Ever woken up after a Christmas party with that sinking feeling that you need to apologise? Feeling like you’re on Santa’s naughty list? Staring at the ceiling, too anxious to face the elves you live with? Well, you’re not alone! That’s Hangxiety. Yep, it’s a thing.
Ever woken up after a Christmas party with that sinking feeling that you need to apologise?
Feeling like you’re on Santa’s naughty list? Staring at the ceiling, too anxious to face the elves you live with?
Well, you’re not alone!
That’s Hangxiety. Yep, it’s a thing.
Using alcohol to manage social anxiety can, in the short term, make you feel like the life of the party. But if you’re not used to this feeling, it can be hard to stop once you’ve started, leading to drinking more and more until you pass out or black out.
But here’s the kicker: that anxiety is only being “sat on” by the alcohol. While you’re sleeping, the alcohol is sneaking out of your body, and the anxiety is ready to pounce when you wake up. Adding to this biological horror show is the added sprinkle of “what did I say, what did I do, I can’t quite remember.” All this wrapped up together, gives us an unwanted Christmas gift we are desperate to return.
So, what can you do about this?
First and foremost, the more we drink, the more we will pay for it in the morning. Check out Drinkaware's guide to managing your drinking over Christmas. The Drinkaware guide to a safe and happy Christmas | Drinkaware
Get up and get moving! Lying in bed thinking about what you may or may not have done last night is only going to make things feel worse. You’re dehydrated, you’re tired (because drunk sleep is basically no sleep), and you’re hungry.
Here are four simple points to follow if you’re a survivor of Hangxiety:
Get up, brush your teeth, and drink some water. Your mouth feels like a desert, and your breath could probably knock out a reindeer. Basic self-care can be easily forgotten but must not be underestimated.
Eat something – Bananas are great; eggs are a close second, but really, anything nutritious will help. An empty stomach is enough to make anyone want to burst into tears. (If you’ve been savvy, you will have stocked up on breakfast carbs the day before.)
Talk to your friends – Speaking to trusted friends can help you get out of your own head and back into reality.
Go for a walk – Even if it’s just to the shop, around the block, or to a friend’s house, getting out of the house, even for a short amount of time, and getting some daylight and fresh air can help clear those Hangxiety cobwebs away.
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, book an appointment with the UWE Drug & Alcohol Service, or the UWE Wellbeing Service for more general wellbeing support.