There’s nothing like an awful hangover to put you off drinking for weeks – if not months – on end. The pounding head, the dry mouth, the overwhelming nausea… hangovers are horrendous. But amazingly, there are people out there who actively enjoy that ‘morning after’ feeling. In fact, so many people like being in that hangover state that the phenomenon has earned itself a moniker: the hangover effect.

While there’s no exact science as to why some of us experience this, the anecdotal evidence tells its own story – with one online forum boasting 10,000 members. Many of these members credit hangovers with providing focus, peace, clarity and a much-needed break from mental noise. Others say that they can be an excuse to relax and switch off in a way that’s hard to do in our fast-paced world.

That might sound bonkers if you tend to feel like death warmed up for hours on end, but these positive-thinking hangover-lovers might be onto something. A University of Salford study found that worrying about hangovers made the symptoms worse. It has also been discovered that a lack of sleep can increase the amount of dopamine (a pleasure-giving hormone and neurotransmitter) in our brain, according to a study by the Society for Neuroscience (although we know that long-term sleep deprivation can start to seriously disrupt hormonal production and mental wellbeing). 

The really interesting thing about the ‘hangover effect’ is just how common it seems to be in neurodivergent communities. Elle, 37, only drinks a few times a year but when she does, she really enjoys that hangover glow. Five years ago, she was diagnosed with ADHD.

“I spend most of my life feeling like I’m slugging through waist-deep snow in heavy boots, but when I’m hungover, it feels like I’m suddenly on a dry, paved road in running shoes.” That’s when she springs out of bed and does all of the tedious house tasks that she normally avoids. “My general outlook feels rosy and pragmatic. It’s not mania, but rather like a veil of apathy and lethargy has been pulled off me,” she explained.

James is a 29-year-old nurse who used to work in intensive care with neurology patients; he also has ADHD and experiences the hangover effect. “The best way I can describe it is as if the cobwebs inside my head get dusted out – taking my ADHD symptoms, low-grade depression and social anxiety with it.” Like Elle, he also finds it easier to clean his flat due to his increased executive function and renewed energy. However, this doesn’t mean that his hangovers are totally symptom-free: “I still sometimes feel nauseous, have a bad headache and feel a bit ‘meh’ so there’s definitely a ‘bell curve’ effect in terms of alcohol quantity versus that afterglow.” 

So, what’s behind this reaction? Well, there could be a link between the way in which alcohol is metabolised and temporary changes in the way our brains work. This neurochemical aftermath could be behind the hangover effect, according to Dr Steven Allder, a consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health. He suggests that for some people, there may be less dopamine but increased GABA (a calming neurotransmitter) as the body processes the alcohol. “Additionally, a hangover often includes mild dehydration and low blood sugar, which can sometimes lead to a hyper-focused or introspective state as the brain adapts to manage these deficits,” he tells Strong Women.

That chemical rebalance might go some way to explaining why some mental health conditions could be impacted by hangovers. James, 28, lives with OCD and he believes that hangovers actually decrease the severity of his symptoms if he’s going through an OCD phase. “They give me a strangely optimistic view on the future,” he explains, “and also increase my libido and pleasure from orgasms. I’ve heard some people call that the ‘hangover horn’.” He has his own hypothesis for why this might happen: “I think alcohol just puts a lot of stress on the body and it therefore has less energy to focus on things like worrying and obsessive compulsions.” 

There could be some truth to his theory, according to Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist and the author of several books about the brain. “A problem with focusing is that there are so many things to occupy your attention now. But if your brain is already underpowered due to a hangover, maybe you lack the resources to care about distractions or the motivations to explore them.”

It’s also possible that hangovers offer us a desperately needed excuse for downtime. If hangovers are planned for, or provide us with an excuse to engage in reminiscing or relaxing, it could make them more enjoyable. He also points to ‘learning theory,’ whereby a person with a reasonable level of alcohol consumption might see a hangover as part of the fun of a night out. Once this is combined with some rest the next day, he sees how someone could appreciate them differently. “It becomes a sort of positive feedback loop – your brain likes them and looks forward to them, so you enjoy them when they happen, which reinforces the perception that they’re good and so on,” he surmises.

We should point out here that a hangover is obviously a sign that you’ve drunk too much alcohol and that comes with its own (very real) health ramifications. But it’s a fact that many of us do regularly drink beyond the recommended amounts.  

Valerie, 29, admits that for her, hangovers are more of a sign that she’s prioritising fun in an otherwise stressful world. “The physical afterglow of a crazy night is almost a kind of badge of honour – proof that I accepted the chaos and created memories,” she says. They also provide an opportunity for stress-relief: “Things can get pretty overwhelming and sometimes a night out feels like my only option for relaxation. There’s something liberating about not having to worry about deadlines or other expectations, even if it’s only for a moment.”

None of the people we spoke to said that they drunk specifically to achieve the hangover effect, but Dr Sally Adams, alcohol researcher and associate psychology professor at the University of Bath, is still keen to stress the dangers of drinking heavily in order to calm the mind or achieve relaxation. “In the long run, using alcohol to relieve anxiety is a bad idea,” she says. “You can get locked into a vicious cycle of drinking to escape feelings of anxiety and tension, which can lead to a reliance or dependency on alcohol.” She should know – three years ago, Dr Adams took her own advice and gave up drinking in a bid to improve her own mental health. “Since then, I’ve found so many new hobbies and my anxiety has never been better,” she shares.

If that all-important GABA chemical lies at the centre of this phenomenon, it’s pretty tempting to look into unregulated GABA supplements – or drink excessive amounts of no-alcohol GABA-infused drinks. But Dr Allder advises against going down that path: “Self-medicating bypasses the expert oversight of healthcare providers, leading to potential interactions, overdoses, or worsened mental and physical health,” he warns. 

Dr Allder recommends six tips for achieving a calmer and more focused state without the need for alcohol:

1. Try yoga, mindful walking or meditation. That’ll help to improve focus and reduce anxiety by calming the nervous system and promoting emotional regulation.
2. Exercise to release endorphins. You’ll not only get a feel-good boost but find that movement (in moderation) can also lower cortisol levels in the long term.
3. Give Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) a go if anxiety is stopping you from functioning properly on a daily basis.
4. Try to stabilise blood sugar to avoid any huge energy crashes. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and B vitamins can help support brain health and keep your mood on track.
5. Prioritise good quality sleep. Proper rest can help regulate neurotransmitters so that you start every day feeling clear-headed and calm.
6. Try deep breathing or the ‘box breathing’ method (when you breathe in on a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four and then release for a count of four). This practice can activate the parasympathetic nervous system which creates calm and focus. 

Hangovers are a common experience and one that we often minimise in society. As previously mentioned, they can bond us to our friends, remind us of good times or serve as a reminder not to overdo it again. But what’s clear here is that for people who live with issues like OCD or ADHD, hangovers do something that standard medicine has yet to achieve: respite.

“If there was a pill that I could take once a day that was as effective at clearing the brain fog that plagues my life, I’d take that instead,” Elle admits.  

For tips on cutting down your alcohol intake, check out our guide to getting started. And for more help and advice on dealing with alcohol misuse, visit the NHS website, Drinkaware or Alcohol Change.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you can find support and resources on the mental health charity Mind’s website and NHS Every Mind Matters or access the NHS’s list of mental health helplines and services.

Images: Getty; Unsplash