Short and Long-Term Effects of Stopping Drinking Alcohol

It signifies a commitment to ongoing self-improvement, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful and satisfying life. The ability to engage fully in meaningful activities, pursue passions, and build a positive future is enhanced without the limitations of addiction. Not drinking is the most important part — I can’t function, in the most general sense, if I’m ass deep in a bottle. But sobriety has also given me a chance at a fulfilling life in so many other ways.

Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Sobriety

Heavy drinking can actually cause the part of the brain that’s critical to memory and learning (hippocampus), to shrink. For example, research shows that people will see their stress levels, relationships, work performance, and self-confidence get better when they get sober. being sober sucks Alcohol can also affect digestion, storage, utilization, and excretion of nutrients. That’s why it’s common for people who use alcohol to be malnourished. When you stop drinking, your skin gets more elastic and the redness and discoloration on your face will slowly fade.

• At the same time, it’s also a period when people may become complacent in their sobriety, and less engaged in their sobriety toolkit.
• One study found that around 70% of participants had sleep problems when they were admitted for alcohol treatment.
• For example, chronic abuse of substances can cause you to either lose or gain an unhealthily large amount of weight.
• Meditation allows me to open space for self-love, reason, and understanding, rather than self-hate, irrational thoughts, and paranoia.

Better Eating Habits

As you consume more and more alcohol or drugs, you’ll likely stop eating a balanced diet altogether. Before you know it, you’ll choose not to physically take care of yourself at all. The only way to get you out of this rut of not taking care of yourself is sobriety.

Reduced Heart Disease Risk

You might find yourself at this point contemplating the broader effects of alcohol, such as its effects on your health, your mental well-being, work, personal relationships, and more. This is usually when people start to feel their best after giving up alcohol. By this point, most physical withdrawal symptoms should have subsided and you should start to feel less anxious and more positive.

Health Risks of Alcohol Use

Sobriety is more than just abstaining from substance use, it’s a lifestyle that can bring about various benefits. Heavy drinking and other unhealthy alcohol habits can worsen depression and increase anxiety. In turn, many people continue to drink alcohol to seek relief from that intensified discomfort.

Surprising Benefits of Sobriety