India, Dec. 22 -- justify;">End-of-year holidays and wedding season mean a pile of invitations and back-to-back celebrations. With alcohol acting as the social lubricant, it often sits at the heart of these gatherings. But while a few drinks may feel like it's fun, excessive consumption can come with its own repercussions, leading to something known as hangxiety the next day. Wondering how it is different from a hangover?

Dr Pragya Rashmi, consultant psychologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, told HT Lifestyle that it is not just a hangover, but something more. With hangxiety, the impact on mood is deeper and more persistent, marked by heightened anxiety.

The first thing alcohol does is affect your brain, impacting the brain's neurotra...