Sara dives into one of the most unforgettable parts of drinking → hangovers. From her worst-ever hangover in Punta Cana to the subtle shame-filled Sundays that followed too many nights out, Sara breaks down how hangovers evolved throughout her drinking years and how they became one of the biggest motivators for her sobriety.
She doesn’t stop at personal stories. Sara also explores the science of hangovers: what’s actually happening inside your body and brain when you’re feeling miserable the next day. You’ll learn why alcohol leads to dehydration, inflammation, anxiety, and that 3 a.m. wake-up, plus why “hair of the dog” only keeps the cycle going.
If you’ve ever wondered why hangovers hit so hard or need a vivid reminder of what you’re leaving behind, this episode is your reality check and your motivation to keep choosing a hangover-free life.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Topic
02:28 The Worst Hangover Experience
09:00 Evolution of Hangovers Over the Years
15:34 The Science Behind Hangovers
💡 What You’ll Learn
Sara’s most vivid hangover story and why it keeps her sober todayHow her hangovers evolved from college through adulthoodThe emotional side of hangovers → anxiety, shame, and isolationThe six science-backed reasons we experience hangovers Dehydration and electrolyte lossAcetaldehyde toxicityInflammation and immune responseBlood sugar dropsDisrupted sleep and neurotransmitter imbalanceThe emotional fallout (“hangxiety”)Why hangovers are a warning sign, not the price of fun🎧 Mentioned in this episode:
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🧠 Sources & Further Reading
If you want to dig deeper into what’s really happening in your body during a hangover — from dehydration to acetaldehyde toxicity — here are the research-based resources referenced in this episode:
Mayo Clinic: Hangovers: Symptoms and Causes
Explains how dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and poor sleep contribute to hangover symptoms.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Hangovers Fact Sheet
Overview of the biochemical and neurological effects of alcohol withdrawal and hangovers.
Harvard Health Publishing (2022): Why hangovers hurt and how to help
Discusses blood sugar drops, dehydration, and sleep disruption caused by alcohol.
Wiese, J.G., Shlipak, M.G., & Browner, W.S. (2000): The Alcohol Hangover. Annals of Internal Medicine
Foundational research describing the physiological mechanisms behind hangover symptoms.
Penning, R., McKinney, A., & Verster, J.C. (2010): The Pathophysiology of Alcohol Hangover. Current Drug Abuse Reviews
Details inflammatory and immune system responses linked to acetaldehyde toxicity.
Stephens, R., Grange, J.A., Jones, K., & Heffernan, T.M. (2014): A Review of the Cognitive and Neurobiological Effects of Alcohol Hangover. Addiction
Explores how alcohol affects neurotransmitters, sleep quality, and cognitive performance.
Quertemont, E. (2004): Acetaldehyde: A Biochemical Marker for Alcohol Addiction? Addiction Biology
Examines how acetaldehyde interacts with dopamine and reward pathways in the brain.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (1999): Re-evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals. IARC Monographs, Vol. 71
Classifies acetaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen. The same category as tobacco and asbestos.
NIAAA: Alcohol Metabolism: An Update
Explains how ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde and then into acetate in the liver.
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