What Happens When You Give Up Alcohol

Many people across the United Kingdom enjoy an alcoholic drink with friends from time to time without this seemingly leading to a serious problem with alcohol abuse. However, for those who consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol per day/week, the toll that this alcohol consumption may be having on your body and mind may be more significant than you realise.

Alcohol consumption, be it from regular consumption to severe alcohol addiction, can bring about a plethora of health issues. Even so little as a few glasses of wine here and there can have short term implications that may prompt you to consider giving up alcohol altogether.

Those who are suffering from more severe alcohol use disorders will likely find it very hard to stop drinking alcohol. However, with the help of Nova Recovery’s addiction treatments, this is very possible. We will do over some of the intricacies of how we can help those with addictive disorders overcome alcohol addiction further down — first though, let us take a look at the benefits of giving up alcohol and what happens to your body when you give it up.

What Are The Benefits Of Not Drinking Alcohol?

The minute specifics of what benefits you will feel once you give up alcohol can depend largely on how much you were drinking previously as well as your physiology. Our bodies are all different and, as such, some people may experience more severe benefits than others.

That being said, there are some fairly universal benefits to cutting alcohol out of your diet which you may want to take note of. One of the most prominent benefits of removing alcohol from your diet is the fact that it can help you to drastically improve your blood pressure. Lower blood pressure will normally occur once you have completely given up alcohol for a month. High blood pressure can bring about a whole host of dangerous health complications, so lowering your blood pressure is one of the most positive benefits of giving up alcohol.

Some of the other benefits commonly include such side-effects as:

• Improved sleep patterns and overall better quality of sleep.
• A marked improvement in concentration in relation to day-to-day tasks.
• A noticeable increase in your short term memory.
• Increased energy levels.
• Better heart rate.
• Weight loss (alcoholic drinks can massively contribute to weight problems).
• Reduced problems with acid reflux and/or indigestion.
• Reduction in your liver fat levels.
• Healthier looking skin.

The benefit that giving up alcohol will have on your mental health should also not be overlooked. Many people can feel depressed, embarrassed, and anxious the morning after having a lot to drink — or even a little sometimes. However, by removing alcohol from your diet, you need never suffer from hangover anxiety ever again. Spending your days being more productive and enjoying time with family, friends, and loved ones will see you reap a massive improvement to your overall mental wellbeing.

When Will I Start To Feel Better After Giving Up Alcohol?

The physical and mental side effects of giving up alcohol can be very severe in the first few days after completely giving up alcohol. However, that is due to the fact that you may be going through alcohol withdrawal, something which we will go into further down.

In terms of feeling the positive benefits of giving up alcohol, it can take a long time before you start to physically and mentally feel better due to the cravings and irritability that can come with having gone through withdrawal. Although, once your body has completely adjusted to its new state of being, that of being free from the negative impact of alcohol in your system, your body will be able to start the regenerative process. Around day five of having given up alcohol you will likely start to benefit from a slightly clearer mind and by roughly day eight most people begin to start sleeping much better.

What Happened When You Give Up Alcohol And How Does Alcohol Withdrawal Work?

When you first give up alcohol after having a longstanding and severe dependency upon alcohol, your body will initially be sent into a state of shock at the lack of alcohol in your system. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that you experience over the course of the first week:

• Initial hangover symptoms
• Night sweats
• A sense of overbearing paranoia
• Trembling/tremors
• Cravings (if these are given into then you will relapse and have to start the process all over again)
• Brain fog

Is It Safe To Quit Cold Turkey?

While there are a lot of benefits to giving up alcohol, the severity of how dangerous alcohol withdrawal can be should not be understated. For people overcoming severe alcohol withdrawal, the side effects experienced during detox can be fatal. Many people have lost their life to alcohol withdrawal in the past, which is why you should not try to quit cold turkey.

People who are going through withdrawal may then want to consider getting professional help for getting through the withdrawal period — something which Nova Recovery can provide at our rehabilitation facility’s detox clinic.

Detoxification At Our Treatment Centre

When you go through alcohol withdrawal at Nova Recovery’s detox clinic, you will undergo a course of medically-assisted detox treatment. This physical treatment, as the name suggests, will see you prescribed with appropriate medication in order to manage the side effects which might otherwise lead to you being placed in serious medical danger.

Furthermore, by entrusting our medical staff to monitor you throughout the detoxification process, you will not be able to relapse due to the fact that you will not have access to any alcohol. Whereas, if you choose to go through withdrawal on your own at home then you will likely give in to your cravings in an attempt to stop the pain and discomfort being caused by your withdrawal symptoms.

If you would like more information about how Nova Recovery can help you to overcome alcohol addiction then please reach out to us today on 01475 303998.

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.