What is a vulnerability hangover?

A "vulnerability hangover" refers to the feelings of regret, fear, and unease that can follow after being exceptionally open and vulnerable. Brené Brown described experiencing one after delivering a TEDx Talk where she openly discussed her personal breakdown and the challenges of confronting her own vulnerability. This uncomfortable emotional state typically follows moments where one exposes deeply personal aspects of themselves, leading to second-guessing and anxiety about how this information was received by others 1 .