Shy people more likely to suffer anxiety during hangovers, finds study

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Hangovers after a night of drinking are difficult to handle and anxiety along with it can make things worse. While being shy isn’t anything unusual, many people use different ways to lose inhibitions and socialise more. Findings of a recent study suggest that shy people become more anxious when they have a hangover after heavy drinking. Researchers also found that consuming six units of alcohol can help shy people cut down inhibitions.

The research team also found a strong link between this "hangxiety" and higher scores on the AUDIT test which is used to identify alcohol use disorder (AUD) in highly shy people.

"We know that many people drink to ease anxiety felt in social situations, but this research suggests that this might have rebound consequences the next day, with more shy individuals more likely to experience this, sometimes debilitating, aspect of hangover," said co-author Celia Morgan, Professor at the University of Exeter.

"These findings also suggest that "hangxiety" in turn might be linked to people's chance of developing a problem with alcohol," Morgan added.

For the study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the team analysed almost 100 social drinkers with either high or low levels of shyness.

The baseline measures of shyness, social phobia and AUD were taken, and anxiety levels were tested again during the evening and the following morning.

"It's about accepting being shy or an introvert. This might help transition people away from heavy alcohol use. It's a positive trait. It's OK to be quiet," Morgan noted.

 
 People who drink in order to bring down anxiety face a rebound effect the next day which may be the reason behind increased hangxiety. Scientists said that people need to accept being shy and understand that there’s nothing wrong with being quiet.