A Timeline of What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

One of the nicest presents you can give yourself is to stop drinking. I could write a book on why this occurs, but today I want to concentrate on the advantages of sobriety for your health. Quitting drinking is a very underrated health tip that works better than even the most expensive and pure superfood powders and supplements.

If we don't drink, we might make better decisions, be more thoughtful, and be more likely to follow through. We also avoid polluting our priceless vessels. These activities help to promote a healthy, contented body and mind.

Knowing what positive changes are taking place in my body as I travel the recovery journey fascinates and inspires me as someone who has been clean for nearly three years.

I thought it would be helpful to talk about the health benefits of the first year of sobriety, broken down into manageable chunks, to give people who are interested in sobriety, just got sober, or need a little extra motivation a sense of control.

Use these benefits to help you decide to live a sober life or as a gentle reminder to recognize and appreciate the wonderful gifts of health you are getting from giving up drugs and alcohol.

A Timeline of What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

7 days sober

Within 72 to 96 hours of quitting alcohol, subtle physiological changes begin to take place. The main benefit that most people notice is a deeper, more peaceful sleep. This is because REM sleep—the deep sleep stage that is linked to dreams and memory—increases.

Not all sleep is created equal. Because it is a depressant, alcohol may help you fall asleep more quickly (or, you know, pass out), but it has been demonstrated to prevent the vital REM stage of sleep.

2 weeks clean

Many individuals report seeing changes in their skin after two weeks of sobriety. Drinking alcohol causes diuresis (increased peeing). Dehydration may result from this since it removes water from the body.

All systems are badly impacted by dehydration, but the skin, particularly the face, truly shows it. The face appears dry, lifeless, and dull when the skin cells are dehydrated. Your appearance in the mirror could start to seem more supple, dewy, and youthful now that alcohol isn’t robbing your cells of moisture.

Additionally, you might see improvements in alcohol-related skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Your liver also begins to sigh with relief after two weeks of abstinence. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is a disease that happens when a lot of fat builds up in the liver because of a lot of drinking. This is the first stage of alcohol-related liver damage and may happen within a few days of heavy drinking. Fatty liver disease may be cured in as little as two weeks, which is fantastic news.

Month of Sobriety

When you have been clean for a month, genuine magic begins to happen. The central nervous system starts to heal during this period. Your memory becomes better; you can remember things better; and you can concentrate better. Additionally, it’s common for anxiety and depression symptoms to start to subside.

Additionally, you could have fewer intestinal problems. Regular drinking irritates the stomach since there is too much acid there. Acid reflux, discomfort, and indigestion may result from this. Fortunately, after roughly a month of abstinence from alcohol, this process begins to reverse.

The liver now begins to become significantly healthier. This is important because the liver is responsible for 500 important biological functions, such as getting rid of toxins and making nutrients that the body needs.

Contrary to what many people think, there is no need to spend money on pricey juice cleanses or possibly harmful detox regimens. No matter what we eat or drink, our livers do all the necessary detoxification for us. Still, if you take good care of your liver, like not drinking alcohol, it will be able to work at its best.

Bonus: Research shows that about one month in, many people start to feel like they’ve made progress and are in charge of their relationship with alcohol.

3 Months Clean

After a few months of not drinking, all of the benefits of being sober add up to make you feel much better about your health’s future.

Around three months sober, you’ll notice a decrease in heart-related conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

You’ll continue to see improvements in your liver health.

At this stage, there is also a reduction in future cancer risks, including those for liver, stomach, and throat cancer.

This is due to the fact that alcohol is a proven Group 1 human carcinogen (not many people are aware of this, by the way), so your chance of developing cancer decreases when you stop harming your body.

Your libido may increase between one and three months into the process. This may come as a nice surprise since many people don't know that drinking can lower libido and cause sexual problems.

In all facets of your well-being, you’ll start to feel a lot better. You will continue to see improvements in your sleep, mood, energy, memory, hydration, and skin health.

6 months clean

All of the above benefits will still be happening after six months, but other, less tangible benefits will also start to show up. Some individuals see improvements in their sense of self-worth and capacity for self-compassion.

Because of these changes on the inside, your relationships might get better, which could have a domino effect and make other parts of your life better, too. In the end, this progression may raise happiness and lower stress.

One year clean

You’ve been sober for an entire year! It is an enormous accomplishment to abstain from alcohol for a whole year, and your physical and mental health are much better now than they were before.

Your family and friends have probably already noticed how much more energy you have, how much happier you are, and how much healthier your skin is.

Your chance of developing cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and renal disease has been greatly decreased, despite the fact that you cannot tell by looking in a mirror. Your immune system will work better, so you’ll be sick less often, and sadness and anxiety caused by drinking should be a thing of the past.

The icing on the cake? You experience the tranquility and kinship you’ve been looking for for a long time.

Take Immediate Control of Your Health

Whether you want to give sobriety a try with a month-long challenge or go all-in and commit to a life without booze, be pumped up because a ton of beneficial health changes are waiting for you.

Consider attending my three-day Rooted Retreat in Arizona in September if you want to kickstart your sober path. This retreat is alcohol-free, as are all of mine, which makes it easier to connect with people, the environment, and yourself.

You’ll study skills and gain knowledge in a private, contemporary farmhouse in the Sonoran Desert that will encourage life balance, a strong mind-body connection, and a foundation for an alcohol-free existence (if that’s your aim!).

It’s time to put your health and well-being first. Join me!

Read more on Medium about sobriety by Dara Laine Murray:

• Your First Year of Sobriety: Positive Physical and Mental Health Changes and Challenges
• Why Aren’t You Drinking? How to Answer that Dreaded Question When You’re Sober
• How Does it Feel to be Sober? The Benefits of Sobriety Beyond Sober October
• Alcohol Does Not Belong in Wellness Spaces
• How to Quit Drinking: 10 Steps to Success
• 7 Tips to Help You Stay Sober After Addiction Treatment