Episode details

World Service,22 Oct 2026,8 mins
Hangxiety: Why some people experience anxiety after drinking alcohol
What in the WorldAvailable for over a year
After drinking alcohol, some people don鈥檛 just have a headache - they feel guilt, dread, low mood and a deep sense of embarrassment. It鈥檚 known as 鈥榟ang-xiety鈥� or hangover anxiety, and science backs up that it鈥檚 a real phenomenon. Alcohol affects all systems in the body, including the brain. so it can cause psychological symptoms. Millie Gooch, author of Hangxiety and speaker breaks down how the nervous system and brain are impacted when the effects of alcohol wear off. She also tells us how hangxiety played a role in her sobriety journey. We also hear about some people鈥檚 experience with anxiety, and how it changed their relationship with alcohol. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde
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