Quitting drinking can be a difficult process, but it is worth it in the long run. When you stop drinking, your body will start to repair itself and the damage will begin to reverse. It is not possible to give a concrete figure for when you can start to feel better after you stop drinking, as it largely depends on the individual. However, it is possible to provide a timeline of what you can expect when it comes to your mental and physical health when you stop drinking. The first stage of recovery is usually the most difficult.
Serious mental and physical symptoms usually appear 2 to 4 hours after the last drink and can last 1 to 5 days. During this time, it is common to experience a sense of stagnation or relapse emotionally or physically. However, everyone has the capacity to move on.
After the initial withdrawal symptoms have passed
, you may find that you have more energy than before you stopped drinking. Your brain may become hyperactive for a while after quitting alcohol and no longer make you sleepy.Improved nutritional status also occurs when someone stops drinking, which can contribute to many of the improvements mentioned below.
Benefits of Quitting Drinking
When you quit drinking, there are many benefits that come with it. Drinking alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of developing many types of cancer, but stopping drinking alcohol will reduce this risk compared to continuing to drink. Men who drink up to 14 units of alcohol per week are less than 1% likely to develop colorectal cancer, but an 11% chance if they drink more than 35 units per week. Excessive alcohol consumption can also affect male fertility, but it is believed that these effects can be reversed quickly when drinking is stopped. If you didn't drink alcohol to the point of suffering severe liver damage, your liver may have already disappeared and will be working almost at its proper efficiency when the first month of sobriety comes and goes. If you drink a lot, you're at greater risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and strokes.When you stop drinking, these risks will be reduced.