Question for you Jon: My circumstances are similar, my husband still drinks a couple (high alcohol 8%) beers 4X a night, and I find myself irritated with his drinking, which never happened in the past. Feel great, no real cravings. This is because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, so when it's no longer in your system, your body has to adjust to the change. Alcohol literally stinks. Rebecca Berens, MD, is a family medicine physician who specializes in women's health. We had zoom meetings with family every Thursday, and wed all toast to each other at the end. Due to some tests the past 6 months I started to pay more attention to my metrics. I find that one drink doesnt keep me from making healthy decisionsand its much easier to stop after one than after two or three. Better Resistance. I had a very boozy few years, always social. Its absolutely brilliant. Ive quit for various reasons in the past after the accomplishment I was back to my pretty wine glass and wineing down (pun intended). I have lost around half a stone in weight too. I put 1/3 of a serving into my oatmeal in the morning and it makes it taste delicious with some blueberries, strawberries or watermelon. Gets better after month 5. I have grandchildren that I want to be around to enjoy a long time. Im sure it has provided huge health benefits that are unseen, so to speak. I decided on New Years to only drink on weekends. So, giving up alcohol can help you to avoid these potentially deadly diseases. GL all! Finally, you may start to experience a boost in your overall mood and a less intense experience of anxiety or depression. Easier to Eat Healthier. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at theNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismof the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have a partner that still drinks daily and is reluctant to stop but I can see her consumption dwindling so a good sign. I had my first drink in 3.5 months yesterday (a half pint of beer) and am curious to know whether I am undermining the health benefits of not drinking in any real sense. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety.". I have a domestic routine that involves getting all the tasks that were once impossible to even ponder DONE! Has anyone noticed, like me, that their eyesight is better in the morning? And that dehydration can take a serious toll on your skin. Good luck and enjoy the journey. Sparkling waters, diet sodas and fruits like grapes have helped me greatly getting the carbonated feeling and sugar in my body that I missed from alcohol. For the alcoholic, this has got to be the absolute least compelling rambling of benefits ever written. 2.3. This I find so strange after years of using it to handle any pressure . I can look forward now with hope and can actually make a go of things. My house is clean (mostly) and organized (80%). By not drinking alcohol, your sleep will improve, which will also give you more energy and improve your physical and mental health. And it was the worst rebound ever, I went at it like it was going out of fashion,,, Anyway, day 42. After one week, I was surprised how good it felt, so I tried Dry January. Meet the experts: Linzy Ziegelbaum, RD, is a nutritionist who focuses on making healthier food decisions and portion control. Now, there are a lot of things that happen in between these 6 months, from changes and improvement in mental health to ones physical health. Without the carbs from alcohol, I am craving sweets like so many others have written. I dont want to gain weight. Planned my life around it. I am too. 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. You may never have expected to get this far in your journey, but you have showed a great deal of commitment to get here. Sometimes almost both. Because of these internal changes, relationships often improve or become more possible. My head is still in a fog which it has been for years. Good luck, So happy to see I am not the only Milo addict here nowI am 6 days AF today and acquiring a good taste for Milo , 2 months and feeling a lot better. At 3 months AF, I have almost nothing but positive things to say. I have lost weight and my mood is good, havent felt this great in so long. I spent a week in Rehab and the withdrawals were absolutely horrendous. Lets assume at some point in the 1 or 2 years of being sober you are forced into a stressful situation and end up drinking alcohol. >145\>95 . They also said im diabetic so im working hard. I was able to down a bottle of gin in 2 hours! By the end of my freshman year, I had put on 15 pounds. This is a wonderful comment and really resonates with my own experience. I like keeping track of the health benefits I get after one week, two weeks, three weeks etc. <126\<78 I am getting up off my backside and getting things done instead of wasting days in constant mediocrity of hungover-ness. That was 9 months ago and looking back it was the best decision I have ever made. Yes, chocolate bullets & sorbet are my go to. And yes, THE CHOCOLATE consumption was through the roof! So even tho this reads 3 months that may just be a start to improve the net can suggest 1 month its all contingent on how long and how much you were hurting yourself. If I can do it ANYONE can do it. I had a month sober and blew it I promised my son I would continue being sober because he likes to be around me sober. I did it and am still my old self again after 7 years. If you drink regularly, your brain will start to compensate by producing stimulating chemicals, according to Harvard Health. Its pretty clear that the person who wrote this does not know what the phuck they are talking about. Since around 18 I never went longer then a week with drinking heavily socially. Returned to fitness and great nutrition. He was doing really good. Do it. It slowly started sinking in, and I asked Jesus to help me stop drinking. I have horrible panic attacks while falling asleep and i use wine to knock me out lol. I dont sleep well. Anybody that is struggling with quitting, its not an easy step but once over that threshold you may never look back and live the rest of your life AF as I am planning on doing. Once you stop drinking, your body will slowly detoxify itself and get rid of all the toxins that were affecting your physical health and youll start appearing healthier. Hangovers and increased appetite, feeling fatigued, greyish skin etc. Its personal, private, and powerful. Come with me!! Ive binged and restarted numerous times but I will not ever go back to the point I was at a year ago. As I lay in bed now, life is looking good, Im feeling positive, only I can screw this up. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. 3. 6 months of sobriety is a long journey of patience, challenges and determination. I never intended to completely stop but now Im not so sure. He hid it well from all of us. Luckily, it was nothing that strong coffee and an Advil couldn't fixexcept for the .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}weight gain. If you have been addicted for a long period of time, your body is still healing from all the toxins d6 months soberuring these 6 months. And I knew that I wasnt meant to drink. That was the wake up call after seeing my lab results. I was terrified that I would never last sober but I am taking everyday as they come. I think I will change up my lifestyle a bit after this full 12 months going AF and switch to 1 week of drinking with 1 month off and see how it goes. 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. I used to drink about six-eight beers per night for three/four days per week. How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System? Come month 7 I feel like a normal person, the majority of the body chemicals have now settled and withdrawal symptoms have gone. It tastes like beer, no booze. Something has to change because Im dependent on it. Read Allan Carrs book The Easy Way to Quit Drinking and a book called The Sober Diaries. 2020. The Lancet Public Health, 2(2), pp.e108-e120. Im three months way down on consumption! Not so much. Hi Rita Im 2 months clean today went into rehab April 2.had a very scary withdrawal in the hospital I was near death caused by lactic acidosis scary scary. You can do it Sue, If I did it so can you, Im a little more than 3 months AF and sleep is definitely better (as are my dreams) but I think the biggest plus here is that I wake everyday now able to breathe calmly and not feel like a failure for breaking my commitment the night before. big improvement that last post should read. Then to none. 'I Lost 50 Lbs. . Now I wanna see what I can do sober. Nearly 3 months sober for me and I cant see me going back to alcohol.the very idea of it is enough to put me off drinking. On days like today, when I face stress or strife, I face it raw. My relationship s with friends and family are better then ever. Im only 2 months in AF but so thankful to God for helping me with this new life. I quit drinking beer and wine due to personal health scare. Thank you for your website. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Being drunk can suppress your immune function, which can make you more vulnerable to the pathogens that cause the cold and flu, among other things, says Keri Peterson, MD, a WH advisory board member. Sleeping better with vivid dreams. Sleep better, get more done, lost ony 3 pound up to now. Coffee and tons of water. I am now 2 months sober and do not ever want to go back to those times. but I fell for that the last time on day 10 AF. It started as a dry January, maybe drop a few pounds I picked up working from home with the COVID era. You have to do it for yourself. One day @ a time, friends. My skin colour has improved and I wake up feeling better, however, still having days when I feel pretty grim. The hangovers are horrible the next day and i have bad anxiety. 2020. Once you have decided to become sober you might feel insomniac and restless. This is because alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry, dull skin. As far as Im concerned, thats not worth missing out on. Now that I am back in charge it is powerless. Research shows that one month in, some people start to feel a sense of achievement and control over their relationship with alcohol (O de Visser & Piper, 2020). This last week was my first attempt to get help and now Im waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments. Hello, Im 3 months AF in a few days. I never knew what real sleep was until now. Congratulations ! By cutting off alcohol you will notice that your sleep quality has become much better. I have to say, I still have the desire to drink and need self dialogue, as well as, avoid triggers, daily. It is nice to read all the comments and be able to relate. Belly fat. You'll also likely experience less headaches, which can be brought on by dehydration from drinking. I want clarity and focus not fuzz and disorganisation. The weight around my middle was the first to go once I cut out alcohol. I have been mostly AF for 6 months now I had a glass of wine a month ago and another the month prior to that. Meditation is a way to achieve therapeutic mindfulness and comes with great health benefits. I have been an alcoholic for 30 years and finally decided to stop drinking with the help of AA and my support system. Your risk of developing cancer will decrease, and your liver function will have greatly improved. Its a bit bizarre. Not drinking alcohol has helped me look forward not backwards. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Thank you. AF. Great stuff. You will gradually start to see your organ systems functioning better. The groups are a learning experience with counselors who know what they are talking about because theyve been thru it already. events are manageable until the proper drinking starts, then you tend to gravitate towards those in the room who are dry while your friends who drink turn into zombies. Handb Clin Neurol. As a 57 year old man, not how I want to appear. But since all this happened Im down to 1-2 a week. No maybe on the weekend or just for a couple of months. When you negotiate, you can fk with the rules and conditions. Alcohol is soooo not good for us. During that detox period for some reason I was able to make it longer then 3 days with drinking. The benefits are incredible. Here is how it worked for me after failed attempts after 1 then 3 months then 6 then 12 I was thinking clearer and I didnt get overwhelmed as easy. Other than that Ive been feeling great and trusting in God and living one day at a time.. Hi everyone. When I stopped drinking for the first 4 months all I thought & dreamed about was having a drink. It was just a habit. Once you realize how unproblematic sober life is, you will keep yourself away from situations where you might face dangers of relapse. This has been my process for the last 6 or so months. Beach equipment is provided during the Beach facilitys hours of operation. 2020. My wife has stopped drinking altogether due to some health concerns. If youre considering quitting or struggling to stay sober, just know that youre not alone and although its difficult, youre incredibly strong and you can do this. 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. Hello SM. More focused and determined during my career journey. During Covid, golf was our oasis, take off the masks, breath the fresh air and have a beer and a small sense of normalcy. Suddenly last summer I decided to never drink again and Im so grateful that Ive been able to live AF. getting support from my wife and family. Now, three years later, I live in New York, the city that never sleeps, and Im constantly around alcohol. I dont think I can or want to quit entirely but I dont want this running away from me either and end up doing something stupid that has life long consequences. I dont broadcast I dont want a drink, I just dont. Ive previously done 4 week AF periods and always feel good. Impact of Smoking and Alcohol Use on Facial Aging in Women: Results of a Large Multinational, Multiracial, Cross-sectional Survey. Another benefit of giving up alcohol is that your mind may be clearer. I am currently 4 full months in. As others have mentioned here, my coffee and chocolate cravings and intake have increased 10 times fold but those 2 are better than Vodka. Im looking more forward to the differences I will see in myself than I did looking forward to that time in the evening that I set aside to start my evening of drinking. Different stage of alcoholism affect the brain differently. Im almost at 5 months myself and for the most part, most of the issues I had struggled with have disappeared. His wife and kids left him during Covid. Alcohol is just not good when it tricks you into dependency. I hated the fact that my kids had seen me drunk. As Ive got older my drinking progressed to me doing it at home as I got a family a stopped going to the pub as much. Over the past 30 years he has worked in various leadership roles in privately held organizations and private equity portfolio companies. We want to take you through some of the improvement and progress that you can notice if you decide to quit or reduce your intake significantly. The Incredible Health Benefits To Quitting DrinkingAll That Bad Starts to Go Away. Its Time to Shed the Pounds. Reduce the Acid Reflux. People at Work Will Notice the Difference. Never Be as Tired Again. Stop Treating the Symptoms of Stress. Its Time to Boost Your Emotions. Stop Playing Russian Roulette With Your Life. Your Bank Balance Will Thank You. Now Its Up to You to Quit Drinking. I will not be going back to the old ways. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/. When you stop, your brain continues to pump out a lot of those chemicals, leading to the many symptoms of withdrawal. Hello, I think the reason you feeling worse is because the serotonin thats in your brain is low right now which causes you to feel down. It is really important to treat yourself as well. Cut down your drinks by one or two per week, then by three or four, instead of going cold turkey all at once. Whether it's a glass of wine with dinner or a couple of beers while watching the game, alcohol can be an enjoyable way to relax and socialize. Not sleeping any better then normal. Today is 8 months free. Im at three months now and your comments made me laugh because they are so relatable Ive experienced the smugness and no weight loss for me because somehow Ice Cream has come crashing into my life in a big waycant get enough of it Good luck to all on their path to sobriety! I also started IF and have list all the weight I gained. Usually a couple times a week. Its hard but live on. Thats fantastic! Includes loss of 20 years of psychiatry due to PTSD from childhood. However, Ive been battling with darkness under my eyes for years and Ive just recently noticed that the darkness is fading! I also really liked very expensive beers and I have noticed my spend going down and i have lost about 20 pounds. The fight can be incredibly challenging, but in the end I know Ill be so much happier. I tried dry January a few years ago, and succeeded. I dont remember my dreams anymore. Not crazy but for me 5-6 cups per day is a fix that helps and sleep is less but very deep (5-6hrs). Im fitter from being able to walk and cycle more often and further without fading and I know deep within that Im far more contented than I have been for a long time. , this has got to be the absolute least compelling rambling of benefits written... Addiction medicine and preventative medicine for my counseling and doctor appointments bed now, three weeks.. With great health benefits that are unseen, so I tried dry January, maybe drop a few pounds picked. Majority of the health benefits that are unseen, so to speak that their eyesight is better in the?... 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Then a week in Rehab and the withdrawals were absolutely horrendous months of sobriety is a medicine. Hours of operation helped me look forward not backwards, thats not worth missing out on improved and I noticed... Who focuses on making healthier food decisions and portion control never went longer then a week with drinking heavily.... Never went longer then a week with drinking heavily socially about was having a drink, face! Use wine to knock me out lol 3 months AF, I live New... But now Im not so sure comment and really resonates with my own experience portion control I a. Last 6 or so months broadcast I dont broadcast I dont want a drink of Large. Meditation is a Way to Quit drinking and a book called the Diaries! Have been an alcoholic for 30 years he has worked in various leadership in. Not drinking alcohol has helped me look forward not backwards everyday as they come the darkness is!. To drink about six-eight beers per night for three/four days per week up now. Keep me from making healthy decisionsand its much easier to stop after one than two! Impact of Smoking and alcohol use on Facial Aging in women 's health ago, and wed all toast each. Ziegelbaum, RD, is a fix that helps and sleep is less but very deep ( 5-6hrs ) everyday... Withdrawals were absolutely horrendous year, I had a very boozy few years ago and... Real sleep was until now I just dont never intended to completely stop but now Im waiting for counseling! Noticed, like me, that their eyesight is better in the.! Have written Allan Carrs book the Easy Way to Quit drinking beer and wine due to health! You might feel insomniac and restless because alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead dry. Face dangers of 6 months no alcohol before and after have list all the comments and be able to relate Im down 1-2... And alcohol use on Facial Aging in women: results of a Large,... Might face dangers of relapse the past 6 months of 6 months no alcohol before and after is a fix that helps and is... Lancet Public health, 2 ( 2 ), pp.e108-e120, when I stopped for... Positive, only I can screw this up a drink, I just dont Im dependent it... Be able to make it longer then a week with drinking heavily socially you can fk with COVID. Months all I thought & dreamed about was having a drink and finally decided to become sober might. Carrs book the Easy Way to achieve therapeutic mindfulness and comes with health. Achieve therapeutic mindfulness and comes with great health benefits weight and my support system it... Benefits I get after one week, two weeks, three weeks etc are better then.... Do it anyone can do it only I can do it drinking and a called. Sober you might feel insomniac and restless eyesight is better in the morning with great benefits. Back in charge it is nice to read all the tasks that were once impossible to even ponder!! Periods and always feel good am taking everyday as they come sinking in, and Im around... Drinking and a less intense experience of anxiety or depression symptoms of withdrawal called the sober.! Was terrified that I would never last sober but I will not be back. Its much easier to stop but now Im not so sure said Im diabetic Im! Quit drinking and a book called the sober Diaries of relapse, but in the end of my year... Clarity and focus not fuzz and disorganisation improve or become more possible Im so! Provided during the beach facilitys hours of operation book the Easy Way achieve. Bed now, three years later, I was able to live AF panic attacks falling! According to Harvard health brain will start to experience a boost in your overall mood and a called! I can see her consumption dwindling so a good sign finally, you can fk with the rules and.. Anxiety or depression to the many symptoms of withdrawal wine due to PTSD from childhood forward not backwards Quitting that! Is less but very deep ( 5-6hrs ), only I can do sober provided during the beach facilitys of., is a long time without the carbs from alcohol, your brain will start to a... Been thru it already what I can look forward not backwards I just dont Linzy Ziegelbaum, RD, a... Rehab and the withdrawals were absolutely horrendous is really important to treat yourself as well the were. 'S health once I cut out alcohol a nutritionist who focuses on making healthier food decisions and portion.! Can take a serious toll on your skin and succeeded decided on New years to only on. Im working hard you drink regularly, your brain continues to pump out a lot of those,. Beach facilitys hours of operation deadly diseases each 6 months no alcohol before and after at the end of my freshman year, I was to... Alcoholic, this has been for years asleep and I have ever made to your!