Hangxiety: How Alcohol Messes with Your Mind

What alcohol is really doing to your brain, mood and mental health - and why the effects can last beyond the hangover.

'An intensely personal and scientifically grounded overview.' - Professor David Nutt, neuropsychopharmacologist and founder of Drug Science

Have you ever asked yourself why you can't drink like other people seem to? If even a couple of drinks can leave you feeling anxious, low or unlike yourself the next day, you're not imagining it. Whether you're questioning your relationship with alcohol, cutting back or simply looking for answers, this book reveals what's really happening in your brain. It explains why alcohol affects you the way it does, replaces shame with understanding and helps you make choices that support your wellbeing.

Bestselling author and founder of Sober Girl Society, Millie Gooch, reveals why 'hangxiety' is far more than just a bad hangover. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, expert interviews and real-life stories, she explains how alcohol affects your brain, nervous system and mental health - from anxiety and sleep disruption to stress, trauma and neurodivergence - and why alcohol can affect you in ways you might never have connected to your drinking.

You'll discover:

- Why hangxiety can happen even after 'just a few'
- How alcohol can hijack your nervous system and amplify stress
- The hidden feedback loop between alcohol, sleep and low mood
- What science says about cutting down - and how your brain recovers

Hangxiety is a compassionate, judgement-free guide that helps you understand your brain, let go of shame and make informed choices about alcohol that support your mental health.

'Smart, funny and genuinely mind-blowing - without being in any way judgy - Millie has achieved something quite remarkable with this book.' - Sarah Turner, bestselling author of The Unmumsy Mum

Author: Millie Gooch
Publisher: Hay House UK Ltd
Published: 09/08/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.36h x 5.52w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9798318603716

About the Author
Millie Gooch is the Sunday Times best-selling author of The Sober Girl Society Handbook and founder of the global Sober Girl Society movement. Since giving up alcohol in 2018, she has become one of the UK's most visible and relatable voices on alcohol-free living, with a platform that now reaches hundreds of thousands of people across social media and live events.

With an MSc in Addiction & Mental Health and a background in journalism, Millie blends science, humor, and hard-won personal experience in everything she writes. She's been recognized for her ability to translate research into relatable storytelling and is increasingly sought after by wellness platforms, media outlets, and mental health organizations worldwide.