There are plenty of reasons to quit drinking alcohol. Perhaps you can't party as hard as you once did, and the hangovers are getting worse. Maybe you've developed a beer belly. Possibly, there's a deeper issue at play and you don't want your drinking to get out of hand before it's a problem—unless it already is and you just don't realize it. Whatever your circumstances are, you're here, and you're ready to kick the sauce. Let's breakdown what happens to your body once you quit drinking.
Detox isn't pretty
The first 48 hours after you stop drinking may be the biggest detox hurdle. Depending how much you were drinking, this may feel like a hangover or it may be more than that. Withdrawal symptoms can include sweating, a rise in blood pressure, shakiness or tremors, and insomnia as well as the usual hangover symptoms like headache and nausea.
You'll crave alcohol
You probably saw that one coming. If you've been drinking alcohol regularly, your body is going to take note when it's gone. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, cravings are to be expected when your drinking behavior changes. The equilibrium your body created to adjust to alcohol in your system will no longer exist. That first day you go without a drink, especially if you've been drinking every day, is likely going to be filled with cravings for alcohol. For some, cravings can last weeks, months, or years depending on the amount and regularity of alcohol use prior to quitting
It may get worse before it gets better
If you are a heavy drinker, you may not be out of the woods after 48 hours. Between 48-72 hours is generally when the onset of 'delirium tremens' occurs for some. Delirium tremens is sudden confusion that may be paired with hallucinations, shaking, irregular heart rate, and an increase in body temperature so high that it can sometimes lead to seizures. If you are a heavy drinker, it is important to detox from alcohol under the supervision of a medical professional as the withdrawal from quitting cold turkey can lead to death
Physical symptoms will subside
While hangover and withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, and at times dangerous, the good news is that after peaking at around 72 hours after the last drink, the last of these symptoms will generally start to subside. At this stage your body begins to create a new equilibrium that does not include alcohol and its effects.
Other symptoms of detox last longer
While your body will have adjusted after a week of not drinking, there may be psychological effects of detox that last longer. Some people report feelings of anger and aggression, general anxiety and depression, nightmares and difficulty sleeping, and even decreased libido. This is in part because alcohol use affects neurotransmitters that are implicated in mood, such as serotonin. There may also be underlying issues for which alcohol has been used to self-medicate. Often the experiences and emotions that were being ignored during alcohol use rise to the surface after you stop drinking. During this time it can be helpful to seek out counseling, either individual or in a group, to handle these emotions and experiences.
You'll sleep better
It may take a week or two, but after you quit drinking you'll ultimately sleep better. According to research, drinking increases brain wave patterns that usually happen when you're awake. In normal deep sleep, the brain activity is in delta waves. Consuming alcohol causes brain activity during sleep to happen in alpha waves. Alpha waves are generally only seen in brain activity when we're awake, but resting. We all know that resting on the couch isn't the same thing as getting a good night's sleep, so it's no wonder that people who drink regularly often feel tired and fatigued during the day.
You may be thinking, "But I always fall asleep faster when I drink!" That may be true, but it's only for a little while. A review of several studies found that even if alcohol helps you fall asleep more quickly and deeply at first, the quality of your sleep suffers overall, leaving you feeling tired the next day. So while you may have a hard time falling asleep at first when you stop drinking, you'll be more refreshed the next day.
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