Maybe you're curious about what it's like to quit drinking for a month, or even quit drinking altogether. First, it's good for you. It's definitely worth taking a look at your relationship with alcohol from time to time to see if it's doing you any good. It's also good to reset your drinking habits, and going a month or so without alcohol is a great way to do that. Even if you're a moderate drinker, you'll probably notice a change in your overall health pretty quickly. If you're a heavy drinker, you'll almost certainly notice a change.
We got the lowdown on what to expect after a month of sobriety from Dr. Brian Couey, Executive Director of INTEGRIS Health Arcadia Trails Addiction Recovery Center.
Week 1: Your body starts to adjust to being without alcohol. You may crave a drink, and you may experience true withdrawal symptoms like shakiness and palpitations, anxiety, and agitation. On the plus side, your blood pressure may drop (which is a good thing), and your liver will start to recover.
If you're a heavy drinker, you may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations, delirium, or seizures. In most cases (for light to moderate drinkers), any cravings or symptoms will lessen or go away after the first week or so. "It's not uncommon for people to underestimate how much they actually drink. A serving of wine is actually 5 ounces, which seems like a tiny amount to many people," says Cue. "Also, drinks like hard seltzer, which are smaller and lighter in taste, often encourage overdrinking. Many of the people we interviewed in alcohol treatment realized after evaluation that they had severely underestimated how much they were drinking."
Weeks Two to Four: As your nervous system continues to adjust to not drinking, you may find that you sleep better and feel clearer. Cravings may still occur, but they may be less intense and less frequent. You may lose the weight you gained from drinking. Your skin will get better, your blood pressure will decrease, and your liver and immune function will improve. Your organs will also work better. If you choose to stop drinking for longer (or drastically cut back on your drinking), your risk of cancer will decrease.
Here are some other things you may notice:
▸ Sweeter dreams. At the very least, better sleep. Yes, drinking makes you feel sleepy at first and you fall asleep quickly, but after that, alcohol actually disrupts your sleep patterns. Why? It's a depressant, which means it slows down your nervous system and messes with your sleep cycle. Then, as your body metabolizes the alcohol, your nervous system returns to normal, which may cause you to wake up more frequently for the rest of the night. Many people who drink heavily also report that they suffer from insomnia. When you don't drink, sleep gets better, becomes deeper, and is less interrupted. People who quit drinking may wake up feeling more relaxed and alert, thanks to a better quality sleep.
"It's important to note that many people claim to drink to relieve symptoms like anxiety and insomnia," Couey says. "What they don't know is that drinking for this purpose often has what's called a 'rebound effect.' This is when the minor withdrawal associated with drinking actually increases anxiety and insomnia over time, leading to increased tolerance and the need for more alcohol."
▸ Healthier liver. Chronic excessive drinking (i.e., long-term excessive drinking) is a good way to damage liver cells. The liver needs cells - they help the liver do its job of filtering harmful substances from the body. Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease causes the liver to swell, which damages liver tissue. Scar tissue forms at the site of damage. The more this happens, the more scar tissue builds up, and eventually there's too much scar tissue and too little healthy tissue, leading to cirrhosis, a condition that slows down—and eventually stops—the liver's function. If left untreated, cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer or liver failure. Both are deadly; without your liver, you can't live.
▸ Better skin. Because alcohol dehydrates the skin, it can appear dull and dry. Fine lines may appear more pronounced, and overall, the skin may look less plump. Alcohol also releases histamine, which dilates capillaries and causes the skin to turn red. If you drink a lot, this redness can become permanent. As if that weren't enough, alcohol also dilates pores, leading to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. If left untreated, these can turn into inflamed skin papules (aka pimples) or cystic acne.
▸ Improved digestion. Drinking and indigestion go together like peas and carrots. Alcohol can make acid reflux worse, in part because it's a diuretic (makes you pee more often), which can lead to dehydration, which can make reflux worse. Fight Alcohol-Induced Indigestion by Rehydrating
The benefits of quitting drinking are many and include improvements in physical health, mental health, social relationships, and financial well-being. Quitting drinking can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, improve liver function, boost immunity, improve sleep quality, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve relationships, and save money. Quitting drinking is a difficult journey, but if you have the determination and perseverance, you can succeed. With a scientific approach and determination, quitting drinking is not only possible, but worth it. The benefits of quitting alcohol far outweigh the challenges that may be encountered along the way, providing individuals with a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life.
