Back-to-work blues could all be down to alcohol withdrawal

New Year’s revellers who feel anxious about returning to work after binge-drinking during the festive season may actually be suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, a liver expert has warned.

Dr Mark Wright, a consultant in liver medicine at an English hospital, said thousands of people will put feelings of nausea, shaking and general irritability down to “work dread” as the holiday season draws to a close.

But he warned alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and not fears about returning to work, were likely to be to blame and urged people to avoid turning to drink in an attempt to quell their symptoms.

“People will now be feeling anxious about their impending return to work and may also be feeling sick, shaky and irritable,” he said.

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“However, far from concerns about the end of the Christmas and New Year period and the reality of work, the cause of this for many will be alcohol withdrawal symptoms following sustained heavy drinking.

“For those who don’t realise this, drinking more to calm that feeling is very tempting – but it is also a great way to become addicted.”

Dr Wright, who works at University Hospital Southampton, said people should think about “scaling back” their alcohol intake after New Year’s Eve celebrations, increasing their water intake and taking some days off alcohol.

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