If you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or any symptoms, you may be wondering if it's better to stop drinking or just cut down. The answer depends on your individual situation and goals. Quitting alcohol completely can be a big step, but it could be the change of direction you need. On the other hand, reducing your consumption can also have positive effects on your health and wellbeing.
It's important to consult with your doctor to decide what's best for you. The biggest advantage of reducing your consumption is that you can choose whether to include alcohol in your life or not. Reducing alcohol consumption can have positive effects on the way you look and feel, often within a few days. Once you've reduced your alcohol consumption (so you're within or below the recommended guidelines), review your drinking habits regularly to see if you're maintaining this level of alcohol consumption.
Reducing alcohol consumption will reduce the risk of developing seven types of cancer, in addition to reducing the risk of liver or heart disease. By reducing alcohol consumption, the quality of your sleep should improve, which can also benefit your mood and help your ability to concentrate. If you drink alcohol every day and notice unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you're not drinking, don't stop drinking suddenly. Once you've stabilized your drinking level for a week, you can start to slowly reduce the amount you drink.
Someone may have told you that they're worried or that it's hard for you to stop drinking once you've started, for example. With its negative effects on sleep and mood, drinking too much can make you feel tired, lazy, and generally a little depressed. Do not stop drinking completely if you have previously had seizures (seizures) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there) when you stop drinking. There are a lot of reasons why you might want to analyze your drinking habits, and you don't have to drink every day for it to be a problem.
People who are dependent on alcohol or who have other medical or mental health problems should stop drinking completely.
