Hangiety
As I am sure most of us know, hangovers are the unpleasant aftermath of consuming alcohol. Usual symptoms include headache, sickness, dehydration and fatigue. Other more subtle symptoms include increased blood pressure, irritability, depression and even anxiety. Hence Hangiety.
I thought it was a good moment to talk about alcohol and hangovers. Why? Well, yesterday was the final of the Soccer European Nations Champion in Berlin between England and Spain. Spain won by the way, so well done to them.
Alcohol and Anxiety
Yes, according to the National Institutes of Health or NIH (a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), about 12% of people also experience anxiety as part of their hangover. When the body is recovering from a night of drinking alcohol, cortisol levels (the ‘stress hormone’), blood pressure and heart rate all increase. And this can make you feel anxious and on edge.
Other Effects
Alcohol dehydrates you and so it causes thirst, light-headedness and headache. It also can cause an electrolyte imbalance – when certain minerals (Sodium, Potassium, Phosphate, etc.) levels in your blood become either too high or too low. As well as drinking water, a sport drink can help with this.
Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines and this can lead to nausea, vomiting and even diarrhoea. It also will disturb your sleep either making you sleep less or have poor quality sleep.
Alcohol intoxication also causes impaired brain function, affecting risk assessment, decision-making, attention scan, and memory. This is due to cognitive effects that makes changes in neurotransmitter function in the brain. In extreme cases it can contribute to psychological consequences.
Hangovers
Hangovers are more than just physical discomfort; they also impact your mental health, productivity, and well-being. If you do find yourself dealing with a hangover, consider rest, hydration, and self-care to recover effectively.
Not everyone has the same reaction to alcohol and have varying degrees of a hangover. But for some the symptoms can be severe. As Robert Benchley (American Humourist) put it, “A real hangover is nothing to try out family remedies on. The only cure for a real hangover is death”.
Finally
So, consuming a small amount of alcohol is thought to be mostly harmless and even could be beneficial. But drinking to excess, to the point where you have a hangover the next day, is harmful and can have unforeseen impacts on your brain function and psychology. And if you suffer with Hangiety, perhaps try to avoid it.
If you or someone you know are struggling with your alcohol consumption, Hypnotherapy can help. It can help you visualise and work towards an alcohol free future as well as use regression therapy to explore past experiences and traumas that may have caused the addiction. So, if you or someone you know could benefit from this, then contact me.
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