“The biggest thing that I noticed is that I don’t need alcohol to have a good time with my friends.” You may feel like your mental health has improved after quitting alcohol, too. Drinking has a negative effect on how our bodies respond how to take a break from drinking to stress, and some people use alcohol to numb those feelings. A full month away from drinking may help you feel better from the inside out. You should feel some immediate positive effects that first week without alcoholic drinks.

Mental Health Benefits of a 30-Day Sober Challenge

Alcohol impacts various neurotransmitters and hormones in your brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and cortisol. Cravings are a natural response to quitting any addictive substance, and various factors, such as stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, or exposure to alcohol cues can trigger them. These emotional changes are normal and temporary, and they will gradually subside as your brain heals from the effects of alcohol. To cope with these situations, you must have a clear and confident answer for why you are going alcohol-free.

Difficulty Sleeping

Our root-cause resolution medicine has helped thousands feel better, with 85% of members reducing symptoms in their first year. Whatever your motivation, these tips are a great place to start in your quest to go alcohol-free, be it for a week, a month, or life. It is important to be aware of situations, including people, that might trigger drinking. Consider what those activities or situations might be and make a plan for yourself to stay on track should you find yourself in those situations. Here are a few steps you can take to give yourself support and guidance throughout a month without alcohol.

You Could Experience Healing in Your Gut

All of that good sleep without alcohol is feeling pretty great for your overall health and your mental health by this point. You may feel more energy than usual, making it easier to fit in those regular workouts you’ve been putting off before the new year. Despite all that you’ve read about the benefits of red wine, alcohol calories are still empty calories. The calories you consume with any amount of alcohol intake don’t contribute to your overall nutrition. The closer we get to success, the closer we can get to over-confidence. Critical times for someone who stops using alcohol or has made the decision to cut back tends to come at one month, three months, six months, and a year.

Weight Loss

Prolonged heavy alcohol use can make that harder, but moderate drinkers should see positive liver effects after just a month without drinking. Let’s get into what it feels like when you stop drinking for a full month, including some health benefits you may not have expected during your 30 days with no alcohol. If you’ve been off for short times in the past and have gone back to drinking, it is possible that you thought that quitting would be easier. You might also have had a longer period of success at quitting under your belt, but still went back to drinking.

strategies to help you take a break from drinking alcohol

The best non-alcoholic wines taste just like real wine because they are real wine. The alcohol is just removed at the end to keep you hangover-free. One of the main reasons to switch daily patterns is to keep your mind busy. This article is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ part of a content partnership with our friends at Tempest, the first evidence-based digital recovery platform. For snacks, choose foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as pretzels, crackers, or apples, which can help satisfy cravings.

• Don’t wait – contact us today and start experiencing the positive changes that sobriety can bring to your life.
• Research published in the National Library of Medicine suggests that alcohol consumption can contribute to mood disorders and increased anxiety levels.
• Did you know alcohol use can actually make you more prone to getting sick by undermining the immune system?
• Drinking alcohol can temporarily relieve stress and anxiety but can also worsen mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression in the long run.
• It can also slow your metabolism and affect your hormones, making it harder to lose weight.
• Make notes on what you were doing (or feeling) before each drink.

Symptoms of Denial

After Your Dry Month

• In the study that looked at the effects of giving up alcohol for 30 days, 52 percent of participants reported having better energy.
• Don’t return to old habits, especially if they left you feeling crummy.
• Heavy drinkers don’t see any positive effects for the heart.
• Start out by participating in Sunnyside’s 30-day Alcohol Reset Challenge and join a group of over 150,000 people who are improving their relationship with alcohol.
• For many people, quitting drinking revolves around hitting the proverbial “rock bottom” and seeking recovery through peer-support groups or in-person treatment centers.