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Alcohol being classified as a depressant means there is a slower connection between your brain and body. And, though it acts initially as a stimulant providing you with a sense of happiness or euphoria, over consumption can lead Alcoholics Anonymous to long standing mood swings, anxiety, and/or depression. Alcohol makes it nearly impossible for an individual to get a decent night’s rest. In turn, an individual’s overall health begins to decline as healthy sleep patterns are crucial to your body’s systems.

• If you’ve stopped drinking and still can’t sleep, talk to your provider.
• Alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle, leading to poor-quality rest.
• Studies have also connected alcohol use to an increased risk of stroke, especially for people under the age of 45 years old.
• Collagen keeps skin firm, so excessive drinking can speed up the aging process.
• By changing the way you think about alcohol, particularly correcting the flawed belief system that addiction creates, it can not only be easy to quit alcohol – but enjoyable too.
• Being in community with like-minded people, especially in the earlier days of your newfound sobriety, helps you to remain accountable, stay in healthy relationships, and motivate you to stick to your goals.

Why Early Sobriety Is Nothing Like Long-Term Sobriety and 5 Ways to Get Through It

Most of us are aware that a healthy immune system is vital at helping us fight off illness, and research has shown that alcohol can actually diminish our body’s natural defence when consumed in large quantities. This is because alcohol can have a negative effect on the healthy bacteria in our colon – known as the gut microbiome. Therefore, giving up alcohol is just one of many ways to improve gut health. From falling asleep with your makeup on after a glass too many to the dull, grey complexion the day after, alcohol has a reputation for wrecking even the best-kept skincare regime. Indeed, research has shown that the brain can completely re-heal the damage done by alcohol when people go cold turkey.

Will news of link between alcohol and cancer change drinkers’ behavior?

Even 1 drink per day can increase your risk of high blood pressure. By the end of 3 weeks without alcohol your body is beginning to see some true benefits. Even if you don’t notice them straight away – they are happening! This can cause you to wake feeling tired, even if you’ve had a full night’s sleep. When you stop drinking, it can also reverse the negative effects alcohol has had on your cognitive functions like problem-solving, memory, and attention. Alcohol use and poor sleep are closely linked because alcohol messes with your sleep-wake cycle.

• The liver is responsible for processing and breaking down alcohol, but excessive consumption can overwhelm it, leading to conditions such as fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
• Alcohol can exacerbate and even cause long-term depression and anxiety.
• Alcohol can make it harder to think clearly.4 But once you quit, your brain starts to work more efficiently.
• One of the less obvious but crucial benefits of alcohol detox is the restoration of the immune system.

Weeks no Alcohol – The Benefits

This typically occurs after five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women. Alcohol can exacerbate and even cause long-term depression and anxiety. There is so much I want to accomplish in my lifetime and I finally have the energy and focus to make it happen. However, a study in the British Medical Journal showed that a month long liver cleanse can lead to a 15% decrease in the amount of fat in your liver.

The three- to five-week period is also when sugar cravings brought on by the lack of alcohol tend to subside, Johnson adds. And, assuming you haven’t indulged those craving the past few weeks, you could find your clothes fit a bit looser. Johnson insists it’s impossible to put a timeline on weight loss since everyone’s diet, metabolism, and activity levels are different. That said, it’s common for people to drop a few pounds at this juncture. Since you’re probably not physically addicted to alcohol, going without it for a few days won’t make much difference on a physiological level.

Sobriety also improved my mental clarity, which also has an impact on my spending. Feeling better about myself has led me to not needing to “prove” anything. I have been more mindful in what I purchase and when, and this has made a huge difference on both my financial health and my overall happiness. In addition, alcohol-free drink options are continuing to grow in popularity, and these can provide you with the social experience of drinking, without the negative effects of alcohol. For heavy drinkers, there may be a period of withdrawal after giving up alcohol. But for those who are not alcohol dependent, the worst thing about stopping drinking is likely to be a feeling of ‘missing out’.

I believed there had to be a better way—one that offered more flexibility and a sense of control. By undergoing alcohol detox, individuals significantly reduce their chances of long-term health complications. The sooner detox begins, the greater the likelihood of reversing or preventing permanent damage to vital organs. Detox serves as a stepping stone to adopting a healthier lifestyle, including better nutrition, regular exercise, and ongoing medical care. Because of how alcohol affects the body, on average most non-drinkers are healthier than those who drink.

• Hydration is also a huge contributor to glowing skin and reducing premature ageing.
• The longer a person continues to drink, the higher the risk of developing these life-threatening diseases.
• What’s interesting is that I don’t even remember my exact sober date—because I never intended to quit drinking.
• It reduces the risk of chronic conditions like liver disease, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular problems, allowing your body to heal and function more efficiently.

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• Without the effects of alcohol clouding your brain, you’ll likely find it easier to focus, stay organized, and complete tasks both at work and at home.
• Over time, this leads to higher self-esteem, a brighter outlook on life, and an overall sense of well-being.
• From liver damage and heart problems to a higher risk of depression and anxiety, this alcohol can truly take a toll on your well-being.
• Improved immunity is an important long-term benefit of not drinking alcohol.

Subtle physiological changes start occurring within 72 to 96 hours of no alcohol, Johnson says. The first big one most people will notice is sounder slumber, as alcohol majorly messes with sleep cycles. What you might notice is sugar or carb cravings, as your body isn’t getting the empty calories it’s used to getting from booze. “When you stop using alcohol, your sweet tooth still kicks in, so be careful of which foods and beverages you replace it with,” Johnson says. We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and addiction.

After four or five successive days without alcohol in the system, Johnson says sleep cycles typically begin to normalize, and people start waking up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain, which affects coordination, decision-making, and mood. Over time, chronic alcohol use can lead to cognitive decline, memory problems, and an increased risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol can raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Chronic alcohol use also weakens the heart muscles, a condition known as cardiomyopathy. That’s really reassuring when you consider that recent studies have concluded that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.