Alcohol is just not good when it tricks you into dependency. Im 47 Days into my own personal Detox! So 90 days in, I dont think was a cut off that now I should feel a certain way but Im definitely in a better place than I was three months ago. So heres how you can keep yourself motivated for your first 6 months and long term sobriety: Enrolling yourself in a sober program will help you keep tabs on yourself. I really focus now on the things I would jeopardise if I went back to alcohol. Increased mental clarity often appears after a few weeks and partly this comes from better sleep. I started running. i am off it 10 months the weight fell off me at first too very fast. My skin is now clear, I work out every day and actually like it, my head is clear, Im more pleasant, Ive repaired relationships and am down to the weight I was in my 20s. I guess I was just obese and cutting all those calories made a huge difference. Next its the 60 pounds I gained since 2016 Check out the Daybreak app to connect with others who may be going through a similar experience or reach out to a health professional such as GP. Dont feel bad if you have not lost weight. One of the most common side effects of giving up alcohol is insomnia.This is because alcohol acts as a sedative, so when it's no longer in your system, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. So yes, a few good things. But here's the thing: although it may have initially helped me head to dreamland, that alcohol seriously disrupted my REM cycle. Mentally doing great. As a health worker, you might think the need to have a drink would be greater given the current circumstances, yet Im enjoying not feeling anxious about my work or some of the appalling people I am compelled to work with and report to. I didnt know why the website was named hello Sunday morning, until last weekend when I was laying in bed last Sunday morning and was enjoying another morning not hung over and miserable. I began to see my flesh as a rabid dog (similar symptoms). Trying to get through another 3. My family and friends tell me I look healthier now. I just recently have started to sleep better. Chairs may be placed in the water up to, but not above, seat level. It just all of a sudden happened. Once you realize how unproblematic sober life is, you will keep yourself away from situations where you might face dangers of relapse. No bargains, no games, no deals, no BS. 100% in the past, or as I like to say, AF AF!! If you find that one aspect from that list is still something youre struggling with, such as sleep or lack of mental clarity, we encourage you to seek medical support to see if there are other things in your life affecting that part of your health. I love playing golf but I can only play decent if If Ive had a couple. Maybe after a year i might see all these real benefits. If you're one of these individuals, you may have decided that it's time to quit drinking. I think a lot of us picked up alcohol in our teens, when we were supposed to be learning how to socialize without drinking, we instead did drink and it became the crutch. Last week I finally realized Im gonna die I have an immune disorder, high BP, high cholesterol, weird pains in my gut. Ive saved money (or rather spent it on other things). Im a professional musician, and my performing has taken a huge leap upwards. This is really important to avoid any dangers of a relapse. I quit drinking because I knew I would end up dead at an early age and I have to much life ahead of me to spend with family and enjoy lifes ups and downs. Im sure you have fatty liver, just as I do. Please someone advise on the smug thing. One month alcohol free and completely surprised by how much better I feel both physically and emotionally. You can also celebrate by giving back to the society. Been told it might be that, but im going to prove the doctors wrong. I went all out and gave up a lot of Juno food also with it and found it easier to go all out. But its still come down quite a bit vs day one. That was the point I knew I had to do somethingso I stopped drinking. Within 6 months I had never been so flexible. Im less anxious and sleeping so much better. Yes! It depends on how long a person has been drinking and their general health. Improved relationships. Once the full 12 months is up I am really looking forward to cracking that Westmalle Tripel and enjoying the beautiful taste. If you're considering quitting drinking, these benefits may be just what you need to help you make the decision. My sister has cirrhosis and is having a difficult time financially because of thatand she has been drinking every day for almost 50 years. Read the blogs and listen to the podcasts Alcahol explained is a fantastic read, from a scientific approach, but easy to understand. Anyway, good for yall!!! Pink clouding is defined as a false sense of security that you might feel with this newfound sobriety. The doctor told me my symptoms could all be from stress. I was not a heavy drinker nor an addict of any kind. 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. My overall outlook on life has changed. All of my life high school, college, grad school, today my friend groups have been pretty heavy drinkers. Six months no alcohol,,,at first rapid weight loss,,,not my aim,,,,so started eating more and levelled out ,,,now will concentrate on my weight ,,,,,in age 77 male. Then 2 and 3 months passed. In the end that was the choice you made, and it doesnt matter how hard it was to make it. If I had known it was doing this to me I would have quit years ago (am 23 for those who are wondering). I didnt understand that either. Usually a couple times a week. I drank heavily for about a week and 1/2. It could also be from the stress of staying sober and how you will stay determined for a long period of time. By not drinking alcohol, your sleep will improve, which will also give you more energy and improve your physical and mental health. I too had a big addiction to wine. WebResetting your body, or detoxing from alcohol, typically takes three to five days. Nearly nine months in and WOW a couple of weeks ago I feel like it all gelled. When you stop drinking, you have the opportunity to:Improve your mood, anxiety, and stress levelsGet better sleep and feel more restedFocus on having better relationships with your friends and familyHave better attention and concentration in school and workFeel more energetic and productive I wanted to be able to stop, when I would try and go a couple days to sober up if I had to be somewhere for work, I would lay in a fetal position on the couch , clenched jaw, unbearable anxiety, shakes and night sweats. Instead, I realized Sobriety was something I had. Do it. At this point in my AF journey, Im now seriously wondering if I will ever drink again. Hello! Metabolic age 45. Seek medical advice if you need guidance on whats happening in regard to your health. Increased quality of sleep can have some positive effects for many people. Encouraging information. Relationships are healthier, friends are closer (those that stayed and supported rather than the ones that judged and left). BTW, the TIME I have now! I woke up a new person. I do have high bloo pressure most likely due to drinking, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL Many will notice that their blood pressure has lowered if it was high before making changes. I keep coming to the no drinking type websites and they are all so encouraging, but then 5pm comes around and I cave to wine every time. I dont know if I am setting myself up but for now it seems to be working for me. smh. Because this interupts energy levels etc too, I too have drank for at least 40 years, every night. 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. Journal of alcohol and drug education. 7. Anyone a daily drinker but liver is good? My confidence has improved and clarity of purpose too. Web568 views, 38 likes, 3 loves, 3 comments, 74 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from El poeta boaner: El poeta boaner was live. Sleep better, decreasing risk of disease etc but what happens to any of those benefits if you relapse for a night with 3 or 4 beers after 5 wks of sobriety? not bad but truth is I feel worse off than when I had been drinking why is that. Now, to exorcise the sugar junkie . Stay strong yall. 66 days Alcohol free and feel a whole lot better,my aim is to do one year!! Thank you for sharing. Finally, you may start to experience a boost in your overall mood and a less intense experience of anxiety or depression. Addiction comes in many forms and I am sure I will relapse, hell im 4 beer in now. Enjoy things I have not in a while. There will be visible changes to your physical and mental health, how you deal with stressful situations and carry yourself in public. 1 week Also, your sleep Ive struggled through dry months. I notice I am always forgetting and putting things away in the wrong place but i catch myself and get anxiety a frustrated. Im four months happily AF.Its also so wonderful not to have to lie anymore to the question every doctor asks : how much do you drink?. Take time out for others and give something back to society. Granted the bad diet before I made changes may also be a factor so this could be unrelated to the boozing and this is something I have to deal with. If you're ready to give up alcohol, and you are drinking every day, here is a timeline of what you can expect in regards to your mental and physical health when you stop drinking. Overwhelming smugness is another side effect which I have to keep in check. I sure crave a sweet though but i dont overindulge but the craving for sugar is there. I also started gym , eating more than I should. By the end of my freshman year, I had put on 15 pounds. I dont want to gain weight. They got him to the hospital. This is similar to possible weight loss. When I was out, I'd down a couple of shots of Fireball, chase them with soda, and follow that up with a game of flip cup. Hello all, Ive been sober since mid March and Im curious as to what this smugness is about and how if manifest its self? My coffee intake also increased with half teaspoon of sugar in a mug, low fat milk. I dont have nightmares anymore, off an ssri, and so much more. Watched someone drink a bottle of wine in front of me last night. in january 2022 i was admitted to hospital with ascites and a belly being the size or a full term pregnancy due fo fluid build up bearing in mind i am a slight 8/12 stone.. the agony was indescribable. More gently cooked veggies, beans and a little berries works for me. Just stay positive. I made the choice to cut out the sugar and carbs. June 12th,19 days in, sleeping better, eating better , just finding things to do, thanks all. Ive been a heavy drinker since probably the age of 17. AND YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY AS YOU WANT. I feel so much healthier, enjoy nutritious meals, (as I love to cook), better skin and working out. Every single nail is like this, and have been for the better part of a year. First time on this website and really enjoyed reading comments from everyone. Ive probably been drinking since the age of 13. After showing my butt Christmas Eve I resolved to quit permanently after 20+ years of daily drinking. Suddenly last summer I decided to never drink again and Im so grateful that Ive been able to live AF. Ive experienced some weight gain which is welcomed since Ive always been around 135 when 155/160 is desired. But since all this happened Im down to 1-2 a week. I was always counting the calories of the alcohol in my diet, but often it would make me wake up at night and binge eat and ruin my day. 2014;125:33-54. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00003-3, Mira RG, Lira M, Tapia-Rojas C, Rebolledo DL, Quintanilla RA, Cerpa W. Effect of Alcohol on Hippocampal-Dependent Plasticity and Behavior: Role of Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission. this has resulted in better mood management (I lose my temper far slower if ever now.). I like my life. . Boys, alcohol shrinks your bits. You can opt-out at any time. i have been diagnosed with chronic liver disease and will be dead within a year if i continue drinking alcohol.i always thought it would never happen to me but guess what .. if that is not a wake up call to anybody i dont know what is. As a 57 year old man, not how I want to appear. My flesh enjoyed what I gave it and it will die once I stop feeding it. All equipment must be returned before closing time or by sunset, whichever is earlier. Ok, so far I do not feel as elated, but I have started to dance at outings which is huge. This is when the really good stuff starts to happen. Have already noticed improvement in my sleep and temperament. Now I wanna see what I can do sober. Your notes show that these changes have happened for some of you. You go girl, I stoped drinking alcohol 3 moths ago plus quit smoking I feel so much healthier. I have been drinking a bottle of wine every evening for the past 3 years due to lockdown and undergoing 2 traumatic experiences which have scarred me for life. Thats fantastic! I used to drink so much that I would constantly forget things people would tell me and spend a lot of time alone. I have been sober (alcohol & tranquilizers) for over 40 years, but today is THE critical day. But one day at a time right . Then it just dawned on me. More creative on many levels. I get a sugar rush just thinking about it. I like the way I feel. Surround yourself with people who care to take care of their health. There is a great book called Godspeed by Casey Legler. I have grandchildren that I want to be around to enjoy a long time. This has been my process for the last 6 or so months. I have been sober for a month now. That was the wake up call after seeing my lab results. I bought myself a 64oz water bottle on Amazon and it has been life changing for detox and weight loss, so I highly recommend investing in a nice big water jug and chugging that thing all day everyday. Im 118 lbs. Bit I think Im going to stop drinking because of this. I now put ice tea and flavored fresh fruit water in my wine glasses. The first 6 months are foundation of long term sobriety. Do it. I was a daily physically and mentally addicted alcoholic. Have not had alcohol for 6 weeks and lost another 5 lbs in 2 weeks. Just read this Chris as I get ready to embark on my 30-day challenge. Now once you stay sober for over a month, you will start to notice a lot of changes. Ill drink about a litre, then the next night a litre and a half, then the next day two, this can go on for a bout a week, and then I wont sleep, wake up feeling bad, Ill stop for a few days and the whole cycle goes on again. Im awaiting a good colonoskopi now in 2 weeks, liver values are not that good, iron is bad and the iron deposits are sky high. Not unimportant in corona times. I am letting go of all mind altering substances to include coffee. I read that the neuropathy may never resolve, and that breaks my heart and scares me for what I have done to myself. Im drinking pots and pots of rooibos tea without sugar. Blamed lockdown & other factors. By Professor David Nutt. Abstaining for 12 months is a massive achievement so celebrate your success whatever it may look like. But its fine I dont like people that much anyways. Does anyone have these same symptoms? One of the surprising side effects of giving up alcohol is that your skin may start to look better. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I used to drink about six-eight beers per night for three/four days per week. I have been trying to cut back as I have been drinking quite heavily over the last year. I lost weight, then gained weight, now Im losing again. Great job though! 2007. I am really struggling. I was a very heavy drinker, I would say close to a handle of Vodka a day, everyday for over 3 years. Only 36 and did drink alot when younger but not much since 2018, dont miss it at all so far and am trying to ditch it completely as its very bad for my condition now. They only notice you without drink until they get drunk, then after that it is game time. Ive spent nearly 40 years drinking. 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. Cant sleep much at night but sleep late in mornings. i hope you are well. Stop counting. Now I dont even care to do that. Good luck to everyone! This is when the detox process begins. Sugar cravings insane, NO good sleep, headaches, BUT I realise Ibhavd to be patient, Ive been drinking for loooong. I drink the 0% beers now Alan. Once you have been sober for six months, you will know all of your triggers. It doesnt solve everything, but it makes you be honest, it makes you look at your habits and realise we are responsible for our behaviour and the consequences. I will do anything. A recent study backs up those claims and showed that giving up drinking boosts your mental health too. I had 2 mini strokes during the month of August. I switched to sipping on a diet pop (which I have now also eliminated) and it worked to fulfill the sweet craving. I want to and need to but i am scarred I cant. I was even testing normal for quite awhile until the last week and I think Im trending down again. After a few weeks to a month, Johnson says the central nervous system repairs: You start thinking more clearly, your memory is better, and you can concentrate better.. Its not all about me anymore. Dont let drinking do it to you like it did in the past, alcohol runs your brain cause it was use to it. 1 month alcohol free. Courage! Plus, I feel more at peace. Yes! Thank you to each and everyone of you brave souls for sharing your stories and comments, fears, weaknesses and wins. Lifeline is also available for support 24/7 on 13 11 14. It gives you a whole new lease on life. After 6 months of taking my health back I have normalized my BP. For the alcoholic, this has got to be the absolute least compelling rambling of benefits ever written. Probably the happiest ive felt in a long time. Im at 6 months now after years of stop/start attempts. I get bored, so I do more housework & healthy cooking. The nutritional choices you make while under the influence arent optimal either. Physically, you may experience acute withdrawal Since quitting. How serious your withdrawal symptoms are depends on how much, how long, and how often you imbibein addition to genetic factors. Ive just clocked up 5 months and my sleeping has improved dramatically along with marked reduction in stress and anxiety. Im also 55. It tastes like beer, no booze. Life is good. WebThe answer to this question is a no. I feel so much better too. It took 2 months. 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. Reading these comments has helped a lot. He hid it well from all of us. The urge to consume sugar was overwhelming at first. I find that one drink doesnt keep me from making healthy decisionsand its much easier to stop after one than after two or three. Just drank pretty much every day. Skin looks fresh, sleeping like a baby + feel back in control. In my opinion, youre literal supermen&women. It has caused me to do and say things that have fractured my family unit. You might think now that I have been six months sober, what happens next? But after being gone 13 months she served him papers. Initially I lost 20 lbs once I quit but getting back into a regular powerlifting routine (almost obsessive) I have gained a decent amount of good weight back. I make to-do lists for my job to keep me on track. 8 months of kicking that lie out of my life and Ill never look back. The systems broken, not you . For people who have experienced weight gain due to drinking excess alcohol, weight loss may be part of the AF (alcohol-free) experience. You will be (you) again. Dont believe everything you read, I have been working on reducing my alcohol intake, from 2 drinks a night to 2 a week. I am currently 4 full months in. Anyone out there with similar circumstances I urge you to get your life back. I just lost my nephew from vodka. Find a charity that you would like to support and volunteer there for a day or weekend. I am a everyday drinker for sleep. Even if you don't drink heavily but like to enjoy one drink per night (which is defined as moderate drinking, BTW), even doing a dry January may improve your food choices and therefore your weight, sleep quality, mood, and performanceboth in the gym and at work, Ziegelbaum says. Brain Damage Control: Different stage of alcoholism affect the brain differently. This is because alcohol can cause fatigue and decreased motivation, so when you stop drinking, you may find it easier to get things done. And I never ever plan on going back to my old drinking ways. Today I am 87days AF Just experienced my first alcohol free Christmas and loved it! Great stuff. I dont sleep better or have any sense of increased clarity. Drink again and you can also celebrate by giving back to my old ways! 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