Then quit. A booze hiatus can potentially improve acne for those who have it, as previously reported in WH. I was terrified that I would never last sober but I am taking everyday as they come. Authentic self Yes! If you are wondering what I do for work to spend so much on booze. Improved relationships. I ended 42 years of alcohol consumption on 7 December. Not crazy but for me 5-6 cups per day is a fix that helps and sleep is less but very deep (5-6hrs). Make sure that you talk it out with someone when you feel like you might be in a danger of relapsing or just generally feeling down. 2017;22(5):1416-1425. doi:10.1111/adb.12420. I was a daily physically and mentally addicted alcoholic. I miss having a glass with friends. Hoping Ill feel so great Ill stay off alcohol for good. I noticed a person had mentioned that their chocolate consumption went through the roof, I had a similar thing but mine was ice cream . Have not had alcohol for 6 weeks and lost another 5 lbs in 2 weeks. Sorry this is so winded but its awesome to be able to share. The urge to consume sugar was overwhelming at first. It is sugar replaced by sugar. Alan completed a postgraduate degree in social work from Columbia University in New York City and is a licensed clinical social worker in FL, NJ, NC and SC. I do make myself a decaf cappuccino almost every night. I want to go back to having a glass of champagne with my wife and not hiding bottles around the street. I think a lot of us picked up alcohol in our teens, when we were supposed to be learning how to socialize without drinking, we instead did drink and it became the crutch. All I have to say is thank god I didnt let it get to the point where I actually feel like I need to drink. Nothing will make me return to alcohol. It has been 9 months of no alcohol and it hasnt been easy. It started as a dry January, maybe drop a few pounds I picked up working from home with the COVID era. Had been binge drinking for almost 2 decades although i have always been sports oriented. I will do anything. One of the unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol is that you may find yourself more productive than before. Now Im feeling much more confident and yes, a little bit smug! Alcoholism makes your body full of toxins and dependent, causing a lot of harm to it. My overall outlook on life has changed. As some of the areas above start to improve, it can result in an increase in your overall health and well-being. U.S. Alcohol Drinking Alcohol Consumption Health Care A woman has shared her incredible three-week transformation after completely cutting out alcohol. The effect of a reduction in alcohol consumption on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. This is really important to avoid any dangers of a relapse. I get a sugar rush just thinking about it. I wanted to be able to stop, when I would try and go a couple days to sober up if I had to be somewhere for work, I would lay in a fetal position on the couch , clenched jaw, unbearable anxiety, shakes and night sweats. I dont sleep well. Ive struggled through dry months. During lockdown my drinking increased massively. My body aches, mainly legs, but I am walking so much better from hobbling with my sons walking stick to stop me falling over. One week, well done, it goes on and on. By ditching the alcohol and upping your water intake, its really a win-win for your hydration status and will leave your skin feeling healthier and looking more radiant, she says. 6. Generally feeling happier and more confident. Dont let alcohol steal your time here on Earth. It is nice to read all the comments and be able to relate. Oh yeah and sleep really well now . Plus, the high levels of salt and sugar content in alcoholic beverages may trigger the hormone IGF-1, which causes an over-production of oil in your skin (hi, pimples!). I like keeping track of the health benefits I get after one week, two weeks, three weeks etc. . Seek help and dont let one little mistake bring you down. I have always been very fit, eat healthy and love the gym. WOW hallelujah moment. Sounds sad, I am counting days. Then I looked up the symptoms for alcohol withdrawal and, surprise! This is because alcohol can cause depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. 2010;7(3):799-813. doi:10.3390/ijerph7030799, By Arlin Cuncic Feel great, no real cravings. And I knew that I wasnt meant to drink. I quite for 4 years when I stopped smoking so that I wouldnt have a weak moment. Ive experienced some weight gain which is welcomed since Ive always been around 135 when 155/160 is desired. By now the paint has dried and you can return to your miserable life knowing that your blood pressure has gone down by an unspecified amount. How Do You Know If You Have A Hormonal Belly? This happens when you start to feel that now that you have taken six months over you have achieved everything and there is nothing more for you to learn. Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Alcoholic hepatitis can lead to irreversible scarring and damage thats called alcoholic liver cirrhosis. I would even switch up the stores so it didnt look as bad. Very powerful and encouraging, thank you. Slowly, the sober life made sense and the desire to drink & use faded some. Stay strong! [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 October 2020]. Was a heavy drug user recreationally for about a half decade in my early 20s, quit cold Turkey but about 13-14 years ago I hit the bottle. When my inner child gets bratty and tries to tell me what to do, I can say STFU, you dont call the shots any more I do! I finally decided to quit and drink NA beers. Then your time will be terrible. I am improving my sugar and BP but get dizzy spells I was sleeping better in rehab but have been home and cant sleep maybe I felt safe in rehab but its nice to hear that its a day to day thing I get frustrated some days and cry and feel I will never feel better. Id highly recommend the audio/book Drink? At 8 months alcahol free, it has been an eye opening journey. An Alcohol-Free Year: Insights from My First 6 Months | Better Humans 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. But I really didnt think could do it. Its a difficult journey, I wont lie but oh my god, the feeling I have when asked what I want to drink and to be able to say with a sense of belief in myself that I actually DONT drink any more. Does anyone have these same symptoms? 6. The spirit of rebellion against what the generation before did is one of the reason many younger people are choosing not to drink. Im not experiencing all the gains I hoped for but I wouldnt have been classed a heavy drinker in the first place; I was consuming an average of about 20 units a week. 10/10 would go AF again. Good luck to everyone! To all the people who have been feeling smug since stopping alcohol, I`d like to say quite bloody right you have every right to. Im 46 and it I might be going through peri-menopause. There are several medications (benzodiazepines, clonidine, etc.) So, giving up alcohol may help you to improve your relationships with friends and family. But when you stay sober for a long period of time your brain will stop being dependent on alcohol for sleep and your body will naturally get used to sleeping on its own. Ive had Pizza and Chinese and other heavily salted foods but always offset by exercise. lets go week 4, All the very best to anyone out there who is struggling with alcohol, I know how difficult it is, you have it in you to be what ever and who ever you want to be. Without alcohol in my life, I soon found myself getting more into fitness, which made it even easier to turn down drinks. Ive complained for a long time about a fear of premature death. Published 2018 Dec 5. It just all of a sudden happened. Its a habit and for some reason I am so scared to change it. Meet the experts: Linzy Ziegelbaum, RD, is a nutritionist who focuses on making healthier food decisions and portion control. One day @ a time, friends. Going to 3 months now, Im 3 weeks in to my abstinence journey. Posts are all inspiring and mirror much of my journey. My skin is better and eyes clearer, Ive lost a lot of weight. I feel great, no more flare-up, better sleep, weight loss and better eating habits, although the craving for chocolate and ice cream increased. Good luck. I started drinking at age 15. Im 62 and have been a heavy drinker for well over 20 years. The benefits are incredible, the smug feeling is overwhelming and not to be underestimated. Not drinking alcohol has helped me look forward not backwards. That i gained in lockdown from covid and my energy is over the top. But you might also experience what's called "hang-xiety," or anxious feelings that are experienced as part of a hangover, says Dr. Peterson. Ive been a heavy drinker since probably the age of 17. I really enjoy it but i was what made me feel happy. Fortunately I am not overweight so a few extra chocolates wont hurt. Its never worth it to get someone help if they didnt ask for it but if you do, plenty doors open up. But this is not healthy for you and can cause a relapse. Alcohol can cause problems in relationships, such as conflicts, communication problems, and trust issues. It impairs your sleep-wake cycle too. The benefits of not drinking are so great, I just dont want it. Metabolic Age 49, February 26th 43 yo Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Surprised it is not in this list. 2020. Take care of yourself, for sure!! not bothered about sleep etc that is an added bonus on top of the chance to live. Lets take a look at what happens when you stay stop for this period of time. You decide what the genre is , haI agree with the chocolate consumption and everything else..Im at 3 months. Almost had that habit changing first drink many times didnt and always reminded my self in the morning the power of discipline. I am 2 months sober i became an alcoholic in just 1 year drinking 1 handle of vodka a day. Hangovers, unfulfilled promises not to drink and embarrassment tend to lead to self loathing which has been a joy to shake off. I found that many of my friends also wanted to try to stop or cut down, they did temporarily, however, this journey needs to come from within when you are ready!! If you're one of these individuals, you may have decided that it's time to quit drinking. Thank you to each and everyone of you brave souls for sharing your stories and comments, fears, weaknesses and wins. But, simple truth is, its no way to live. I now have 2 to 3 mid strength beers of an afternoon rather than a few heavy beers then red wine with dinner and post dinner. He hid it well from all of us. But I started. Dig deep, stay focused because if I can do this, you can also. Once you have reached six months of sobriety you will start to feel more comfortable with yourself but it can also lead to pink clouding. I never did that before and it has made the difference this time around. Love getting up in the mornings and feeling human and not hung over. 5 days now which is the longest in years without a night of drinking and no urge to drink anytime soon. Within a few months I was back to 8-9 drinks a night every night. It will also help you stay connected to sobriety and sober living. Im at 8 months. Worth fighting. Stay positive, keep going forward and take one day at a time. I would have a private party everyday and enjoyed every minute of it. I read that the neuropathy may never resolve, and that breaks my heart and scares me for what I have done to myself. I found strawberries and watermelon very helpful for the sugar cravings. I dont really miss it, but my marriage is still shaky, daily acid reflux, no weight loss due to a surprising ice cream addiction , still unmotivated. 6 Weeks Without Alcohol You may have higher thinking and problem-solving skills, memory and attention than those who are still drinking alcohol. I do more running now and my family life is so much better best thing I ever did !! Not being able to walk was the last straw. I skip margaritas, rum and Cokes, or anything else thats overloaded with sugar. Ive been AF for 79 days today. The BP has mostly seen improvement but I still see higher numbers than normal. 35 days35 long days! Seek medical advice if you need guidance on whats happening in regard to your health. Keep up the good work!! I know when I was at about this point there were a lot of scary things going on I was worried wouldnt go away. I do have high bloo pressure most likely due to drinking, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL If I had known it was doing this to me I would have quit years ago (am 23 for those who are wondering). As far as chocolate was concerned I used very high cocoa level dark chocolate. I was not raised religious but started reading the bible about 2-3 years ago. You might feel more depressed or on the lack of serotonin and dopamine. I am delighted to be alcohol free and I make some pretty awesome mocktails. It's common to feel anxious or irritable when you first give up alcohol. Also, I have transitioned to AF beers e.g. This is great for those who want to maintain their weight and/or start cutting fat. But I truly believe third times a charm. I drank around 2 to 3 bottles of wine per day, everyday over covid lockdown, so almost 1.5 years and before that was a binge drinker for 10 years..I was miserable. Train 5-6 days per week sensibly. Since the last Ale, which Ive enjoyed since a small boy having been given sips from my Fathers tankard of Strong Brown Ale at the Dinner table, Ive shed 6.5 kilos, I eat less, enjoy a better sleep and my skin, nails and what little hair decorates my bonce is improved. I work out 6 days a week, Ive dropped 10-12 pounds I assume the BP will improve with more weight loss and exercise. Sleeping better, In the next two months I will wean myself off sugar. Hello! I guess I was just obese and cutting all those calories made a huge difference. AND YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY AS YOU WANT. I do feel a small improvement in my health, and hope to gain a greater degree of overall improvement as my alcohol free life continues. One handle a day. Remember that everyones experience is different and you might not see the same changes for yourself at the same time as others. Gotta say, didnt really expect that from my grandparents, lol. Your notes show that these changes have happened for some of you. Im more alert and sleep like a baby. It is easy to stop, but hard to quit 4ever when you are single. I was a 3-4 drinks of white wine per day. I know I am not all the way there, yet, but I realize I am moving in that direction. And as a 5' 2" woman, it was obvious that I'd gained weight in my stomach and lower back. (No jinx ). hope this helps shed some light to support people in stopping although i will never preach. My b/p is going down,the quality of sleep is incredible,l didnt know l could sleep this well without alcohol,but ice cream and donuts have come in the picture,lm looking forward to many more months alchohol free,after 30 years of drinking,l dont miss it, Hi Peter, thats great that you quieted and you are feeling better , i quieted drinking for a month now and i went through a lot of symptoms ,the one is still not going away that easy its my b/p and bloated and constipated ,just wondering if you been through the same and if they eventually went away ,thanks in advance, I too Peter feel so much better. Ill drink about a litre, then the next night a litre and a half, then the next day two, this can go on for a bout a week, and then I wont sleep, wake up feeling bad, Ill stop for a few days and the whole cycle goes on again. It was an aha moment for me. It has amazed me, the adjustment period. The sense of guilt is not uncommon and affects everyone at some point. What a mindset to have and strong spirit, thank you for articulating it for those who appreciated reading your powerful words. Focus better So why continue the lie? TMI no more constipation. My prayers are with us all. Things I normally wouldnt spend the money on but since I wasnt buying alcohol I was saving money. Sweets, especially ice cream was a real problem in the beginning. I also was hoping for instant weight loss but its happening just now. I think thats helping. The enzyme that helps metabolize the alcohol wasnt fairing well. Along with that, anxiety and depressive symptoms often abate. And yes I do have ice cream before bed but others are noticing the weight loss and complimenting. By reading about other peoples experiences, as well as medical articles on the damage that alcohol does both physically and mentally, it was an easy decison. You'll also have more energy and stamina, and you may notice that your This February will be 12 months alcohol free af, I hope you can help me give some idea Ive had the shakes and was drinking so much my blood pressure was so high I was hospitalized 2x I have stopped drinking 2 months now goofed-up on 3 ipa at a Christmas party which I didnt want to go I feel worse now than when I was drinking many ipas. 66 days Alcohol free and feel a whole lot better,my aim is to do one year!! I am getting up off my backside and getting things done instead of wasting days in constant mediocrity of hungover-ness. Making me reflect on why I drank, what it was doing to me and my family and what had happened with alcahol in my parents lives, that still continues. Youve also reduced your overall risk of having an injury or accident (Alcohol & Drug Foundation, 2020). of sobriety. 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