How Alcohol Affects Your Body Timeline: The Health Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
Spoiler alert: You’re about to read about some of the ways alcohol affects your body and why it’s probably best for you to quit drinking.
There are so many studies showing how bad it is for you that it’s hard to ignore once you see the light. There’s a good chance that this article will make you question whether or not you should quit drinking altogether (and I hope it does!).
If you’re going to quit alcohol, you should know what to expect.
Alcoholism (or alcohol use disorder) is an illness, a chronic condition, and a progressive disease. It’s also a relapsing disease, and a chronic relapsing one at that—one in which your brain chemistry will try to trick you into drinking again and again over time.
For example, when people think about cutting back on caffeine, they tend to see it as an easy decision. But for those who have suffered from the persistent temptation of alcohol (or other drugs), the decision isn’t nearly so clear-cut or simple.
Alcohol detox can be uncomfortable and even dangerous, which is why it’s important to know what can happen if you quit drinking and how long it will take your body to detox.
Quitting alcohol is a big deal. It can be uncomfortable, even dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and tremors.
Many people who have been drinking for years, especially those who have been drinking heavily, may experience some serious withdrawal symptoms when they quit drinking. Some of the symptoms, like seizures, are life-threatening.
Alcohol detox symptoms can include:
- Anxiety and irritability
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors or shaking in hands or legs
- Insomnia or inability to sleep
- Depression and feelings of worthlessness
- Fever and chills
- Sweating, especially at night
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Heart palpitations
- Seizures
- Hallucinations or delusions
- Confusion, disorientation, and trouble concentrating
- Delirium tremens (often called DTs), is a life-threatening medical emergency that includes hallucinations, seizures, fever, and rapid pulse
If you’re concerned about what quitting alcohol will do to your body—and how long it may take for the symptoms of detoxification to subside—it’s important to talk with your doctor before you quit drinking. Your doctor may want to monitor your progress as you wean off of alcohol by taking blood pressure readings and asking questions about how you’re feeling throughout the process so that they can adjust your medications accordingly if necessary.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, do not hesitate to call for help immediately.
The health benefits of quitting alcohol are numerous. Once you learn about all the ways alcoholism affects your body, you’ll want to quit drinking as soon as possible.
When you learn all the ways alcoholism affects your body, you’ll feel motivated to quit as soon as possible. Alcoholism is a serious issue that many people struggle with, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life if you don’t want it to be. There are many long-lasting health benefits to giving up alcohol. It’s time for you to find out what they are!
The first step in quitting alcohol is recognizing that it’s a disease and not just something people do for fun. Once you understand this concept and accept responsibility for yourself, the rest will begin falling into place naturally. There are many health benefits of quitting alcohol which can help protect against heart disease, cancer, and liver damage — to name only three examples!
Although each person’s experience is different, most people will go through similar physical and emotional changes once they stop drinking alcohol.
Whether you’re thinking about quitting or have just made the decision to go sober, there’s a lot to know about alcohol withdrawal symptoms. While the timeline can be different for each person, it’s important to know what to expect from your body after you stop drinking alcohol.
1 Week of Sobriety
You will feel a lot of different emotions during this period, most of which are unpleasant. You may feel tired, irritable, and depressed—in other words, you’re going through withdrawal symptoms. Your body has gotten used to the alcohol, and now that it’s not there anymore, your brain is craving it.
You might experience some physical symptoms like weakness in the arms or legs; nausea or vomiting; shakiness (especially in your hands); muscle pains throughout the body; sweating more than usual; sleep problems such as insomnia or restless sleep; headaches; diarrhea; stomach pain; sensitivity to light and sound; anxiety, depression, or irritability; and flu-like symptoms such as chills. These are all normal symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and are not dangerous, so don’t worry if you experience them.
That said, I’m not a doctor, so you should still call your doctor if they last more than a day or two. There is also a possibility that you could experience seizures during this time, which can be deadly, which is why it’s always best to tell your doctor before you quit drinking.
The best thing you can do right now is to get lots of rest and drink plenty of water. Your body needs time to recover from the abuse it has suffered over the past few days, so don’t try anything too strenuous like working out or running errands just yet. The best is yet to come.
1 Month of Sobriety
The first month of sobriety can be the toughest. Some people experience anxiety and irritability, while others may have trouble sleeping. If you are having physical withdrawal symptoms, now is a good time to get help from friends or family to deal with your feelings.
After one month of sobriety, you’ll begin to notice some benefits. You’ll feel less stressed out and more energetic than before, which should make it easier for you to get through your day-to-day activities without physical or mental exhaustion.
Research shows that there are many other health benefits after one month of abstinence from alcohol consumption. These include decreased blood pressure levels, improved liver function, higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, lower triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in the body), reduced inflammation risk factors, and reduced risk for various forms of cancer including breast cancer, in women who consume at least two alcoholic beverages per day on average every day over many years (the exact amount varies depending on how much alcohol was consumed).
1 Year of Sobriety
A year of sobriety is a significant milestone. As you look back over the past year, you may notice that your physical and mental health have both improved. You may also have more energy, feel better about yourself, and be happier with your life in general. This can lead to greater productivity at work or school, more time spent with family and friends, less stress and conflict in relationships, better sleep habits, and reduced anxiety levels.
The social benefits of quitting alcohol are also significant after one year of abstinence because they include being able to say no when offered a drink (or other drugs), being able to attend events where alcohol is served without feeling pressured into drinking it yourself or making excuses as to why someone else should be allowed something you won’t try even once (if ever).
2 Years of Sobriety
The longer you stay sober, the more benefits you will see. The benefits of quitting alcohol are cumulative and increase as time goes by.
After two years, your body has had time to heal from the damage caused by heavy drinking. You are also likely to have gained some confidence in your ability to control your drinking if you have stayed sober for this long.
Research shows that after two years of sobriety:
- Your risk of liver disease will be reduced by half compared with when you were drinking heavily.
- Your risk of cancer decreases significantly.
- Your brain function improves so much that it’s comparable to someone who hasn’t consumed alcohol for 20 years.
3 Years of Sobriety
After three years of sobriety, you will likely feel more confident and less stressed. You’ll be more productive at work, have better relationships with your family and friends, and have a better relationship with yourself. Here are some of the mental health benefits you can expect after you reach three years:
- A decrease in anxiety levels
- Better impulse control
- Improved memory function
5 Years of Sobriety
After five years of sobriety, you’ll notice your health improving in many areas. You may have more energy and feel confident. You should have a clearer mind, which will allow for better concentration and decision-making abilities as well. Many people report that they can enjoy life more after this period because their drinking no longer has such a negative impact on their quality of life.
The benefits don’t stop there—research shows that after five years of sobriety, alcoholics are less likely to experience further relapses than those who have been sober for shorter periods. Why? Because they’ve gotten used to living without alcohol and know what it takes to maintain abstinence through learning new coping skills like stress management techniques or attending AA meetings regularly.
10 Years of Sobriety
If you’ve made it ten years without a drink, congratulations! You can expect to feel a lot better physically. You’ll have more energy and be able to think more clearly, which will make you more productive at work and in your personal life. You’ll also be able to focus better because alcohol affects the parts of your brain responsible for information processing.
In addition to these mental benefits, being sober for 10 years is also linked to some pretty important health benefits. For example:
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that people who had been sober for ten years or longer had lower rates of cancer than those who were still drinking regularly (2% vs 5%). They also had lower incidences of heart disease (7% vs 12%) and diabetes (7% vs 14%).
The researchers hypothesized that this was because alcohol is a carcinogen and that heavy drinking can increase your risk of developing cancer. They also thought that those who have been sober for longer may have developed healthier lifestyles over time.
Another study found that former drinkers who had been abstinent for at least 10 years had significantly lower rates of liver disease than current alcoholics. This could be because chronic alcohol use can cause scarring or fibrosis (i.e. hardening) of the liver and lead to serious conditions such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Ready to quit? A hard day sober is better than a great day drunk.
I hope that by looking at the negative effects of alcohol, you’ll be more motivated to quit. Remember: no one is perfect, and it’s okay if you slip up from time to time. But if you keep your goals in mind and continue to work towards them, then you’ll be on track for a healthier relationship with alcohol in no time.
I am not a doctor; I’m just a 35-year-old lady who started therapy, quit drinking, and started taking antidepressants. Nothing in this article should be taken as anything other than a personal story. It is not medical advice.
Participating in Dry January? Sober-curious? Recently alcohol-free? Celebrating a sobriety milestone?
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