Quitting alcohol leads to significant improvements in brain health and cognitive functions. Alcohol can impair brain function, affecting areas like memory, concentration, and attention. Once alcohol is out of the system, the brain can begin to repair itself, improving these cognitive functions. Quitting alcohol also benefits the liver, which plays a key role in processing toxins. With the liver no longer having to deal with alcohol, it can better perform other vital functions, ultimately contributing to higher overall energy levels. The following quiz is called the AUDIT, which is short for Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.
The Journey of Healing After Quitting Alcohol
Alcohol can make you look older through dehydration and inflammation, which can be reversed when you quit. If you ever feel bloated or have abdominal discomfort after pairing a meal with a glass of wine or beer, you might be able to put at least some of the blame on alcohol. Even in relatively small doses, alcohol can negatively affect digestion by altering the stomach’s secretion of gastric acid and hamper the digestive enzymes’ ability to function and break down food. Studies have shown that pairing alcohol with a meal can slow down digestion while the overproduction of gastric acid can irritate the stomach. It can cause memory loss and interference with brain development. For college students, being dry is the best thing to do,” he said.
What happens to your body when you stop drinking?
- Research shows that how you enter detox matters for where you go next.
- Because the liver is a tolerant organ, he said positive changes can occur within weeks of going dry.
- In summary, quitting alcohol can improve relationships, alter social activities, lead to discovering new interests, build a strong support network, and promote a healthier lifestyle.
- Symptom-triggered approaches using benzodiazepines mean you receive medication based on actual need, not arbitrary schedules (Becciolini et al., 2025).
- Withdrawal symptoms are more likely in those who drank heavily for a long time.
- If you’re considering a break from alcohol, it might also be helpful to think about why you drink.
The turn of a new year, or any moment of personal reflection, often ignites a desire for healthier habits and fresh starts. Among the most profoundly impactful steps one can take toward a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life is the decision What happens to the body when you stop drinking alcohol to abstain from alcohol. It can take the liver 4-8 weeks to fully detoxify the body and start burning excess fat. Many people are frustrated by the time it takes to start losing weight after quitting drinking.
Can cutting out alcohol bring about health benefits?
You might realize that you look forward to weekend mornings now instead of dreading hangovers and hangxiety. Spending quality family time or pursuing our hobbies becomes much more fulfilling than alcohol use. Now you can check out the farmers’ market, go on a long walk, or make some progress on that DIY project. Each week feels like a milestone, and this week might feel like your best one yet.
Moreover, cognitive distortions often emerge, helping to justify the harmful habit. These include thoughts like, “One drink won’t hurt,” or “everyone else is doing it,” he explains, which minimise the perceived harm of drinking. The individual is often well on their way to a new, healthier chapter of life. This is also a point when long-term recovery goals begin to take shape.
Alcohol support groups
One month of abstinence, insulin resistance – which can lead to high blood sugar – significantly reduces by 25 per cent. Blood pressure also reduces (by 6 per cent) and cancer-related growth factors declines, lowering your risk https://kaributaste.com/boston-sober-detox-treatment-centers-sober-living/ of cancer. One month of abstinence, insulin resistance – which can lead to high blood sugar – significantly reduces by 25%.
She has extensive experience working alongside clinicians and providers to create physical and mental well-being content that’s useful, informative, and clinically effective. For this article, she conducted interviews with multiple doctors for their expertise and recommendations and read research on alcohol and its effect on the body. In addition, the editor of this article has spent the last 15 years as a health editor, covering all things health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness and adheres to the highest journalistic standards. From weight loss to better sleep, the long-term and short-term side effects can be noticeable.
Continued abstinence is critical for their resolution and preventing recurrence. Properly managing withdrawal symptoms will drastically improve your quality of life and, as a result, your odds of avoiding relapse. It’s not uncommon for an alcoholic who swore never to drink in the morning to reluctantly begin taking a shot or two to ease withdrawal symptoms before work. It seems like a blur in retrospect, but luckily after reaching this point, I decided that it was time to let go of my pride and get help.
Quitting Alcohol Timeline: Alcohol Withdrawals in the First 72 Hours
In severe cases, a condition known as delirium tremens (DTs) may begin. DTs are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. This is why medical detox is critical for people with alcohol dependence. But I never read anything about the biochemistry of alcohol tolerance, kindling, or the withdrawal timeline. After a week or two of summoning all Halfway house of my willpower to drink “socially,” I’d still end up with worse withdrawal symptoms than I’d had before. People who are severely dependent on alcohol have often been drinking large amounts daily for many months or years.
These myths can come from society, media, treatment programs, or even well-meaning friends and family. The problem is, they shape how people see themselves and how others treat them, often adding shame and stigma instead of support. Make sure to also check out the interactive timeline included in the Conversation piece to see the benefits of stopping over time. If you have any blood clotting issues, they may improve as the liver is responsible for your blood’s clotting pathways and functions. This is where you have great potential to learn how to maintain a healthy diet by learning how to eat whole foods and cook nutritious meals.