A TikToker has explained how 'hangxiety is a real thing', having broken down the science behind feeling anxious when you're hungover.
TikTok user Sophie Ward, who shares content on YouTube and TikTok as Soph's Notes, shared a video explainer on the platform, captioning the post: "Hangxiety is a real thing."
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In the clip, Sophie talks us through the 'chemical changes' that take place, which affect how your brain works.
She says: "If you've ever felt super anxious when you're hungover, then don't worry, a lot of people do.
"Hangxiety is a real thing caused by real chemical changes in your brain.
"When you drink, chemicals in your brain are affected, namely glutamate and GABA [Gamma aminobutyric acid].
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"These normally have opposing effects on the brain - glutamate making it more active, and GABA making it less active."
She continues: "Drinking alcohol simultaneously increases the amount of chill GABA we have whilst decreasing the amount of wired glutamate.
"This means your brain is acting in super slow mo, giving you slower reactions and lower inhibitions.
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"The morning after your brain tries to rebalance - it becomes super sensitive to glutamate, which makes it hyperactive and you anxious, while becoming less sensitive to GABA, which would normally step in to chill you out.
"It's basically the reverse of what was happening while you were drinking and is a recipe for hangxiety."
Sophie concluded by reassuring people that the weird anxiety you feel doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, you're just feeling a bit unbalanced chemically.
She said: "So, no, you're not the worst person in the world who only did embarrassing things last night and now everybody low-key hates you.
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"You're just a bit chemically unbalanced. But hopefully next time it'll help you to know that."
The video has racked up more than 12,000 likes, suggesting just how universal the topic is.
There are also hundreds of comments, with one user writing to Sophie: "Ohhh so that's why I say 'I'm never drinking again' the next day."
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Another person said: "It's the worst."
Some people even said it was the 'hangxiety' that prompted them to give up drinking altogether, while another added: "Also doesn't help when you don't remember everything from the prior night hahah."
Responding to that comment, Sophie explained: "Hahaha exactly!! Which may also be down to glutamate getting blocked when you drink (it has a role in memory formation)."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Science, World News, News, Drinking, Hangover, TikTok