If you've ever awakened from a night of too many shots, feeling like your brain is on fire and your stomach is plotting a mutiny, you're likely a victim of the infamous hangover. But alongside the physical anguish comes a mental one - that gnawing anxiety about last night’s antics. You may better know it as 'hangxiety.' But what is hangxiety, and why have we given it its cozy little place in our vocabulary?

To boil it down, hangxiety is your typical hangover sprinkled with an extra shot of anxiety, says Rane Wallace of Fort Wellness Counseling. Imagine this guilt trip like a cocktail of physical distress stirred with psychological torment, ranging from disorienting headaches to stomach-tangling nausea, from a racing mind to an equally quickened heartbeat. Add to that your inability to concentrate topped with a swirling cocktail of shame, guilt, regret, and you've got yourself a full-blown hangxiety attack.

The culprit behind this post-binge phenomenon is your brain's reaction to alcohol. It's like a seesaw: alcohol pushes one end (gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA receptor) down creating feelings of relaxation, only for the brain to push the other end up, resulting in anxiety when the booze wears off. But bingo! You're the one left precariously rocking in the middle, dealing with a racy heart-rate and cresting peaks of anxiety.

But wait! Let's not get our hangxiety mixed up with regular anxiety. An anxiety disorder is a long-term antagonist constantly disrupting your daily life, persisting for at least six months. On the other hand, hangxiety is like that one annoying party-crasher; it makes an appearance following a wild night out and usually leaves within a couple of days.

However, if you're someone who already grapples with an anxiety disorder, hangxiety might hit you harder. Many high on the anxiety scale may resort to alcohol to ease their fears, but ironically can end up spiraling into increased anxiety the next day.

So, how do you combat the next hangxiety onslaught? The most straightforward answer: don't drink, or drink in moderation. But if you're already nursing the aftermath, hydrate, rest, eat healthily, and steer clear from caffeine. Breathe deep, be kind to yourself and remind yourself “This too shall pass.” And if all else fails, seek help.

Telltale signs that alcohol may be a problem, according to Wallace, include continuous preoccupation with alcohol consumption and hangxiety appearing more routinely than desired. If your gut is hinting at a possible issue with drinking, take heed. Reach out for help, take one of the many online self-assessment tests available, or consider therapy.

In the end, remember, your hangxiety doesn’t come with another round of drinks. So, the next time you're about to grab a glass, maybe opt for kale lemonade instead.