While what happens when you stop drinking there are many potential benefits that you should expect to see in your first month of sobriety, the positive effects of stopping alcohol will continue to follow you and grow throughout your life. After two weeks without alcohol, the benefits will start to compound. You will probably be well out of withdrawal and mostly recovered from the ordeal. By this point, you will have had about 6,000 fewer calories than you would have previously during a two-week period.
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
Symptoms can range from headache, elevated blood pressure, heart palpitations, and nausea and vomiting to tremors, hallucination and in severe cases death. When you stop drinking, you may experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome. But stick with it, and your overall physical health will improve, along with a host of other benefits like weight loss and saving money (especially if your habits included binge drinking).
Other Benefits When You Stop Drinking
- It says men who drink up to 14 units of alcohol per week have a less than 1% chance of developing colorectal cancer, but an 11% chance if they drink more than 35 units per week.
- But less-known is that drinking too much alcohol isn’t doing our immune system any favors and can actually reduce how well it functions.
- Often the experiences and emotions that were being ignored during alcohol use rise to the surface after you stop drinking.
- While these areas may take the greatest hit from regular drinking, they aren’t the only ones affected.
- If you suddenly drop hundreds of calories a day, the pounds will drop off over time.
- Drinking alcohol weakens that system, making you more vulnerable to infections and diseases.
Many people who decide to quit drinking notice a significant improvement in both their physical and mental health within just a few weeks. While these changes are all positive, it’s important to note that heavy drinkers may experience severe withdrawal symptoms during the first few days of sobriety. If you are drinking heavily, you should seek professional medical detox to help you navigate this step of recovery in a safe and medically supervised manner. Light drinkers tend to be mostly spared from the effects on the liver, but for heavy drinkers, the liver becomes inflamed, which can be dangerous over time,” says Dr. Mosquera. That said, your liver has to work hard to process and filter alcohol, no matter the quantity.
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Stepping away from alcohol, even temporarily, can often bring about Substance abuse dramatic changes to how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. Drinking alcohol tends to decrease your inhibitions, so it’s likely you’ll also eat more junk food. When you stop drinking, not only will you likely consume fewer calories, but you’ll have more energy and that may even increase your activity level. Hany says that once you stop drinking, you may initially find it more difficult to fall asleep. Your sleep, he says, will be restored gradually during the first four weeks, but after that you’ll sleep more deeply and wake up more rested.
Need Help Cutting Back?
If you’re a heavy drinker, you’re at an increased risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke. However, when you stop drinking, your risk of developing these diseases decreases. Like other symptoms, the impact on mood depends on the amount and duration of your alcohol use. For light or moderate drinking, you might experience a more temporary, mild effect on mood. If you’ve been drinking heavily or for long periods, the impact will be more pronounced, and it will take longer for your neurotransmitter systems to restore their balance in your body.