Quitting Alcohol Timeline and Body Repair

Even if they’re on a detox plan with a significant amount of tranquilizers, their levels can be up to 170. Giving up alcohol can bring these levels down within a few weeks. So, while we can metabolize around a unit of alcohol an hour, if you drink a lot, everyday, your body has to rid your system of those toxins. If you overload the liver, you have more of those toxins inside your body, which can damage the liver itself, your brain, your stomach, your heart and your pancreas. In January, I tend to see an uptick in patients who have been admitted due to alcohol dependence. Perhaps they have over-indulged during the holiday season or there have been consequences to their drinking over the Christmas period.

Addictions We Treat

• You may even want to start exercising and become more social because of this increased energy.
• Financial troubles and problems finding and keeping employment are major triggers for relapse, but it is possible to take baby steps and get your finances in order.
• Whether you’re stating a one-sentence response (“I don’t drink”) or using a small excuse, the only thing to consider is whether you are comfortable, and whether your boundaries are being upheld.
• I can’t constantly sit back and crave something I no longer even enjoy, which will be an incredible life change going forward.

If a person does not want their recovery journey and the numerous alcohol abuse treatment programs they had to go through, to go down the drain, they have to avoid even occasional drinking. Abstinence is a powerful recovery strategy because it eliminates the risk of relapse, allowing individuals to stay focused on their recovery journey. It also helps break the illusion of control that many alcoholics have, making it easier to quit drinking alcohol for good. This can lead a person to believe that they can now drink occasionally and they might forget their alcohol dependency.

• Attempting to drink alcohol after achieving sobriety can be a dangerous path.
• While some may want to take a longer break from booze or stay sober for good, others will opt to return to alcohol.
• These progressed to mild withdrawal symptoms when my tolerance increased in college.

The Risks of Returning to Alcohol After Sobriety

Some people may be helped by this supplement, but studies have not shown that it’s effective at crossing the blood-brain barrier. (source) I have never felt any effect from taking GABA supplements. If a GABA supplement comes out that changes my mind, I will write about it. While they may seem like two simple and very similar words, there is a significant difference between being sober and being in recovery. In short, being sober simply means not using alcohol or other substances but not necessarily recovered in other ways. Because the longer you are sober, the likelier you will stay sober.

Do Brain Cells Regenerate After Alcohol Use?

While these changes are promising, the timeline and extent of recovery can vary from person to person. Seeking professional help and support during the recovery process can optimize your brain’s chances of regaining its health and functionality. It may also be helpful to get to know yourself on your own, first. Spending sober time becoming familiar with your body intimately can help you better communicate your needs to someone else when you feel going back to drinking after being sober ready for that step. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it. That’s six hard, beautiful, glorious years during which I not only stopped drinking, but also finally moved on from all recreational drugs as well as a history of bulimia.

The decision to pursue controlled drinking or commit to total abstinence is deeply personal and should be made with careful consideration of the individual’s circumstances, risks, and support systems. What remains clear is the need for compassion, understanding, and ongoing support as individuals navigate the complex journey of recovery from alcoholism. Embarking on the journey to sobriety is an incredible accomplishment, but maintaining long-term recovery can be challenging. One of the most significant debates among recovering alcoholics is whether to practice complete abstinence or attempt moderate drinking after being sober. This blog post will delve into the nuances of both approaches, shedding light on the risks, benefits, and strategies to help individuals make informed decisions and maintain a fulfilling sober life. A lot of people get addicted to drugs and alcohol in the first place because of facing stressful situations in life.

• Having an understanding that drinking again only prolongs and worsens issues can help prevent the relapse.
• As a result, many people who take the medication eventually lose interest in drinking.
• Breastcancer.org says the more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.
• Many people are frustrated by the time it takes to start losing weight after quitting drinking.

Mental Health Resources

This slippery slope can make it extremely difficult for individuals to maintain control over their drinking habits, even if they initially intended to practice casual drinking. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. what is alcoholism If you relapse, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to return to rehab or stay at a sober house for as long as you need because this is about you and not impressing other people.

When you abstain from alcohol, especially for an extended period, your brain starts to repair and rebuild damaged neural connections. This might seem like a terrible thing; this is not a terrible thing. This is a JOYOUS and wonderful thing because it easily sorts out the ones that have a weird relationship with alcohol, or the ones that just aren’t for you. It will hurt (pretty bad at first), but in time you will come to see it as the gift it is—and you won’t waste time getting to know the wrong person. You are a mirror now, a flashlight of sobriety in a society that is laced with the judgment that it’s abnormal to abstain from alcohol.

Want to listen instead of read? Tune in to this article overview:

This lasted about 3-4 months when I found myself as bad off..if not worse than before. Went to inpatient for a spell (couldn’t wait to get home and start drinking again). I had no support https://sitelemed.ci/sober-living-in-worcester-ma-recovery-housing/ and once again I was doing a fantastic job of hiding the drinking. Finally, one morning…almost exactly 1 year ago, it was 10am and I was on the couch, drunk, super depressed and physically a wreck. I came to the brilliant conclusion that it doesn’t have to be this way. I decided I wanted to enter my “senior years” in good health.