By the first week after stopping alcohol, you will be more hydrated. The effects of being well-hydrated will continue to build, having more positive results as you continue sobriety. Alcohol and heavy drinking can cause long-term, negative impacts on the brain, including poor memory and slower reflexes. Over time, the brain can actually get used to the effects of alcohol, causing it to work harder and cause unpleasant or even dangerous withdrawal symptoms like tremors and heart palpitations.
Reach out for support
Alcohol is also linked to poor sleep quality, so you might feel more energized after a week without alcohol, she added. “It is also important to notice what happens to your emotions when you stop alcohol use. If you have been using alcohol to manage difficult or uncomfortable emotions or experiences, those emotions taking a break from alcohol will intensify shortly after you quit using. In these cases, it is important to seek professional help to address and resolve those difficulties,” she adds. If you’ve thought about it and want to try sobriety, for a brief period of time or for who-knows-how-long, getting started can be simpler than you think.
How well do you score on brain health?
- Drink plenty of fluids, but you don’t have to drink just water.
- That said, you don’t need to say anything more than “No, thanks.” Practicing your refusal ahead of time can help you feel more comfortable and confident when you find yourself in a situation that involves alcohol.
- For most people, participating in month-long challenges will provide a range of benefits and little downside, even over the longer term.
- If you notice your tolerance to alcohol is increasing, you’re at risk of becoming dependent on alcohol.
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. To stop https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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.
What might you see a few months down the line?
Experts say there are benefits to quitting alcohol for a short period, even if you’re a social or moderate drinker. And while there is virtually no downside to taking a break from drinking alcohol — or quitting altogether — science is just beginning to study the ways abstinence might be good for you. That said, If you’ve been drinking excessively, then stopping drinking cold turkey can lead to withdrawal symptoms. If going out for drinks feels more like a mandatory event and less like a fun occasion, you might be considering taking a break from alcohol—at least for a little while.
- But evaluations show, regardless of successful completion, taking up a month-long challenge to quit alcohol is linked to reductions in alcohol consumption six months and up to a year later.
- A 90-day break from alcohol offers the opportunity to step back and break the cycle of habitual drinking.
- “Say, hey, it’s dry January,” and tell them why you’re taking a break.
- Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation.
- Choose a healthier alternative like sparkling water, soft drink or a mocktail.
Stand back and ask: ‘How does drinking serve me?’
He became a substance abuse counselor to help others but found that being in recovery was often really lonely. “All my drinking was really centered around community and wanting that connection so badly with other people,” he says. After a monthlong break, researchers measured levels of a liver enzyme called gamma-glutamyltransferase, or GGT. “Not everybody wants to get wasted when they go to the bar,” says Forte. Sometimes, being there is just about wanting to be social and fit in. Another social club member, Kathy Kuzniar, says she used to obsess over whether there was enough wine in the house.
Quitting alcohol for one month seems like a short time, but a 2015 study found that many people who participate in Dry January continue to drink less six months later. The “One Week No Booze Method” recently went viral on TikTok and participants are challenged to stop drinking for one week each month. This method adds up to three months a year without alcohol, it could be an option for people who want to continue taking manageable breaks from alcohol beyond Dry January. If you stop drinking for a week, you might notice some positive changes in your gastrointestinal system.
The current trend towards choosing low or no alcohol might bring benefits.
