What Happens to Your Body After You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

While some people drink to help them get to sleep, it actually does the opposite. Alcohol has the potential to disrupt sleep cycles and cause poor-quality rest. In the first few days after quitting drinking, you may experience insomnia or vivid dreams as your sleep patterns regulate. However, after the first few days, you may notice that you are getting more restful sleep as the body begins to restore natural circadian rhythms. This will result in more energy and feeling better overall when you wake up in the morning.

Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body. That’s one of the reasons why you may wake up the next morning hungover after drinking, as the body is dehydrated and depleted. Once you stop drinking alcohol, your body’s hydration levels will begin to improve almost immediately. Not only does this improvement help with kidney function, but you may also notice that your skin is less dry and the overall functionality of your body is better.

Alcohol can cause fluctuations in blood sugar, which can lead to sudden energy crashes and cravings. Within the first week of quitting, blood sugar levels begin to stabilize, reducing cravings for sugary foods and improving overall energy levels.

As your body begins to rehydrate, you will notice that your skin is less dry. Alcohol consumption can deplete essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, which is crucial for skin repair. However, after a few weeks, collagen production begins to increase. As a result, you may begin to notice things like dark circles, redness, and puffiness may begin to disappear.

Alcohol can cause chronic inflammation, leading to joint pain, digestive issues, and other health problems. Within a month of quitting, you may begin to notice that those inflammation levels will start to decrease, leading to less bloating and discomfort. If you suffer from arthritis, you may also begin to notice a reduction in joint pain and stiffness.

Drinking alcohol can directly lead to high blood pressure. Once you quit drinking, your body may begin to normalize its blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease or stroke.

While some people lose weight due to cutting out empty alcohol calories, others may initially gain weight due to increased appetite. By the one-month mark, weight fluctuations tend to stabilize. Improved digestion and metabolism may contribute to better nutrient absorption and overall health.

Improved sleep, better nutrition, and a healthier internal system may cause your energy levels to continue to rise, making day-to-day activities easier and more enjoyable. You may also begin to experience improved endurance, making it easier to engage in physical activities.

After six months of not drinking, your immune system is likely to have returned to its pre-drinking state. As a result, you may notice that you are not getting sick as often because your body is healthier and better equipped to fight off pathogens.

At this point in your sobriety, you may also start to notice an improvement in your emotional health as well as your physical health. The mood swings, anxiety, and/or depression you may have experienced during withdrawals will have dissipated by now. As a result, you may begin to feel more emotionally balanced and resilient.

With the sense of accomplishment that comes from sobriety also often comes a greater sense of self-worth and confidence. Combined with better sleep and a stable brain chemistry, this can help cut down or even eliminate feelings of anxiety and depression.

You may notice that your relationships, both personal and professional, continue to improve as you move further away from drinking. Without the negative effects of alcohol clouding your judgment and behavior, you can develop stronger and more meaningful connections with those closest to you.

Cravings for alcohol tend to decrease significantly over time. However, it is also important to remember that cravings may never fully cease. As you continue to distance yourself from alcohol, you will likely find yourself in more control of those urges and be better equipped to not succumb to them.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, digestive issues, and liver damage may show significant improvement or even reversal after a year of sobriety. The risk of developing alcohol-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and certain types of cancer also decreases significantly.