imperial College London, told New York Post.
The irony is stark. The liquid courage that emboldens social interactions can amplify anxiety the following day, even in individuals not predisposed to generalized anxiety. This conundrum is intricately linked to the interplay of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Alcohol's influence on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter pivotal in sleep and stress regulation, is central to this phenomenon. While GABA typically calms the central nervous system, alcohol's interaction with GABA receptors temporarily mirrors this effect, causing depletion of GABA levels. Consequently, the post-alcohol state leaves individuals with reduced GABA, exacerbating feelings of anxiety.
Moreover, alcohol's impact on glutamate, another neurotransmitter, adds another layer to this complex interplay. By diminishing glutamate's effects, alcohol prompts the brain to produce more of this stimulatory chemical, leading to an overabundance that fuels anxiety upon sobriety.
For occasional drinkers, the "hangxiety" typically dissipates within a day. However, chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the delicate balance of neurotransmitters, prolonging the recovery process. According to Stephen Holt, director of the addiction recovery clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital, chronic drinkers may experience symptoms of dysregulation, further compounded by alcohol's breakdown product, acetaldehyde.
"Throughout the day, as the acetaldehyde is excreted, your body is recovering from having been poisoned," Holt explains.
The intertwined relationship between alcohol and sleep further exacerbates the morning-after ordeal. Despite its temporary sedative effects, alcohol disrupts the sleep cycle, leaving individuals sleep-deprived and irritable. Moreover, the post-booze endorphin comedown exacerbates emotional withdrawal, unmasking psychological symptoms that may have been suppressed by alcohol.
In the quest for relief, some turn to the age-old "hair of the dog" remedy, but experts caution against this approach. "Never drink to deal with the shakes or anxiety," warns Nutt. "We call that relief drinking, and that is the cycle of addiction."
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