💡 Missed the last article?
Read “The Homeostasis Trap: How Alcohol Hijacks Our Nervous System” →
Anxiety and Alcohol Don’t Just Mix—They Multiply
If you’ve ever felt anxious after drinking—or even while drinking—you’re not alone.
And you’re not broken.
What most of us don’t realize is that alcohol affects our brain chemistry in waves, creating multiple anxiety phases that unfold over hours… and sometimes days.
This is what keeps us stuck in the loop: we drink to feel better, then feel worse, so we drink again.
Understanding these three phases of alcohol-induced anxiety is key to recognizing the trap—and stepping out of it.
Phase 1: Anxiety During Drinking
This one is sneaky.
We start with a drink to relax. And for a moment, it works.
But as alcohol settles in, the brain gets to work trying to balance things out—because it knows sedation is dangerous.
So even while we’re still drinking, cortisol and adrenaline start to rise.
What that feels like:
- Subtle restlessness
- Trouble focusing in conversation
- Feeling the need to drink more to feel “settled”
- That itchy sense of “I just need one more”
For some of us, it’s the reason we drink heavily.
Not because we’re reckless—but because we’re chemically chasing relief from the drink we just had.
It’s not a willpower issue. It’s a nervous system response.
Phase 2: Anxiety After Drinking (aka Hangxiety)
This is what hits the next day—even if we only had a few drinks.
The alcohol is gone, but the stress chemicals are still high.
And the feel-good neurotransmitters (like GABA and serotonin)? They’ve crashed.
So we wake up feeling:
- Edgy
- Regretful
- Overstimulated
- Mentally foggy but emotionally raw
Common thoughts:
- Did I say something dumb?
- Did I text someone I shouldn’t have?
- Why do I feel so off today?
Physically, we may notice:
- Rapid heart rate
- Shallow breathing
- Tight chest
- Clammy hands
This isn’t psychological weakness.
It’s withdrawal from a substance that threw your nervous system out of whack.
Phase 3: Withdrawal Anxiety (Even if You Don’t Realize It)
Here’s the final and most misunderstood phase: low-level withdrawal.
Many of us think of withdrawal as shaking and sweating. But it can be far subtler:
- General unease
- Feeling “off” or irritable
- A creeping restlessness or emotional flatness
What’s happening:
- Your brain is struggling to self-regulate without alcohol.
- GABA is low, and your system isn’t producing enough naturally.
- Stress hormones are still present.
- Your nervous system is oversensitized.
This is why we feel like drinking again—not to celebrate, but to stop feeling this way.
And that’s how the loop stays alive.
This Cycle Isn’t Your Fault—It’s the System
Each phase builds on the last.
You start drinking → your body compensates → you crash → you drink again to level out.
This is the chemical trap.
And once we see it for what it is, we can stop blaming ourselves—and start breaking free.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking?
Each phase disappears in reverse:
- Withdrawal fades first
- Hangxiety disappears
- Even that subtle during-drinking restlessness quiets down
The longer we go without alcohol, the more stable our nervous system becomes.
Our GABA levels restore. Our stress hormones rebalance. And our emotional baseline lifts.
What you’re left with is simple: calm. Not sedation. Not suppression. Just calm.
Next in the Series →
👉 Alcohol and Depression: The Other Side of the Chemical Trap