Author: Alex Thompson

Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

Emotionally, you may feel some anxiety or sadness about ending a chapter of your life and nervousness about the future. It’s important to remember that labeling yourself is not necessary to take a step back and reconsider alcohol’s role in your life. That’s why Mehta recommends being kind to yourself and thinking about this as an experiment. You can begin setting boundaries by creating a little distance from big drinkers in the initial phases of sobriety and also find others who are in the same boat as you, says Mehta. She also recommends starting with an event where you’re most comfortable and even relying on an alcohol-free beverage to ease the transition.

Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health

People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Whether you’re sober curious, know for sure you’re ready to quit, or fall somewhere in between, Dr. Streem shares advice for how to stop drinking. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), you’ll likely benefit from additional medical interventions. A day and a half after quitting alcohol, withdrawal symptoms will intensify. New symptoms will develop, including clammy skin, nausea, jumpiness, insomnia, depression and loss of appetite. As new symptoms develop, they will become more and more intense as withdrawal progresses.

Ready to quit drinking for good? Check if rehab treatment is covered by your insurance in 60 seconds or less.

All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks. When you’re having a good time, you find it hard to stop, especially in the company of friends having the same amount. I order a mocktail when I meet people for drinks because it feels good to sip a drink that has an air of indulgence to it. The action also helps reduce any worry of being interrogated by strangers about why I’m not drinking (it happens all too often) because mocktails look just like cocktails.

Consider professional support

The challenge of this stage is to essentially develop and maintain healthy life skills that will serve you for a lifetime. An exciting part of this period is that it can lead you to a happier life full of welcomed change and constant improvement. During the recovery stage, it’s not uncommon to feel temporarily worse.

Tips for success in alcohol recovery

Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. If you’re trying to shed a few pounds, keeping that goal in mind can be great a list-topper for why you’re quitting booze. We all become conditioned to have certain responses to triggers throughout our lives. It’s normal for certain stimuli to cause a reaction in your mind and body without even being aware of it. Heavy alcohol use is expensive, potentially costing you $800 each month or even more.

Quitting Alcohol Timeline: What to Expect in Weeks 1-3

Depending on how much a person drinks, taking a break from alcohol for a month could lead to myriad positive changes. Waking up without the fatigue, malaise and other common symptoms of hangovers could greatly improve one’s quality of life. In addition, potential improvements in health and wellbeing could have positive effects on relationships. And, for some people, the financial savings could be substantial. Research has also shown that taking a month-long break from alcohol can be good for the liver. These include tips for cutting down or quitting, reminder strategies to help you remember why and how you decided to do it, and ways your family and friends can support you.

Recovery from alcohol addiction generally follows the stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth. One thing that many listeners who’ve tried a dry January — or any break from alcohol — told us is that their friends didn’t really “get it.” “Why, why, why,” people told us they were asked. If you’re having difficulty sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support. You might run into obstacles along the way that tempt you to drink. Keep in mind the reasons you chose to cut back on or quit alcohol.

Given that alcohol is so ubiquitous in our culture, some people drink out of habit and haven’t taken the time to take note of its effects. By avoiding alcohol, you’re taking a big step toward improving physical health. As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress. To stop drinking alcohol, you first need to understand your relationship with drinking. From there, you may need social support, consistent self-care, and new routines that can help redirect your mind. But Dr. Streem knows that it can be hard to recognize signs of alcohol abuse in ourselves.

1. After four weeks of hair growth without the effects of alcohol, your hair may appear fuller and more supple.
2. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives.
3. Many people who have tried a break from alcohol told Life Kit that their friends didn’t really “get it” — and that they felt compelled to make up excuses.
4. The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help you recognize and find high quality treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Most of this inflammation will be gone by your fourth week of abstinence. While any scarring caused by liver inflammation (called cirrhosis) will be permanent, the effects of inflammation itself will be almost completely resolved by week four. Even if you don’t experience these symptoms and just want some extra help, it’s worth reaching out.

Week Two Benefits

What’s most important is looking at your drinking habits and finding a way to cut back that works for you. “I have found kombucha to be an effective tool in transitioning off nightly nightcaps,” says Koskinen. Replacing an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink that is “special” can be a big help when quitting booze, Shapiro notes.