Finally, alcohol ingestion can negatively impact the action of dopamine—a neurotransmitter and hormone that also affects your sleep. So even if you are still struggling with cravings and the psychological battles of quitting alcohol, rest assured you are experiencing the physical health benefits. The first week for heavy drinkers can be filled with a lot of uncomfortable physical symptoms and a ton of psychological symptoms, too.

If you’re feeling like you can use some encouragement heading into the second half of the month, you’re not alone. By day 6, you’re likely to have experienced some fluctuation in your mood and motivation. Your mental health can also be affected in the first week of sobriety.

Health Conditions

No matter your reason, quitting alcohol is a daunting task – one you can conquer with the right knowledge and support. “There are people who have learned to practice very reasonable alcohol consumption that contributes to psychosocial well-being in a way that does not impair their health,” Kumar noted. It can cause memory loss and interference with brain development.

Quitting Alcohol: What Happens To Your Brain When You Stop Drinking?

According to a study published in the journal Appetite, people who drank half a shot of alcohol (20 grams worth) ate 11 percent more than those who abstained. The drinkers also experienced more cravings for high-fat (high-calorie) foods. According to the NIH, alcohol can contribute to liver inflammation and fatty liver disease.

Liver

While mild at first, they will begin to intensify as withdrawal progresses. Even just one bout of drinking too much may weaken your body’s germ-fighting power for up to 24 hours. Over time, large amounts of alcohol blunt your immune system and your body’s ability to repair itself. When you give up alcohol, having been a dependent drinker, you’ll move through various stages of recovery. There are various reasons to drink, from enhancing a meal to celebrating special occasions.

Your sleep quality will improve.

Whilst drinking three or more drinks per day increases the risk of stomach and liver cancer. Taking days off within the week is a common strategy to encourage drinking less overall. “Many people still want to enjoy socializing but are mindful of wanting to average one to two drinks per day. They often try sober house to not drink at all during the week, and allow for moderate drinking Friday through Sunday,” Dr Lee said.

• Here are a few steps you can take to give yourself support and guidance throughout a month without alcohol.
• Alcohol withdrawal symptoms generally begin within 12–24 hours after your last drink.
• Drinking alcohol weakens that system, making you more vulnerable to infections and diseases.
• While alcohol is high in calories, and wine, beer, and mixed drinks add sugar to one’s diet, cutting it out may or may not help you lose weight depending on how much alcohol you consume regularly.

“When people are thinking about drinking, and if they choose to do so, it should be part of a healthy lifestyle,” Rimm says. It’s likely the past few days have been challenging as your body is healing from the effects of alcohol. There may be some thoughts like “do I really have to do this for 25 more days!? ” Remember that it will get easier, and you only have to get through one day at a time.

In these cases, she said that talking with a healthcare provider about taking specific withdrawal medication could be helpful. Talk therapy, either as an individual or as part of a group, can also offer support through the process of quitting. The team saw these results after adjusting for changes in diet, exercise and smoking, so the changes could be linked to people’s alcohol use. In lieu of an alcoholic beverage before sleep, try other alternatives like decaffeinated warm tea or warm milk. Sometimes called alcoholic hallucinosis, these can show up within 12 to 24 hours after you quit. Tell your doctor if you see, hear, or feel things that aren’t there.

However, when you stop drinking, your liver will begin to repair itself and the damage will start to reverse. You might notice this effect more if you were drinking to manage your mood, such as drinking to temporarily relieve negative emotions or boost positive ones. 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. Westman, J.; Wahlbeck, https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ K.; & et al. “Mortality and life expectancy of people with alcohol use disorder in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.” Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Alcohol causes inflammation in the lining of your stomach, causing bloat and other digestive issues. By your second week, your gut will begin to heal, and many of these issues will start to subside.