If you feel like your relationship with alcohol needs an overhaul, you’ve got plenty of company. Research shows that some damage to your brain, liver, heart, and gut done by alcohol will slowly heal when you stop drinking. While it’s true that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, they will not last forever.
Staying Healthy
One of the unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol is that you may find yourself more productive than before. This is because alcohol can cause fatigue and decreased motivation, so when you stop drinking, you may find it easier to get things done. It is worth mentioning that nutritional status improvement occurs when someone strop drinking, which is one big reason why people may see many of the above improvements with sobriety. One of the best things about giving up alcohol is that you may find yourself feeling happier overall.
Support for Me and My Family
You don’t owe anyone your reasoning behind why you’re refraining. A big part of alcohol recovery is taking steps to improve your lifestyle through changes like diet and exercise. If you’ve been trying to get to and maintain a weight that supports your health, quitting alcohol can help you meet that goal.
Learn how to say, “No.”
Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink. Before joining the team she was Features Editor at MSN UK, where she oversaw Family Health and Days Out. Previously, she was Digital Lifestyle https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Editor for the broadcaster UKTV, and Lifestyle Editor for ITV.com. Anna studied Multi-Media Journalism at Bournemouth University and went on to gain her NCTJ and NCE journalism qualifications. Anna is responsible for driving the direction and editorial strategy of Goodto.
Talk about it
- If you’re serious about giving up alcohol, but you’re worried how you’ll manage to stick to it, then you might find some of these ideas useful.
- They’re the people you feel safe being vulnerable with, and you trust to hold you accountable.
- If you answer “yes” to two to three questions, your symptoms align with mild AUD.
- Your risk of developing cancer will decrease, and your liver function will have greatly improved.
- This is because alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry, dull skin.
If you’re living with alcohol use disorder, treatment at a medical rehabilitation facility is your best option. Through therapy, support groups and medication, you’ll be supported on your path to recovery. Laying it all out in tips to quit drinking black and white can take time and some serious self-examination. Understanding your habits and your motivations to quit drinking can help you understand the change you’re making in your life and reinforce why it’s important.
Mental Health Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
Keep in mind that everyone is different and will experience different things when they stop drinking. If you have decided that it is time to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption, knowing what happens to your body when you stop drinking can give you a better idea of what to expect. Risky withdrawal symptoms are not limited to the above.3 Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first. Quitting binge drinking may require different strategies than either tapering or cold turkey.
Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?
- Many people with alcohol use disorder also have other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
- However, individuals who have been drinking heavily for long periods of time may still experience some symptoms of withdrawal and may even have hallucinations or delirium tremens (DTs) and seizures.
- Allen Carr is also the author of the bestseller, The Easyway to Stop Smoking.
Plan for the side effects of quitting alcohol
