If you have anxiety and social anxiety like me or are a bit of an introvert then you would be more than aware of the ‘social hangover’. Yep, there is such a thing and if you ask me, it’s worse than a regular hangover (well, sometimes). But it doesn’t have to be a (totally) bad experience. I share my tips on how to recover from a social hangover below.

What’s a social hangover?

What is a social hangover I hear you ask. It’s not from drinking one too many wines or tequilas. It’s where you feel energetically and emotionally depleted, your mind is very foggy, you struggle to make decisions or to problem solve what are usually easy issues to navigate and your body is exhausted and heavy as a result of an over stimulating social engagement or too many in a short period of time. All you want to do is sleep, relax and do nothing. You might also be a little grouchy or easily frustrated (or maybe that is just me).

Today, I am feeling the full effects of the social hangover after what was a very fun Christmas Day. Having a social hangover doesn’t mean you didn’t enjoy interacting with people, it just means you may have over exerted yourself or, like me, may have had to also incorporate various coping mechanisms to deal with anxiety and social anxiety whilst trying to hold your own in a social setting (sometimes without much success). I have found as I have become older and during times of stress, my social hangovers are just worse (yay me!🤦‍♀️).⠀

How to cope when a social hangover hits

I’ll admit, I’m yet to completely master the effects of the social hangover (and today I’m struggling a lot more than usual due to also being exhausted from work) but I try to keep these things in mind:⠀

• Go easy on myself – it’s OK to practice self care and allow myself to rest and restore my emotional, spiritual and energetic stores in my body. In fact, it’s imperative I do. But sometimes my mind will guilt trip me into thinking I am being lazy and will not allow me to give myself permission to do. Learn to acknowledge that voice and to lovingly set it in it’s place by saying “I hear you, but I am allowed to rest and restore my emotional, spiritual and energetic needs before tending to others”. Like in emergency situations – you must fix the mask on yourself first before being able to help others. Same goes for self care.
• Sleep – yep, you have the go ahead to have as many naps or sleep ins as required. Hell, if you’re like me you’ll enjoy snuggling up in bed with a movie on and having a midday siesta.
• Create a low stimulation environment – after an over stimulation of our senses, we need to retreat to a calming and low stimulating environment to recover. Light some candles or grab a book or listen to soothing music.
• Don’t make any rash or important decisions – aside from what I should be eating, doing or watching on TV, every other decision can wait until I’m well rested.⠀
• Mindfulness and turning inward to my mind and body – whether it’s through meditation, deep breathing exercises or yoga, I ensure I turn inward and reconnect my mind and body. This moment of calmness allows me to notice my current physical sensations – where is it that I’m feeling tight? How does the sensation of my body laying or sitting on the floor feel? Can I notice that sounds that are around me? What about the smells? All of this brings me to the present moments, focusing only on the now and allowing my mind to slow down and relax. Incorporating deep breathing at the same time is a double whammy I highly recommend (deep breathing exercises are a simple and natural way to lovingly force the body to relax and enter a state of calm).

What do you do when you’re feeling mentally, energetically or emotionally exhausted after social activities?⠀

Until next time my dear friend, take care of yourself and others.

Much love,
Lara X

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