Some people might discover their alcohol use was irritating their stomach, disrupting their sleep, causing weight gain, contributing to conflicts, or that they relied more on alcohol for stress relief than they thought. Waking up without the fatigue, malaise and other common symptoms of hangovers could greatly improve one’s quality of life. In addition, potential improvements in health and wellbeing could have positive effects on relationships. And, for some people, the financial savings could be substantial. Research has also shown that taking a month-long break from alcohol can be good for the liver.

strategies to help you take a break from drinking alcohol

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.

What are the long-term health benefits of not drinking alcohol?

Though you may not have experienced any legal problems resulting from your drinking, you may have had some close calls. Legal consequences often affect future opportunities how to take a break from drinking such as employment, admittance to academic programs, or studying abroad. In the beginning stages of drinking, the experience and effect can be subtle on schoolwork.

Why abstinence if your goal is to moderate your use?

It comes from a place of cultural or social norms that might be misinformed, or not even misinformed, but short-sighted. That’s another strategy, and I’ve actually had some clients who have not wanted to quit drinking completely, but have wanted to master the art of walking around with a glass of wine and kind of leaving it somewhere, and that’s fine too. You don’t need to worry about what other people think as much as you need to worry about https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/you-are-not-powerless-over-alcohol-and-heres-why/ what you think. I think that’s my main message here, but also, I’ve had some clients and former friends who are in sales. Sales can be tough and it’s a whole nother topic. I feel like I could devote a special coaching program for helping people that want to learn how to either moderate their drinking which is not the choice that I made, or to go through that kind of environment with a drink in hand and not get to the point of intoxication.

Tips to change your relationship with alcohol

For anyone concerned about heart health, Dasgupta recommended decreasing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity, which also raises good cholesterol. “[The bottom line] is, protect the heart with [a] low amount of alcohol, but increase the risk of cardiovascular disease with high amount of alcohol,” Dasgupta said. Cirrhosis of the liver (severe scarring of the liver) can occur over time in those who drink excessively. “The benefits can vary from person to person depending on how much of a change from their baseline behavior this is,” Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, told Healthline. Satisfying hobbies can distract you from wanting to drink, but they also help you relax — something everyone needs to do. If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach.

• For those with alcohol misuse and dependence, the conditions are connected to chronic sleep disturbance, lower slow-wave sleep, and more rapid eye movement.
• 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.
• When you’re having a good time, you find it hard to stop, especially in the company of friends having the same amount.
• Recent evaluations of their Daybreak program – which includes one-on-one chats with health coaches – shows it leads to significant reductions in drinking, and improvements in physical and mental health.
• Say, for instance, you’re going to give the speech, the best man speech at a wedding, but you’ve only been off alcohol for two weeks and you’re nervous.

• For drinkers who have become alcohol dependent, taking a short break is likely not an option.
• Students will engage in poor judgment or risky dangerous behaviors because they feel they are fine.
• All I knew was that I was going to try to take a break.
• Consuming more than that can lead to liver damage and heart disease, and increase your risk for some cancers.
• Stopping alcohol can help you to heal broken relationships.
• Then let’s say all of a sudden, the date asks you after the coffee or tea, “Hey, you want to go to the bar after this?

Decrease the risk of heart disease

• At the end, 82% said they felt a sense of achievement.
• Not necessarily in a physical sense, I didn’t run around getting in fights, but in a sort of comedic caricature of myself way.
• It can also be helpful to focus on activities that don’t usually involve alcohol.
• Then, like you were saying earlier as well, as far as the law of attraction, there’s also the body language.
• Say, for instance, you’re going to a company dinner.