People have been debating the pros and cons of drinking alcohol for many years. It is a long-standing tradition to ask the man or woman in question if they drink before deciding whether or not to invite them to another event.
And people can be very judgmental about it. What kind of person doesn't like a good cocktail?
What's more interesting is that you are reading this article asking some pretty important questions about how getting drunk affects your mind and body over time.
Although widely accepted as part of social life, it may be surprising just how much alcohol impacts heavy drinkers over time: from their waistline to their cognitive thinking abilities.
- If you ask the average person on the street if they consume alcohol, you'll likely get a yes. If you ask them how much and when you might be surprised to find out that most people don't know what a "drink" is.
- If this isn't shocking enough for you, consider this: many of the classic mixed drinks people enjoy are higher in calories than most of us realize. Even an innocent-looking mojito or a glass of wine can pack a few hundred calories.
It's important not to forget about serious health risks and other aspects of drinking alcohol , such as liver disease, certain cancers, and depression. The article explores the benefits of giving up alcohol for 90 days if you would like to improve your health.
Health Risks of Alcohol Consumption
While it may seem like a harmless indulgence, too much alcohol can take a significant toll on your health. Some of the negative aspects the result of the high relationship with alcohol include:
Some of the negative aspects the result of the high relationship with alcohol include:
The health risks due to heavy drinking are severe and include liver damage, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancers of the mouth, esophagus, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), rectum, and breast.
Other problems linked to heavy alcohol use include neurological effects such as poor coordination, reduced muscle strength, and balance impairment.
Also, the risk of gout weakened immune system increasing susceptibility to pneumonia and tuberculosis and a higher risk of developing other infections.
Alcohol can also interfere with the metabolism of various medications, both prescription and non-prescription drugs.
Prolonged heavy alcohol use is associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer.
Health risks also include an increased risk of developing psychiatric diseases and psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, nervousness, and cognitive deficits.
In-depth exploration of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption is essential for understanding the potential harm caused by a daily bottle-of-wine habits.
Assessing concerns regarding these habits becomes crucial in the identification of alcoholism and its associated health consequences.
By examining the correlation between daily bottle-of-wine consumption and alcoholism, professionals can better comprehend the severity of the situation and provide appropriate interventions, treatment, and support to mitigate the health risks and promote overall well-being.
Benefits To Enjoy After You Quit Drinking
When you'll quit drinking and overcome your alcohol cravings for three months, you'll start observing positive implications on your body.
These alcohol free days might not be supported in the first few weeks, and you may face some withdrawal symptoms.
But once you've stopped drinking and overcome your desires, be sure to move towards total abstinence and not start drinking again. Your body will thank you!
When stopping, you may consider long-term residential treatment at Abbeycare Scotland or Abbeycare Gloucester, a programme that has been developed for those suffering from alcohol dependence.
Attendance on a longer-term treatment programme may be just the proper antidote.
After taking a break and cutting your alcohol or wine, the health benefits include:
1. Liver Relief
Liver cirrhosis is a severe concern for those who drink excessively.
While it doesn't happen in one day, research shows that drinking more than two drinks per day can lead to fatty changes, which are reversible when you stop drinking, and the liver becomes normal again within weeks of going dry.
The liver is the most resilient organ in your body, and with a bit of help, it can heal itself. One of these ways to offer assistance would be through abstinence from alcohol consumption.
For those who drink excessively daily or binge drink often, noticeable changes start occurring within their livers after stopping drinking. When you go dry for an extended period, though, these areas will begin shrinking back down until they return to standard size again.
The process usually takes weeks rather than months!
2. Decrease Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
Alcohol and drinking beer is notorious heart-harming poison.
It's also well known that most people who drink alcohol in moderation have lower risks of cardiovascular disease than those with heavy drinkers.
But the same does not hold for cholesterol levels and other factors such as blood pressure.
Alcohol free life won't help you with LDL levels. However, it does decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease after giving up alcohol and can help protect your heart.
Be sure to couple it with exercise for healthy living. Exercise also increases good cholesterol, which is beneficial to a healthy lifestyle when cutting out other bad habits like smoking or quitting alcohol.
3. Reduced Risk Of Cancer
Alcohol consumption has been linked with a rise in alcohol-associated cancers. They are devastating, and because alcohol is so addictive, it can be hard to resist. But by cutting down on your alcohol cravings, you may reduce the risk of developing a type of cancer that could irreversibly affect your life.
Cutting back or not drinking alcohol will help protect yourself against head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast & colorectal cancers associated with excessive long-term consumption.
4. Weight Loss
Cutting out alcohol may be the key to lose weight. While alcoholic drinks are high in calories, they can also add sugar to one's diet. One study found that most people who shifted to alcohol free drinks for a long time saw improvements like less stomach fat and triglycerides (one type of blood fat).
While this is not always the case for everyone, complete abstinence from drinking may help you achieve a healthier body composition that will make life just easier!
5. Boost In Brain Power
Alcoholic beer can cause memory loss and interference with brain development. But quitting alcohol has been proven to improve one's mental health.
It's been proven that when you quit drinking, the brain gets a chance to heal and grow in new ways.
If you want your mind clear for focusing on work or school tasks without the risk of impairment, then dumping your bottle of wine might be a good idea!
6. Psychological Improvements
For many, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption brings about significant psychological and relationship improvements.
It is especially true if you had been consuming high levels on an ongoing basis. By cutting back or stopping drinking entirely, feelings of anxiety and depression tend to disappear within the first week or two after abstinence begins.
You'll be feeling happier, more relaxed, and better able to cope with the stresses of life after alcohol cessation.
Why is this? One reason is that alcohol impairs the brain's ability to regulate emotion and process feelings. So when you stop your drinking, your natural emotional equilibrium returns.
7. Increased Energy Level and Better Sleep
Quitting an alcoholic drink is excellent to deal with low energy levels. You might be surprised what a boost in energy levels you'll experience!
More energy is just the beginning. Eliminating alcohol from your life can help you unwind and improve your sleeping habits and feel physically fit.
It means you'll be able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer at night without waking up in the middle of the night. You'll go to bed earlier and rise early in the morning, even if it doesn't sound like a big deal now.
It can have a lasting impact on how refreshed and well-rested you feel when your alarm goes off in the morning.
Other Benefits
Some other benefits include:
- The mind and body is given time to heal from the damage of addiction
- The longer time spent away alcohol, the better life can become
- Build a mental defense through motivation and inspiration from others on the same path
- Clarity of thinking returns
- A renewed sense of self awake
- Energy levels improve
- A once disrupted sleep pattern returns
- Family members and loved ones begin to feel hopeful
- Feelings of guilt and shame disappear
- Fear replaces with hope
The Benefits of Attending Rehab During the 3 Months
Staying in a facility that has been specifically designed to help recovery by implementing various treatment modalities and holistic therapies. Supports the transition from dependence to independence for alcoholism.
And has many beneficial components:
- A safe and professional detox (Clinically Managed Detox)
- Peer Support
- Holistic Therapies
- Psychodynamic Therapy Sessions
- Understanding of the reasons behind why you use alcohol
You may consider the perks of a 28 Day or more extended specialised recovery programme when deciding to stop alcohol for three months.
The 28 Day programme at Abbeycare has been created to ensure the participant has a whole recovery experience by attending to the many therapeutic interventions delivered.
These tried and tested approach's use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT, Motivational Enhancement Therapy MET, and the 12 Steps to bring about a complete and robust change of thinking and behaviour conducive to long-term sobriety and freedom from active addiction.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking For 90 Days?
When you have decided to quit drinking alcohol for three months, there are a few things to consider before stopping:
- Do I need a detox?
- Do I have a plan and a support network?
If you don't have a support network or somebody impartial, you can consider this before stopping. There are many self-help groups available, and a quick search will help you find the right one.
From AA Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, having a support network on the quick dial when you feel like drinking will help.
So what happens when you quit drinking:
- Withdrawal – intensity depends on the amount and length of time alcohol has been used
- Physical cravings – the body will crave more alcohol and display symptoms that can be alleviated by alcohol
- Mental cravings – the mind may become obsessed or consumed with thoughts or drinking
- Low mood- initially, after stopping, the mood of the ex-drinker may become low
Week Mark One:
Two Week Mark Onwards:
- All of the above continue to improve as well as sleep patterns and appetite. It's not only a matter of weeks as you'll be up for not drinking beer or wine again.
Holistic Approach to Alcohol-Free Life
The perks of giving up alcohol are many and varied. Let's consider a holistic approach, i.e., mind, body, and soul.
A holistic approach to recovery from alcohol is recommended. In this approach, consideration is given to the following three areas mind, body, and emotions or feelings:
Mind – addiction can cause internal turmoil. Accepting the problem is the use of alcohol, and removing the problem will slowly calm the mind.
The body – addiction can cause physical health problems, and, in most cases, detox is required. Abstinence from substances restores the body to a healthier, more energised place.
Emotions and Feelings – overuse of alcohol can bring about feelings of guilt, shame, anger, regret, remorse, low self-worth, and self-pity.
When you've decided to embrace recovery and stop using alcohol, you can reverse those feelings. They are replaced with hope, happiness, and relief.
Other perks include:
- Family and loved one relationships
- Energy levels increase
- Better work/life balance
- Improved finances
- Sleep pattern returns
- Healthy eating/living
- Skin improves
- Physical health issues decrease
- Mental Health improves
The benefits of stopping alcohol are endless. As shared by most people who quit, the most significant advantage is a sense of freedom and the return of joy.
How To Quit Drinking Totally?
Stopping drinking alcohol ultimately may seem too big a task. To quit drinking altogether, people are encouraged to stop one day at a time. It seems less of an unachievable challenge and more manageable. Don't worry too much about withdrawal symptoms, and carry on!
To quit drinking altogether, there are a few handy tips:
- Seek guidance from a professional or someone who has also stopped.
- Address whether or not you require a detox
- Phone Abbeycare Scotland or Abbeycare Gloucester for advice if thinking of entering a residential rehab
- Start the planned detox or have a date to stop after a gradual reduction
- Take notice of the time of work in advance if required
- Connect with community supports such as AA, SMART Recovery, etc
- Try to talk to someone who can aid you through the process each day
- Drink lots of fluids to flush out toxins
- Eat well and take light exercise
- Keep a journal
- Read motivational and positive well-being books
There is only one way to begin to stop. It is by absolute abstinence. Don't be looked forward to a bottle of wine. Take a break, and start saving money by not drinking the beer.
These statements, however, 'do not give the craving for alcohol' enough respect as many who use alcohol don't want to be using it. They use it against their own will.
- If stopping drinking were that easy, thousands of people each year in the UK would not be admitted to the hospital for alcohol-related problems or lose their lives as a direct result.
- Suppose you feel trapped by alcohol and want to be free. Do your homework, make a plan, tell someone and ask for help.
- If you have been struggling with alcohol for some time, it may be time to enter residential rehab.
- Abbeycare has many ways to support you to quit drinking. Call our number or email us for advice and support from one of our dedicated Admissions Officers.
- If you want to stop and stay stop, you may require specialist support. As you only need to stop once.
Summing Up
The benefits of giving up alcohol for 90 days are many, and the process is not as difficult or painful as you may have been led to believe.
You will likely experience significant weight loss in a short period due to decreased calorie intake from alcoholic beverages. Your skin should also be clearer because your body won't need to filter out toxins through your liver like it does when drinking alcohol.
In addition, abstaining from alcohol can help with sleep quality by decreasing stress levels that often come with addiction and excessive consumption.
If you're ready to take the leap and commit yourself fully, we're up for helping you! Give yourself a chance to see what you can feel like without alcohol by taking on an experiment in sobriety!
