Emotional hangover phenomenon explained

The phenomenon of an “emotional hangover” describes the lingering fatigue and brain fog experienced after intense emotional events, such as arguments, breakups, or even highly joyful occasions like weddings.

Symptoms often mirror a physical hangover, including headaches, exhaustion, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. This occurs because intense emotional experiences trigger a surge of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Lila Davachi, a psychology professor at New York University, notes that the brain's heightened state of arousal enhances memory, causing individuals to remember emotionally charged events more vividly and maintaining a state of heightened alertness long after the event has passed.