Perfectly lovely work night out followed by…

[Hekii]

… 2 hours (and counting) of lying awake in bed thinking ‘I’m a twat, I’m a twat’.

Alcohol sucks and I really shouldn’t drink it.

As long as you weren't saying mean things about people - what does it matter ?
You were chatty, everyone had a good time.
Drink plenty of water today and relax

Beer fear 😂😂

Me too - interesting explanation to cut through the Fear...

Hope you're feeling better today - chin up and an early night! Everyone will be in a good mood because it's Friday! 😄

Its often simple dehydration. Next time get up and drink a pint of water and a cup of camomile tea while forcing your mind to focus only on the fun things other people said and did that made it a good night.

I’m another who gets this anyway OP, but your post reminded me of how much worse it used to be when I used to have more alcohol. I have a strict limit of one small glass of wine now. Boring but it helps. There are lots of nice alcohol free drinks these days and I have much better nights out sober.

With me it’s because I’m shy and bad at smalltalk and I tend to gabble and overshare when I feel uncomfortable. Then I die of shame about everything I said even though it’s nothing major at all. In fact one of the best outcomes is if you can find yourself someone more drunk and gabbling than you, or someone more shy than you, and listen to them / encourage them. Then you say less overall and agonise less.

listening to the radio is good tip too, or CBT type distraction games like going through the alphabet and thinking of a fruit/place name/etc for each letter.

As another poster has said, chances are everyone / most people had had a drink and are in the same boat this morning - some will be worse than you!

Honestly don't worry about it.

Also, even when people have done really embarrassing stuff, nobody really remembers it or cares for very long! People are too bothered about themselves which is a good thing 😂

This is me as well! Alcohol elevates your heart rate so it makes you feel anxious and panicky even if you did absolutely nothing to make you anxious or panicky! I got to the grand age of 50 before realising this is why I get hangxiety after every night out!

Ha, same.

Went to my daughter’s nativity earlier this week and the next day, I’m literally having flashbacks of little moments, cringing, then saying “oh fuck off” to myself in my head.

I don't get why people have Christmas Do's on a week night. Whose idea was that?

I get this just from day to day life. Get through the day, lay down in bed and bam! The "should haves" start and the worrying and the anxiety, then the struggling to sleep before eventually falling asleep exhausted.

Then waking up the next morning thinking "why the fuck do you do this to me brain?!" as in the cold light of day nothing is ever as bad as you thought it was last night.

Coffee OP - lots of coffee!

It is too why I've stopped drinking at Christmas parties though. I actually enjoy them more too as I can properly talk to people and remember the conversations the next day.

I often still have a raging headache though, so I call them my social hangovers!

Oh no, the Beer Fear.. AKA Hangxiety. I get these even when I KNOW I didn't do/say anything embarrassing/bad/cringy.

@ValentinesDayCryingInTheHotel

Ha, same.

Went to my daughter’s nativity earlier this week and the next day, I’m literally having flashbacks of little moments, cringing, then saying “oh fuck off” to myself in my head.

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Brilliant
Remember- Doubt is a lair (obviously try and be polite and kind to people )
But your response is perfect.

You are not alone! I also have this - it is terrible. If I drink on a night out I wake up 5 to 6 times in a complete panic. Sometimes it even happens when i’ve had a glass of wine on my own at home. I’d give anything to be able to stop it. I try to avoid going out drinking because of it - it’s awful. Don’t worry i’m sure you were great.

Well you don't want to be hungover on your own time......

Because the employers probably think it will be cheaper if people don't drink as much because they have to get up the next day!

There's actually a pretty easy way to stop it, stop drinking!

Agreed - I said I don’t go out drinking. It is annoying to stop something you actually enjoy because your brain is sabotaging you for no reason. I didn’t even drink at my best friends big milestone birthday as it just isn’t worth it. But I would love to be able to stop the alcohol anxiety and be normal!

I'd argue that experiencing anxiety after drinking alcohol is normal. I read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Control Alcohol and it completely changed my outlook on alcohol, I highly recommend reading it.

Who wants to spend time with their work colleagues during the weekend?

This!! Glad it’s not just me…….

Thought this was interesting on the cause of hangxiety…

www.thetimes.com/article/910d3c37-6496-4430-b997-f2421e10579b?shareToken=96a0adcbabb8ca30a4826c0ee7e6cab3

That was a great read, thanks for sharing!