9 Healthy Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Drinking for 30 Days or More

People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program. There is no exact timeline for alcohol withdrawal, and individual factors, such as the level of dependence on alcohol, will influence it. Westman, J.; Wahlbeck, K.; & et al. “Mortality and life expectancy of people with alcohol use disorder in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.” Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. It is worth mentioning that nutritional status improvement occurs when someone strop drinking, which is one big reason why people may see many of the above improvements with sobriety. However, when you stop drinking, your liver will begin to repair itself and the damage will start to reverse.

Your Nutrient Levels

Fortunately, reducing your alcohol use can help improve your sleep over time, although you might experience more sleep disturbances for some time after you quit. You may also begin to notice a number of improvements in your physical health. You’ll have more energy and stamina, and you may notice that your skin looks healthier. But anything more than a drink or so a day has the opposite effect, especially if you abuse or are addicted to alcohol.

What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Some prefer quitting altogether while others reduce alcohol intake gradually. Here’s a general breakdown of what can happen when you stop drinking for a month. It’s important to note that the timeline for experiencing these effects can vary among individuals. alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone wikipedia Whether you are stopping for good, or just having some time off, it’s a good idea to be prepared for the changes you could see. But first, if you think you may be dependent on alcohol, you should consult your doctor or another medical professional.

Better Sleep

So, it’s not that sober living will give you a super-powered immune system—it’s just that it will get you back to your baseline, i.e. the efficient immune system you should have had before you started drinking. If you’re an otherwise healthy person, Dr. Galligan says it should take your immune system just a few addiction and termination weeks to bounce back. So, SELF connected with experts to find out what actually happens to your body when you go sober. “Taking a break from drinking alcohol—even if it’s just for a couple of weeks—is a good idea, especially if you’re regularly consuming more than the recommended daily limit,” Dr. Raskin says.

You could lose weight

This is usually when people start to feel their best after giving up alcohol. By this point, most physical withdrawal symptoms should have subsided and you should start to feel less anxious and more positive. It’s important to remember that they are only temporary and will usually subside within a few days. For individuals with severe alcohol dependence, however, withdrawal symptoms can be more severe and may require medical attention. The first day is always the hardest, but it’s also an important milestone.

People who experience severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs may require hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during alcohol. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin sometime in the first eight hours after their final drink. You don’t need to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in order to quit drinking. If alcohol is interfering with your health or your personal, financial, or professional life, consider quitting.

But severe or complicated alcohol withdrawal can result in lengthy hospital stays and even time in the intensive care unit (ICU). Healthcare providers typically prescribe short-term medications to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) performance-enhancing drugs: know the risks is a range of symptoms that can happen if you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake after long-term use. Acamprosate (Campral), usually taken three times a day, is another medication for AUD. Extensive evidence proves Naltrexone and acamprosate reduce heavy drinking and promote abstinence.

Heavy alcohol use can affect the health of your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, pancreas and digestive tract. Stopping alcohol can reduce many of these risks, potentially adding decades to your life expectancy. The mental health changes you experience when you stop drinking can include symptoms of withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, irritability, mood swings, and clearer thinking. While some of these changes can be uncomfortable for some time, they will eventually begin to improve the longer you abstain from alcohol use. With pre-addiction, there is a high risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD), but the person isn’t there yet.

1. For instance, a beer can have about 150 calories, a glass of pinot noir would have about 120 calories, and a frozen pina colada can have about 245 calories.
2. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans now states that drinking may be problematic if it exceeds more than a drink a day for females and two drinks a day for males.
3. This is where the central nervous system becomes so reliant on the depressive effects of alcohol that, when a patient stops drinking, their brain stays in a “hyperactive” state.
4. Individuals should be prepared to be uncomfortable during this period and have medical help available if needed.
5. For those with an alcohol use disorder, there are effective prescription medications that can be helpful when abstaining from alcohol.

The benefits of quitting drinking are often apparent soon after you stop, and will only continue to improve the longer you abstain from drinking. A day and a half after quitting alcohol, withdrawal symptoms will intensify. New symptoms will develop, including clammy skin, nausea, jumpiness, insomnia, depression and loss of appetite. As new symptoms develop, they will become more and more intense as withdrawal progresses.

“If you are struggling to quit alcohol and experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations, seizures or extreme anxiety, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention,” advises Dr. Kellogg. If you have a history of severe alcohol dependence, he recommends consulting a health care professional before quitting, as abrupt cessation can be life threatening. For those with an alcohol use disorder, there are effective prescription medications that can be helpful when abstaining from alcohol. Research shows that some damage to your brain, liver, heart, and gut done by alcohol will slowly heal when you stop drinking.

It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety. Start by talking to your doctor about how much alcohol you’ve been using and your plan to quit. It’s important that you work with your doctor when you’re ready to stop drinking rather than trying to do it alone. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.2 million U.S. adults had both mental health disorders and a substance use disorder in 2018, yet nearly 60% did not get treatment. Quitting alcohol won’t just protect your physical health—it can also improve your mental well-being.

“People often use alcohol as a lubricant for emotions, and when they stop drinking they may feel agitated and restless,” Dr. Raskin says. Being aware that you might be feeling off can help you recognize when you are, and can help you deal with those feelings constructively (rather than just having them gang up on you without warning). Another review of 27 studies found that while alcohol may help people fall asleep more quickly and deeply at first, it seriously screws with sleep quality after that initial restful period.

And there are some challenges as well (but hey, even Keith Richards has seriously cut back on drinking, and you can, too). As you no doubt know—and maybe your liquor cabinet even bears this out—there has been no drinking like pandemic drinking. Alcohol sales, according to Nielsen data, famously climbed 54 percent in the week ending March 21, 2020. Now that you understand the impact of alcohol on your health, embracing a life free from its influence becomes an empowering journey of self-discovery.