POV: I Drank Too Much Alcohol and I Feel Like Crap

It's probably a good guess that you’re reading this post because you either: 

1.) currently have a horrible hangover and you’re wondering if you just might die from it, or 

2.) you’re remembering a terrible hangover you once had and are feeling like you could puke just thinking about it.

Sound familiar?

Why Does Drinking Feel So Good at First?

Drinking alcohol can be fun, especially in the first 20 or so minutes. During this short amount time, you start to loosen up and maybe get a little buzzed. This is because alcohol breaks through your blood-brain barrier and goes “straight to your head.” While your blood alcohol levels are rising, your body produces large amounts of dopamine which over stimulate the pleasure centers in your brain. During this time, you might feel free from your negative thoughts (because your brain is literally numbing) and maybe feeling less self-conscious. Dopamine is the “feel good” chemical that your body naturally produces, so it makes sense that you can feel really good during this brief time. Also, dopamine is famous for making you want MORE, so that explains why you grab that next drink.

Drinking Alcohol Is Fun Until It Isn’t: A Little Science For You

As you just learned, your first drink or two can include fun feelings like being buzzed, having a chill vibe, or feeling more confident than you usually do. But, because your brain is an incredible machine that is always seeking balance (homeostasis), when it is presented with a stimulant, it wants to counteract this euphoria to create balance. The chemical it produces to do this is called dynorphin. Dynorphin basically lowers the pleasure and “fun” you’re feeling from alcohol. Note: dynorphin stays in your body longer than alcohol, so that can explain why you have feelings of sadness or get the blues the day or two after drinking. Remember, what goes up, must come down.

Alcohol and Anxiety: the Annoying Truth

You’ve probably learned in school that alcohol is both a stimulant and depressant. Alcohol causes your body to release cortisol (stress hormones). So, if you are prone to anxiety, drinking is like pouring gasoline on your anxiety. What makes hangxiety (hangover + anxiety = hangxiety) so frustrating is that it can last for days after drinking. You might have had a “fun” night of drinking with your friends, but the next day you wake up with a racing heart and your mind is working overtime reliving the night and what you did or didn’t do. So, when you’re hungover and suffering from hangxiety, it’s like being two things at once: feeling exhausted and super anxious. Pretty miserable, huh? 

Drinking Is Cool, Right?

First of all, I cannot with borgs. And, sloppy drunk college girls...have mercy. In the future I’ll write another blog about these things.

For now, I invite you to consider how we truly get duped about booze. The actual realities of drinking aren’t presented to us in movies and reels and commercials. Think about the stylish and perfect girl with her fruity cocktail on a gorgeous white sandy beach, or the sophisticated boss babe sipping a whiskey at the table with the all-male board members, perfectly able to keep up with their consumption. This is just Hollywood: it’s not reality. The realities of drinking are serious.  Alcohol is a toxic substance and our bodies respond immediately to counteract its effects and to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Sometimes we even puke (that’s your body literally keeping you alive by getting the alcohol out as quickly as possible–thank your body for doing this!). Are the 20 minutes of fun you feel worth the hours and possibly days of future suffering, both physically and mentally? Your call.

It’s Your Choice: No Shame From Me

Drinking alcohol is your choice. You are smart, wise, and I trust your decisions. Being knowledgeable about the realities of booze is essential. Hopefully you’ve learned a bit more about your amazing brain and her constant mission to keep you balanced and healthy. Give her some love today: hydrate, rest, eat nutritious foods, get some sunlight. If you have hangxiety, I found the best way to combat it was with movement. The next time you choose to drink, I challenge you to get curious and pay attention to the reactions your brain has (based on what you learned above). It's also interesting to watch others go through the process.

Are you worried you might be drinking too much? Do you sometimes feel shame or guilt around your drinking? If so, take my "Am I (maybe) Drinking Too Much?" quiz and see what you find out.

Click HERE for "Am I (maybe) Drinking Too Much?" Quiz

Disclaimer from Suzanne: This is my personal understanding of how alcohol affects our brains and bodies. I am not a medical professional, and what I’ve written here is my opinion and does not act as any kind of medical or psychological advice. If you feel like you have a problem with alcohol, please seek help from your physician or visit your Dean of Students Office. I chose to stop drinking alcohol over two years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. I am always happy to talk about it! 

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