Holiday hangover
Question
It's two weeks since I got back from holiday in Ibiza and I'm still feeling spaced out. I didn't hit it that hard drugs-wise over there, but I drank a fair bit. I've been getting 11 hours sleep most nights but it doesn't seem to be helping. How long can I expect this to last?
Answer
It's not possible to give a proper diagnosis online, so if you've got concerns the best thing is to see your local doctor (GP). You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and speak in confidence to one of their nurses.
Sometimes after a holiday it can be difficult to get back into normal routines, especially if you've been drinking a lot and staying up late. Your body clock might just be taking a while to adjust.
It's hard to say if the alcohol you've been drinking is a contributing factor to the feelings you describe. Alcohol is a depressant and it will slow down the way that the body works. Short term effects can include slurred speech and impaired co-ordination. A long term, heavy drinking habit can have serious health implications including damage to internal organs, trembling (the shakes), obesity, brain damage, mood swings and personality changes.
It can be difficult to predict the impact of alcohol, as it affects people in different ways depending on their size and metabolism, and alcohol levels vary in different drinks. It might be useful for you to keep track of your weekly units to get an idea of how much you drink normally and keep an eye on how much it affects you.
Drug use can also have long term consequences. Even though you say you didn't take much in Ibiza it's a good idea to learn about the effects of different drugs on your health.
For more information about the effects of drugs and alcohol you can call Frank on 0800 77 66 00.
Updated: 07/06/2007
Question answered by Addaction
