The Absolute Worst Things To Do When You’re Stressed Out

Mistake #5: Ordering the Perfect Margarita

You knew this one, but science confirms: You can’t drown your sorrows—or your stresses. When study volunteers at the University of Chicago were given the equivalent of two shots right after a stressful public-speaking task, they felt more frazzled for longer (more than an hour) than their equally stressed but non-inebriated peers. While alcohol blocks production of cortisol, the body’s stress response, it prolongs anxiety by suspending the body’s natural coping mechanisms. Another downer: Alcohol hinders absorption of B-complex vitamins and zinc, which help us feel calmer and more balanced. And need we mention that a hangover doesn’t help?