Tips For Reducing Alcohol Consumption

With regards to breast cancer, it is suggested that alcohol increases women’s oestrogen production, which may cause cancerous cells to multiply quicker. With this in mind, a month or more off alcohol can make sure our immune system is on top form.

• And has even been found to lower the levels of serotonin in our brain that help regulate our mood.
• For those who do make it through day three of alcohol withdrawal symptoms without taking a drink, day 4 for many brings relief from their most severe symptoms.
• Alcohol plays a role in at least half of all serious trauma injuries and deaths from burns, drownings, and homicides.
• Making a conscious decision to stop drinking alcohol involves making some major changes in your life.

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains that people only change when “embedded in social groups that change easier.” And since I stopped drinking, I’ve had many others join me in quitting alcohol. Having the support of others will help you keep going — and you’ll all love how you feel as a result. This might sound weird because isn’t that the point of being sober? But at times we keep alcohol and booze in our house for ‘guests’ or your family members might indulge in occasional drinking. Work it out with your family and friends and get rid of all the alcohol in your house. Avoid going to parties where you know you will have to face alcohol, as much as you can. You can also look for jobs that don’t allow alcohol at work to help you avoid any bad influence.

Physical Effects Of Quitting Alcohol

Although the pink cloud feels good, it can give you a false sense of security. Getting through each day will slowly become easier and more normal to you, and you’ll begin to find new hobbies that don’t include drugs or alcohol. For me, the first year of not drinking was an emotional time with many ups and downs. It’s a period when you discover who you really are and see the reasons behind why you drank while also learning how to heal without abusing alcohol. Getting sober is a little easier when you know what to expect, so here are a few things you should be prepared for in your first year of sobriety.

Choose a limit for how much you’ll drink, but make sure your limit is not more than one drink a day if you’re a woman, two drinks a day if you’re a man—and try to have some days each week when you won’t drink alcohol at all. Write your drinking goal down and keep it where you will frequently see it, such as on your effects of alcohol phone or taped to your refrigerator. If your goal is to reduce your drinking, decide which days you will drink alcohol and how many drinks you will allow yourself per day. Try to commit to at least two days each week when you won’t drink at all. There are going to be challenges when you begin your sobriety journey.

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Another common damage that’s caused by alcohol consumption is liver damage. Research suggests that if individuals begin an abstinence program early enough, mild liver damage may not be serious enough to cause issues. However, when someone develops cirrhosis of the liver, this cannot be rectified by abstinence or lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, in some cases, damage to your system cannot be reversed. For example, the full extent of the damage produced by chronic and heavy alcohol use on the cardiovascular system is not fully resolved.

If you answer “yes” to two to three questions, your symptoms align with mild AUD. If you answer “yes” to four to five questions, your symptoms align with moderate AUD. If you answer “yes” to six or more questions, your symptoms align with severe AUD. Consult with a licensed mental health professional to further explore AUD. Women should limit their alcohol intake to no more than one drink changes after quitting alcohol a day while men should limit their alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks a day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Surround yourself with positive influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. The more you’re invested in other people and your community, the more you have to lose—which will help you stay motivated and on the recovery track.

You’ll Improve Your Heart Health

This damage can lead to a number of problems, including depression, trouble sleeping, and a decrease in brain cells. Quitting drinking can allow the brain to heal and will likely result in increased cognition and overall brain function.

So I decided to do something wilder than having a glass of wine every night-not have one at all-for 30 days. That’s right, for an entire month, I committed to going completely booze free to see how I felt and if the alcohol had anything to do with my bad vibes and body issues. There were three big changes that happened-and they weren’t at all what I expected. “Again, depends on what the baseline alcohol consumption is. If heavier drinkers remove alcohol for a longer period of time, they might see weight loss, improvement in body composition, less stomach fat, improvement in triglycerides ,” she said. To help relieve uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, many treatment programs offer medication-assisted therapy. Certain prescribed medications can treat alcohol withdrawal, allowing patients to focus on other aspects of recovery.

Common Physical Symptoms Of Withdrawal You Can Expect To Experience During Your First 30 Days Of Sobriety

Even in these advanced stages, research suggests that giving up alcohol can reverse scarring and improve the chance of survival. And a 2012 study showed that some people’s brains are more likely to respond to alcohol with feelings of pleasure and reward. That can lead them to chase the sensation more frequently than those who don’t have that disposition. It’s not hard to see how this would make moderating drinking difficult for people wired this way. The first couple nights were weird, but I soon settled into a routine, substituting green tea or sparkling lemon water for the beer and occasional wine while watching TV, talking with my family or a friend, or tapping away at a keyboard. I thought weekends would be difficult, but they weren’t really, though I did break with my intentions twice—both times for wine tastings at previously-scheduled social events.

Whether you frequently drink, engage in binge drinkers, consider yourself a heavy drinker, or are, in reality, an alcoholic, you’ll experience some benefits. As you might know, alcohol abuse increases the risk of liver disease and triggers mental health disorders.

Find Your Treatment That Works For You!

To give you an idea of what happens when you stop drinking, we’ve gathered the 15 benefits of not drinking alcohol you can expect to reap below. And while you’re making healthy changes, be sure to try out these 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time. When people asked why I quit drinking, I’d say, “For health reasons. I had a break from alcohol and felt terrific, so I kept going.” It now occupies about five seconds of the conversation when meeting someone new. It’s never an issue when they see my confidence and conviction. One thing is for sure,having a Vala doctor in your pocket can be a real source of encouragement and support during the early stages of withdrawal. We can also help you find other support resources that are available for people who are ready to stop drinking, or want to reduce the harm alcohol is causing in their life by cutting down. As February 1 rapidly approaches, I’m pretty proud of my 100 percent record.

Once restful nights become a regular occurrence, tasks feel less arduous, work doesn’t drag as much, and when your kids ask you to play a board game, you’ll more likely say yes. First of all, alcohol in moderation is mostly fine and maybe even good for you, according to some research. The problem lies in the fact that it’s surprisingly easy to exceed what the experts call “moderate.” For men, imbibing 15 or more drinks per week renders them a “heavy” or “problem” drinker. For women, it takes just 12 or more a week to enter the trouble zone.

Benefits Of Not Drinking Alcohol: 16 Amazing Health Benefits Of Ditching The Booze

The first step is often to consult your primary care doctor or GP. Your doctor can evaluate your drinking patterns, diagnose any co-occurring disorders, assess your overall health, and offer treatment referrals. They may even be able to prescribe medication to help you quit. I will limit my Saturday and Sunday drinking to no more than three drinks per day or five drinks per weekend. I will stop drinking on weekdays, starting as of __________.

We offer 24-hour psychiatric services provided by licensed professionals in various disciplines. The hospital has varying programs that can be tailored to patient needs, including older adult programs, dual diagnosis treatment and general psychiatric care.

Every journey begins with a single step, including your 30 days sober challenge. That combined with the physical benefits you’ll experience when you give up alcohol, you’ll have an easier time sticking with it and coming out on top. Exercising is a popular option for those looking to stay sober, as are outdoor activities like hiking. These activities produce endorphins and can help to minimize some of the physical effects you’ll experience after giving up drugs or alcohol.