Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

30 Nov Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

That might explain why you can have a fitful night of tossing and turning after you’ve been out drinking. For most people, participating in month-long challenges will provide a range of benefits and little downside, even over the longer term. Mindfulness practice has also been shown to help drinkers to change their drinking. It’s February and many people are starting to put into place their New Year’s resolution to drink less alcohol.

• But drinking less can help you reverse your tolerance to alcohol as well as reduce your risk of serious health harm.
• “It’s important to seek professional help if your attempts to curb or eliminate your alcohol use are unsuccessful,” says Ellinwood.
• If you manage to limit alcohol consumption beyond a monthlong break, it could improve your heart health and reduce the risk of stroke and certain cancers.

The way alcohol is glamorized in advertising also contributes to our collective hook. All that sugar (a drug in its own right), combined with the pleasure of feeling “buzzed” can break down our filters and release suppressed thoughts and feelings. This can lead to moments just as fun as what’s depicted in those alcohol advertisements.

Taking a Break From Alcohol can be Good for Your Health

It gives a person a chance to cultivate alternatives for relaxing, socializing, and coping with stress. As a result, many people experience benefits such as improved sleep and waking without the fatigue, malaise, and upset stomach of a hangover. Some also find that without the extra calories due to alcohol they lose weight. Participants in Dry January also describe positive effects on their relationships.

You might hear psychologists refer to something called the “rule violation effect”. This is when you’re working hard to not drink, but one day give in and have a glass of https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/6-ways-to-take-a-break-from-drinking-alcohol/ wine or two, then give up on your goals altogether. It’s also a good way to communicate to your friends your choice to quit drinking, so they can better support you.

Between 12 and 24 Hours

“You get the best benefit from alcohol when you drink in moderation. Just being dry for 1 month and going back to drinking in excess is a bad idea. If you are drinking in excess, it’s better to cut your alcohol intake,” said Dasgupta.

For some people, heart damage from alcohol overuse isn’t reversible after any amount of time. The good news is that the sooner you lower your intake, the better it will be for the health of your heart. Alcohol is a sedative, so you’d think it would help you sleep better. While drinking could help you fall asleep, it suppresses REM sleep, the restorative part of your sleep cycle, Dr. Leavey says.

Consider what benefits alcohol provides to your life

With the recent popularization of 30-day challenges like Dry January and Sober October, people are beginning to recognize that there can be benefits to cutting out alcohol for a period of time. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ But if you’re new to sober curiosity, you may not know where to begin thinking about your relationship with alcohol. Occasionally, decisions need to be made about the use of alcohol.

• Still, the findings were provocative, scientists say, and merit following up.
• If you drink alcohol heavily for weeks, months, or years, you may have both mental and physical problems when you stop or seriously cut back on how much you drink.
• Choose a healthier alternative like sparkling water, soft drink or a mocktail.
• If you weren’t drinking much before you cut it out entirely, it’s unlikely that you’ll see a difference, but it’s still worth mentioning here.
• So if you think you might be dependent on alcohol seek advice from a GP first.

Individuals should be prepared to be uncomfortable during this period and have medical help available if needed. This is the period in which delirium tremens is most likely to occur, which requires immediate medical attention. This process temporarily restores homeostasis, or chemical balance, in an effort to counteract the impact of long-term alcohol use on the brain. Consider trading in liquid courage for natural courage and find refreshed energy while pausing on alcohol.