4/14/2014

Being Over 40 Is Like Being Hungover All The Time

When I was in my twenties and very early thirties, I drank a lot. Not at breakfast or anything (ummm. . .except when I was tailgating at Chiefs games. But that doesn't count, right?), but many nights. And of course, when you drink 4 beers (I'm 5'2 and back then I was fairly small) and then get up to go to work early the next morning, you get hangovers.

Now I'm 42, not small and don't drink very often. . . .but I still feel hungover a lot of the time.

Thanks to Jeff H. for sharing this photo of drunk me on Facebook.



  • Headaches. I don't know whether it's my allergies, age or what, but I often wake up with headaches. Just like I did when I had hangovers.
  • Unexplained bruises. I think I must have tripped a lot in my partying days, because I often had bruises I couldn't remember getting. I don't often have bruises any more, but when I do I have no idea how I got them. 
  • Hazy memory. Back then, I would forget why I thought it would be a good idea to dance on a table to Baby Got Back. Now, I just forget why I walked into a room. Or where I left my purse. But the principle is the same. 
  • Muscle soreness. In the olden days, I might wake up with extremely sore legs and (eventually) realize that I'd spent the better part of the evening doing the Mary Katherine Gallagher Superstar move. Now I know it's just my workout, but the pain is still there. 
  • Need for water. I used to only drink water to combat and/or recover from hangovers. I drank a lot of water and really regretted when I didn't. Now I drink a lot of water because I feel yucky if I don't. 
  • Loathing of loud noises. Sudden, loud, jarring noises used to only bother me when I was hungover. Now they bother me all of the time. It makes parenting really interesting. 
  • Puffy eyes. The eye bags that just used to appear when I was very ill or hungover? Now they're here all the time.
  • Crappy skin. The blotchy, wrinkly skin that also used to appear when I was very ill or hungover? Also permanent now. 


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15 comments:

Amy Ditmore said...

Lol, I'm 33 and I suffer most of these same things. Matter of fact it's a funning joke with my Mr. about how easily I bruise, and never know where my bruises come from. So funny! Oh, and yea, I have sympathy acne because of all the teen boys in my house! That really blows.

Nicole said...

I'm dreading the big 4-0. I'll go kicking and screaming with my nails dug into the earth. It's pretty scary for me.

brokenteepee said...

Isn't it wonderful what aging does to us? Drinking all that water is good for you though...you'll need it for your 50ies!

Kathryn said...

I joke with my hubby every year that I am falling apart more! It won't be long before I am 40.

Unknown said...

LOL.. great post. I suffer from a lot of those too and I am in my mid 30s.

Michelle F>

Unknown said...

I wish I was as photogenic as you when I'm drunk! ;) I've had people tell me, "Oh, you can do XYZ because you're young - WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE OLDER!", and all I can think is, if I felt this lousy in my 20s...what are the rest of my 30s and beyond going to feel like?! Pass the beer!! ;)

Cheap Is The *New* Classy said...

I am 37 and feel you on a lot of this already. My skin is dry and I noticed that my arms look wrinkly. What the heck? Who gets wrinkly arms? Dry and wrinkly = not attractive, lol.

Our Family World said...

LOL. That's funny. I often feel that way too.

Ellen said...

At 47, I definitely understand where you're coming from!

Suzi Satterfield said...

I'm starting to feel the same way in my mid-to-late 30's. In my case, though, drinking in the morning totally didn't count if it was a screwdriver or mimosa. It had OJ, so it was okay. ;)

Unknown said...

Haha. I'm a little Southern Baptist girl who is 44 and never drank a drop . . . except for that one time when I had about an ounce or two of homemade strawberry wine (from a neighbor) to help cure a bad case of pneumonia . . . anyway, I'm 44 now and have all these symptoms. I'll be in real bad shape by the time I'm 62!

Allison said...

HA! I agree with Amy, I have a lot of these symptoms and I am not to 40...yet...close.... :)

Jordyn @ Almost Supermom said...

LOL! i'm not quite 40 and feel that way all the time, not fair! At least with drinking you get some fun stories to tell, with old age, you just forget all the stories :( totally not fair!

Lana said...

Stopping by from type a parent. Glad I found your blog! I'm a new blogger writing about lifestyle over 40 and I'm so glad to find other ladies in the same boat. Have a great weekend!

Susan Maccarelli said...

Haha - I am 38 and right there with you on most of these, except dark circles instead of puffy eyes. Alas. #typeaparent