You can also trade the drinks dates with your friends for dates to take a walk, go to a workout class, or just grab dinner, because honestly, you don't need alcohol in every social situation. I guess its only 36 days and Im reading more longer term improvement is possible as I abstain and this is keeping me a little level. Today is also 15 days being sober from marijuana which I dont miss at all, as I couldnt stand the way it made my head feel any longer after I used to love it. Just came to the conclusion a bottle of wine a night was a negative. I do have lots of regrets and lots of inner healing and self love and forgiveness I still need to work on. I should mention that I had tried to go AF seriously a number of times. Your email address will not be published. I am 97 days AF and since day 40-50 i havent had a single craving for red wine or beer. For the past five years, Ive tried to keep my drinks to fewer than 7 a day. Thanks for your post, it was informative. Diet Dr Pepper which does happen to go incredibly well with chocolate peanut butter cups!! I am currently 4 full months in. Life is simply better. This is a great piece of motivational text that is vital for 35 million Americans fighting the battle to keep sober . Sleep, libido,depression, anxiety and self worth aswell not to mention a sence of general well being. Used to experience blackouts and was very nasty. I was wondering if you know what the effects are of having a drink after a long period of abstinence? Even though its only 3 weeks, I feel so much better, constipation is slowly getting better now I have bough tablets from the pharmacy. I never saw my dad sober too much ad he had better reasons to drink like Vietnam I also endured countless hate filled speeches that drove me to believe in the white race is the best race mentality. This is when the detox process begins. I spent a week in Rehab and the withdrawals were absolutely horrendous. How did you go Sue? Just stay positive. Ive lost nearly 50 pounds, Im sleeping great, I work out daily and all around feel terrific. My skin is better and eyes clearer, Ive lost a lot of weight. TLDR: i have been reading forums and articles like are you an alcoholic? does 8 beers a day give you problems? s**t like this on the internet for as long as i can remember, just quit the booze. Ive lost weight and Look and feel much, much better. You are not going to drink as many calories and that will reduce how many you are consuming daily. I get bored, so I do more housework & healthy cooking. From increased stress and anxiety, paranoia, anger management, unpredictable behavior, social anxiety , insomnia, fatigue and many other problems come from the damage to the brain. Yes, chocolate bullets & sorbet are my go to. Alcohol Health Res World. Work is also better as I am not as tired after lunch and i feel i can handle stress better. I have been experiencing horrific night terrors did anyone experience the same? What happens for one person may not be your experience. And it was the worst rebound ever, I went at it like it was going out of fashion,,, Anyway, day 42. Does anyone have these same symptoms? During all those times I would say to my self please God make this stop Took me many years to realize that it does NOT make anything better. Id have periods Id clean up a month, maybe 2 at most. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am in remission for the first time in after 10 years. Sugar cravings insane, NO good sleep, headaches, BUT I realise Ibhavd to be patient, Ive been drinking for loooong. Im mentally far sharper than I can recall being since my late 30s. I was never one to get up in the morning and drink but every evening without fail. I noticed I always had to have a drink in my hand. Continue using the strategies, tools and support team that has helped you get this far and dont hesitate to reach out for support when you need it to stay on track. If you are wondering what I do for work to spend so much on booze. My sleep pattern has improved greatly and my alertness increased. There are several medications (benzodiazepines, clonidine, etc.) For a lot of reasons you will feel a little low because the toxins are starting to leave your body and you will see the lack of serotonin or the happy chemicals. Man man man I was drinking heavy for 7 years strong Im 33 know last year I lost 2 jobs due to alcohol abuse Im one year sober on march 1 2022..every since I put down the bottle life been great, Thankyou Ive just done a month no drinking.and am looking Ill and tired, I have been sober for 40 days now. This is because alcohol abuse can lead to serious health problems, such as liver disease and cancer. I dont miss alcohol at all even when Im around others who are drinking. During that detox period for some reason I was able to make it longer then 3 days with drinking. This is when the really good stuff starts to happen. 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. Finally, you may start to experience a boost in your overall mood and a less intense experience of anxiety or depression. No changes. Because once you cross that hurdle it is all starting to go downhill. Avoid going to parties where you know you will have to face alcohol, as much as you can. Good luck xxx. During lockdown my drinking increased massively. At night, I no longer craved carbs and fat. I have high blood pressure but its normal again. Looking forward to spending more time gardening, playing with the kids and being a good husband to a wonderful, supportive wife. Every single nail is like this, and have been for the better part of a year. 6 Months Without Alcohol and Life is Beautiful In month five of not drinking alcohol, I knew I was a different person. My sleep is better albeit very vivid dreams and I did lose weight with and increase in exercise, close to 20 pounds since I stopped drinking. 2007. 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. After 3 months, your liver will continue to experience that relief as mentioned above. As others have mentioned here, my coffee and chocolate cravings and intake have increased 10 times fold but those 2 are better than Vodka. World Cancer Research Fund. I have the willpower to stop but I cant figure out why I feel like crap my sleeping is awful I wake up 3x during the night Ive even prayed listened to meditation healing music at night. As a 57 year old man, not how I want to appear. Im three months way down on consumption! I dont really want to give up but I dont want to give up feeling great. You can beat this thing and when you do, your body can forgive you. Ive probably been drinking since the age of 13. I am now 7months clean . Thats fantastic! Im back on the dry 14 days and determined to stay off it. and may take longer to resolve. Berens says. A big problem is boredom, especially during the dark winter months. I was a binge drinker for many years my responsibilities came first but the minute I didnt have any responsibilities it was a free for all. Its absolutely brilliant. A recent study backs up those claims and showed that giving up drinking boosts your mental health too. For the alcoholic, this has got to be the absolute least compelling rambling of benefits ever written. Life is full of choices, and the choices we make, make the people we become. It matters that you did. ~ Cassandra Clare. Do it. This is because alcohol can cause changes in brain chemistry, which can lead to cognitive problems. Me and my partner drank most nights and me quitting has reduced her intake as well. So far, I havent noticed any weird cravings except coffee. Skin clearer. As far as Im concerned, thats not worth missing out on. Im a 53yr old male who has been a heavy drinker for 30yrs so feel as if it was now or never. This benefit alone is sufficient motivation to go on. It was hard to limit at first, but now it just feels normal and Im not thinking about booze all the time. Another benefit of giving up alcohol is that your mind may be clearer. Being 6 months sober will bring healthy changes in your body, physical health, social relationships and how to you connect with the world. I feel enormous pride, and Im making some other decisions that Ive been thinking about for a long time. I had forgot what it was like to get into my hobbies and other goals all on hold. Its an extremely hard battle to fight,but I promise, When you finally are able go without for a period of time that clears your mind and allows your brain to heal its self. This might sound weird because isnt that the point of being sober? Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. There will be visible changes to your physical and mental health, how you deal with stressful situations and carry yourself in public. I would also go through 2 packs of cigs. Yay! They impact our jobs, our social connections and ultimately the time we get to spend doing. I found strawberries and watermelon very helpful for the sugar cravings. But this helps me remember it took me 1 year to become a 1 handle of vodka a day morning to night everyday no rest. 3. Ive now been sober for 6 months and over the last year Ive been sober for 300 days (had a relapse, but coming back stronger than ever) Ive now decided to give my body 12 years of sobriety to make up for the damage I caused myself physically and mentally over that time. Im only 2 months in AF but so thankful to God for helping me with this new life. I have just started my AF journey because of cerebellum damage to my brain which the doctor thinks is alcohol related. One of the best decisions Ive ever made. When will i feel my happy self again ? Non alcohol beer has been a life saver, allows me to be in social environment without the akwardness! Why cant I go an evening without a glass in my hand? One of the key ones is my wife commenting that we fight a whole lot less. Please if you could just give me some advice and timeline while in rehab ladies were working out after 2 weeks i still havent got that energy and when i wake up feeling ok its just for a bit and i get exhausted. Hangover free days, utter joy. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, tremors, sweating, and nausea. Dont put your race down. Pair this with spiking insulin levels that cause inflammation and youve got yourself a recipe for acne. Used alcohol and cigarettes to hide my broken heart from myself after a significant relationship failed 9 years ago. Good luck. Dont feel bad if you have not lost weight. I cant see any thing improving any time soon the only positive I have got from it is I no longer have brain fog I have a empty hole! I saw a comment of 40 years sober and I hope to be able to say that myself one day. First alcohol consumption in almost 4 months. Stay strong! Good luck to all on this journey! Thank you for sharing. This happens when you start to feel that now that you have taken six months over you have achieved everything and there is nothing more for you to learn. I used to drink about six-eight beers per night for three/four days per week. Thanks Jon. The behaviour of people I know well whilst under the influence of vast amounts of alcahol was toe curling, things were said and done that cannot be un done and by some, non of it will be remembered. Most of the time, I stick to my guns and, if someone offers me a drink, I say, "no, thanks," or that I dont really drink, and then conversation continues as usual. 7. Needless to say, I wasnt taking shots and drinking jungle juice with my mom and little sister. It was incredibly difficult to leave alcohol behind physically and socially but, as time went on, I felt stronger, more clear-headed, healthier. 7 weeks AF. Alcohol abuse also affects ones relationships with other people greatly. This last week was my first attempt to get help and now Im waiting for my counseling and doctor appointments. Great job though! Im still craving drinking every single day but it IS getting easier. Was a heavy drug user recreationally for about a half decade in my early 20s, quit cold Turkey but about 13-14 years ago I hit the bottle. This time around, I took a different approach. There was no negotiation. Ive never felt compelled to drink when alone, but have used it has a social lubricant for most of my adult life. Im looking forward to the health benefits. Drinking is so normalized and is a part of British culture. Often people report needing fewer sick days from work, and your heart is a whole lot healthier than it was 12 months ago. 3 months in, no change at all, dont feel better , sleep quality much worse, Im more stressed and miserable tbh, everyone is different, you read so many positive ha ha stories how wonderful life is, time for a balancing opinion. But its still come down quite a bit vs day one. But were to late. The BP has mostly seen improvement but I still see higher numbers than normal. Look better. your path from 1-12 months is amazing to follow. Its ok to make your own path and, where possible, be patient with the process. More focused and determined during my career journey. Im waiting for my body to adjust from sobriety which I hope it eventually does, I feel like Im in hell mentally and physically. I tried portioning out 6 oz a day, and just caved after a couple of days. Now, there are a lot of things that happen in between these 6 months, from changes and improvement in mental health to ones physical health. And, if I find a reason to have a drink, I will never find a reason not to. 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. Im also 55. Im now 81kg an getting in great shape. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Finally admitted to my family what was the worst kept secret. Rather, I feel like it actually helps me have a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and my body. You go girl, I stoped drinking alcohol 3 moths ago plus quit smoking I feel so much healthier. I have gone through a host of other weird things week to week. I have been trying to cut back as I have been drinking quite heavily over the last year. I would definitely go see a different doctor for a second opinion. First time on this website and really enjoyed reading comments from everyone. Now that I am back in charge it is powerless. Now my cravings are 100% gone. that can be used to reduce symptoms and prevent seizures and delirium, says Berens. Making me reflect on why I drank, what it was doing to me and my family and what had happened with alcahol in my parents lives, that still continues. Seek medical advice if you need guidance on whats happening in regard to your health. Improved sleep overall health liver has chance to be healthy. Focus better I did the same thing. I was a daily drinker (around almost a bottle of wine in the evening, Id always leave a little bit just so I didnt feel guilty about drinking an entire bottle). I know exactly what you mean Aaron. Stress from work and a desire to feel that buzz kept me going. They feel like they have already done everything and might lose a sense of purpose, which can cause a relapse. My normal personality is quiet and somewhat shy. Remember why you started this journey and why it is worth it! Bonus: I had no reason to mow down junk food after a night out or starve myself during the day. 12 pounds shed, seems to have leveled off. She adds that, after having a few drinks, your body doesn't get a chance to reach the deep sleep (a.k.a. Your risk of developing cancer will decrease, and your liver function will have greatly improved. [online] Available at: