Hangover vs Alcohol Withdrawal. You’ve woken up with a hangover. Probably more times than you can count.
Head pounding, mouth dry, stomach turning — you swear you’ll never drink again… Until the next time.
But if you’re noticing that the after-effects feel darker, heavier, more unmanageable, you might not just be hungover anymore. You might be going through alcohol withdrawal.
And trust me — there’s a f*cking difference. One’s uncomfortable. The other can be deadly.
What Is a Hangover, Really?
A hangover is your body’s response to the chemical chaos alcohol causes in your system.
Symptoms typically include:
Dehydration
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Anxiety or irritability
Sensitivity to light and sound
They usually fade within 12–24 hours once the alcohol’s been metabolised.
It’s your body screaming: “WTF was that? Please never do that again.”
But hangovers are short-lived. They suck, but they pass.
Now Let’s Talk Alcohol Withdrawal — the Real Beast
Alcohol withdrawal happens when your body has become dependent on alcohol. Meaning it’s not just reacting to alcohol leaving your system — it’s begging for it back.
Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
Shaking or tremors
Sweating
Rapid heartbeat
Intense anxiety or panic
Insomnia
Hallucinations
Seizures
Delirium Tremens (DTs), which can be life-threatening
This isn’t a bad morning after. This is your nervous system in meltdown.
Why the Confusion in Hangover vs Alcohol Withdrawal
Because it creeps up on you.
Most people who drink regularly don’t notice the shift. They think it’s just a worse hangover. But then the shakes last longer. The anxiety doesn’t go away. You start needing a drink to function, not just to party.
That’s not “too much fun last night.” That’s dependence.
Ian’s Story — 40+ Years Drinking, 20 Weeks Free
I drank heavily for over four decades. I didn’t go to AA. I didn’t go to rehab. I quit through mindset rewiring, brutal honesty, and a clear purpose. But before that? I had no f*cking clue what alcohol had done to me.
Hangovers became my baseline. Then came the withdrawal symptoms — I didn’t know that’s what they were.
Absolutely. I did. But you need a strategy, not just willpower. Mindset rewiring, support, and brutal honesty are your best allies.
The Real Reason This Matters
Most people don’t seek help until they hit “rock bottom.” But what if you didn’t need to hit bottom to turn it around?
What if you just needed to understand what’s happening inside you? To stop calling it a hangover when it’s withdrawal. To stop brushing it off as “getting older” when you’re fading away.
This post isn’t about fear. It’s about truth.
Because once you know the difference, you can’t un-know it.
You Deserve More Than Just Surviving the Morning After
You deserve mornings without shame. Days without brain fog. Nights without needing a f*cking substance to sleep.
And it starts with facing this question honestly:
Am I hungover — or is this something deeper?
Take Action Before It Takes You Out
You don’t need a label. You don’t need rehab if that’s not your thing. But you do need to stop bullshitting yourself.
Many men turn to alcohol to unwind. Why alcohol makes anxiety worse in men.
End of a long day. Work stress. Relationship tension. Your head’s noisy. Your body’s tight. You crack open a beer, pour a glass of wine, or throw back something stronger.
You tell yourself it helps you relax. Helps you forget. Helps you sleep. But here’s the brutal truth: That drink you think is helping? It might be the very thing keeping you stuck in stress, anxiety, and a low mood.
And I say that as someone who drank for over 40 years. Not casually. Not occasionally. But daily. Drinking to take the edge off. To feel normal. To feel like me.
Why Alcohol Increases Stress and Anxiety in Men
Alcohol does give temporary relief. That’s what makes it dangerous.
It lowers your inhibitions. Numbs the tension. You feel looser. You forget the thing you were ruminating about five minutes ago.
But then? Your brain rebounds. Alcohol spikes your dopamine—and then crashes it lower than before. It sedates your nervous system but interrupts your natural sleep cycles. You wake up more tired, more wired, and more prone to anxiety the next day.
So what do you do? You pour another drink the next night. And the cycle continues.
What you think is relaxing you is actually slowly rewiring your brain for dependency and dysfunction.
It’s Not Just a Habit—It’s a Coping Mechanism You Were Taught
Most men weren’t taught how to process emotion. We weren’t given tools. We were given silence. Or told to “man up.” Or offered a pint as a solution to problems we never learned to face.
So, of course, alcohol became the go-to. It wasn’t weakness. It was conditioning.
But here’s the thing—what got you here won’t get you out.
What Happens When You Quit “Unwinding” That Way
When I quit drinking, everything got louder at first. The stress. The overthinking. The shame. The silence. And it made me realise something most men never want to admit:
The drink wasn’t helping.It was just muting. And behind that muting was a version of me I didn’t know how to face.
But once I allowed myself to feel it? Once I actually felt the stuff I’d been drinking to avoid? That’s when the real unwinding started.
My sleep got better. My focus got sharper. The panic calmed. My stress dropped—not because I avoided it, but because I finally gave my nervous system a chance to reset.
There’s a Different Way to Decompress
I replaced the bottle with rituals that actually regulate my system:
Tools that don’t come with a hangover or guilt—physical, emotional, and mental anchors I now rely on daily:
Physical: Cold water exposure, early walks, real food. These regulate my body, boost energy, and keep me grounded.
Emotional: Deep conversations, solitude, honest reflection. These help me face what I used to run from.
Each of these tools helped me build a system that works with my body and mind—not against it.
I stopped self-medicating and started self-leading.
But it’s OK to Talk About This, and Why alcohol makes anxiety worse in men.
Let’s be honest—most men won’t say this stuff out loud.
They think:
“Everyone else drinks, so I must be fine.”
“I don’t drink that much.”
“It’s how I switch off.”
“It’s not hurting anyone.”
But you feel it. In your head. In your gut. In your relationships. You know when it’s not serving you anymore.
So say it. Even just to yourself, for now:
“This isn’t working anymore.” “There has to be a better way.” “I want more than this.”
Because it’s not weak to talk. It’s brave to change. It’s powerful to be honest.
You Deserve More Than the Pint You Keep Pouring
You’re not broken. You’re stuck in a loop that was sold to us as normal.
But you can break it. You can reset. You can build a new way of unwinding that doesn’t cost you your clarity, energy, or peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does alcohol cause anxiety in men? Yes. While alcohol may seem to relax you short term, it disrupts your nervous system and sleep, making anxiety worse over time.
Q: What are healthy alternatives to alcohol for stress relief? Breathwork, cold exposure, journaling, and walking in nature are effective ways to calm your mind and reset your stress response.
Q: Can quitting alcohol improve mental health? Absolutely. Many people experience better sleep, mood stability, focus, and energy after removing alcohol from their routine.
I’m Ian. I drank for 40+ years. I quit without rehab or AA. Now I help other men do the same—on their terms, in their time, with real tools that work.
I didn’t just study Reiki. I live it. Over a decade ago, I discovered Reiki healing and it completely transformed my life — mentally, physically, and emotionally.. It found me. Over a decade ago, I walked into a yoga class and walked out with a Reiki Master. What started as a curiosity turned into one of the most transformational tools I’ve ever used in my healing, sobriety, and mindset journey.
I’ve now been a Reiki Master for over 10 years. I use it daily in my personal practice, with coaching clients, and even during meditation and cold water immersion. If you’re curious about Reiki healing or wondering if it’s legit, this post is for you.
What Is Reiki Healing?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique that promotes stress relief, emotional balance, and physical healing by guiding life force energy through the practitioner’s hands into the body.
Originates from: Dr. Mikao Usui, early 20th century Japan
Translation: “Rei” = universal, “Ki” = life force energy
Administered via: Light touch or hovering hands
Purpose: Restore balance, remove energetic blockages, and activate the body’s own healing mechanisms
How Reiki Healing Works (Explained Simply)
Reiki doesn’t use pressure, manipulation, or invasive techniques. It works with your body’s natural energetic field. Here’s what happens in a session:
You lie down fully clothed, often with soft music playing
The Reiki practitioner places their hands lightly (or hovers) over different parts of your body
Energy begins to flow most people feel warmth, tingling, deep relaxation, or emotional release
Your body enters a parasympathetic state where healing begins
Can Reiki Be Done Remotely?
Yes — and this often blows people’s minds. Reiki is not limited by physical space because it works with universal life force energy, which transcends time and location.
As a Reiki Master, I regularly send Reiki remotely to people across the world, and the results can be just as powerful as in-person sessions.
The practitioner connects to your energetic field using intention, visualisation, and sacred Reiki symbols.
The recipient lies down or finds a quiet space to receive
Energy flows exactly where it’s needed, many report tingling, heat, emotional release, or peace
Remote Reiki is ideal for long-distance support, illness recovery, or times of emotional overwhelm.
Is Reiki Backed by Science?
Yes, and it’s growing. Studies have shown that Reiki can reduce pain, anxiety, and fatigue, especially in patients with chronic illness or cancer.
In 2017, a review of 13 studies found significant emotional well-being improvements among Reiki recipients.s
MRI studies show Reiki may lower the stress response and increase heart rate variability
My Personal Experience as a Reiki Master
I’ve used Reiki to manage chronic pain, emotional trauma, and help others reconnect with themselves. I’ve seen people cry in their first session. I’ve used it in sobriety support, meditation, and even in quantum jump visualisations.
For me, Reiki is more than healing; it’s remembering. It’s returning to wholeness.
Reiki and Sobriety: A Missing Piece in Modern Recovery
Most recovery programs focus on willpower and behaviour. Reiki works on a different level, it clears the emotional sludge you’ve been carrying for years. Reiki doesn’t fix you. It reminds you that you’re not broken.
FAQS About Reiki Healing
What is Reiki healing?
A Japanese energy healing technique that promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances the body’s natural ability to heal.
Is Reiki safe?
Yes, it’s non-invasive, gentle, and safe for all ages. It complements both Western and holistic treatments.
How many sessions do I need?
Some feel shifts in one session, others benefit from regular sessions over time. It depends on your intention and what’s being released.
Can Reiki help with addiction or emotional trauma?
Absolutely. Reiki supports the nervous system, clears energetic blockages, and helps release stored emotional pain.
Ready to Experience Reiki Healing?
Whether you’re dealing with stress, trauma, addiction recovery, or just looking to reconnect with your energy, Reiki can help.
