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What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking?
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If you’ve made the decision to stop drinking, congrats! That’s a massive step towards improving your well-being and quality of life.
Whether you’re embarking on a dry January challenge or have decided to quit drinking for good, you’ll quickly realize the many adverse effects of alcohol.
That said, you may feel somewhat nervous about what happens next. So here’s what you can expect.
Withdrawal Symptoms Begin 6-8 Hours After You Stop Drinking
When a heavy drinker stops drinking alcohol, their body enters an acute state of withdrawal. These symptoms can emerge as soon as a couple hours after your last drink. However, most drinkers experience withdrawal between 6-8 hours after their last drink.
Alcohol withdrawal can range from mildly unpleasant to downright life-threatening. Serious symptoms like delirium tremens, for example, can be fatal. For these reasons, experts typically recommend people seek medical detox.
The length of alcohol withdrawal depends on several factors, including:
how frequently you drink
physical health
other substances used
history of alcohol detoxification
severity of your alcohol use disorder
Common withdrawal symptoms include:
increased cravings
headaches
stomach pains
poor appetite
sleep problems
hallucinations (in serious cases)
high blood puressure
confusion and paranoia
sweating and fever-like symptoms
With this in mind, the most severe physical symptoms tend to peak between 48-72 hours after the last drink. They often linger for several weeks, and post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) may persist for several months.
Benefits of Quitting Drinking
Alcohol affects every part of your body, and your drinking habits can significantly affect your physical and emotional health. Furthermore, heavy drinking creates numerous problems for individuals and their loved ones over time.
That said, quitting drinking brings forth many health benefits. You may start reaping these rewards as early as a few weeks or months after your last drink.
Improved Mental Health
Alcohol is a depressant, and excessive consumption can disrupt brain communication. Even though you might temporarily feel relaxed, heavier drinking affects impulse control, motivation, and connectivity to others. This, in turn, tends to make people feel worse!
Better Sleep
Quitting drinking allows your body to return to its normal circadian rhythms. Over time, you should enjoy deeper sleep, and you’ll wake up feeling more alert and refreshed.
Decreased Blood Pressure
Heavy drinkers often struggle with high blood pressure. This is true for people who engage in binge drinking and for people who drink on a daily basis.
Improved Immunity
Heavy alcohol consumption can make you more susceptible to viruses, infections, and sicknesses. The bottom line is this: over time, alcohol weakens the immune system. Quitting drinking can improve the immune system. You may even notice these effects by feeling “healthier” after just a few weeks of abstinence.
Liver Improvement
The liver is responsible for approximately 500 functions within the body! But heavy alcohol use compromises the liver’s functioning, causing fatty liver disease or cirrhosis.
Fortunately, some of this lamage damage can be reversed, especially if you intervene early. Once you abstain from drinking alcohol, the liver starts taking steps to repair itself.
Final Thoughts
The harmful effects of alcohol are often progressive, meaning they worsen over time. So even if you don’t notice any problematic symptoms right now, that doesn’t make you immune.
Abstaining from alcohol may feel impossible. But the bottom line is that it’s possible, and treating your alcohol dependence may be one of the best choices you make for your emotional well-being.
At Celadon Recovery, we are here to help treat your alcohol addiction and teach you how to embrace a new way of living. Contact us today to get started!
About Celadon Recovery
Celadon is comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment center located along the shores of the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida. With a full-continuum of care including detox, residential, and outpatient programs, we are committed to quality substance use and co-occurring disorder care. Call us today at 239-266-2141.
