Medically supervised detox programs provide proper care and attention to help individuals safely withdraw from alcohol, offering professional support every step of the way. Delirium tremens is a severe withdrawal condition that can lead to confusion, hallucinations, agitation9, and in extreme cases, heart failure. This medical emergency is characterized by sudden and extreme confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and severe changes in nervous system function.
Your liver will thank you.
- Your cravings for alcohol may still be present, but they should be less intense.
- But first, we’ll start with the less glamorous side of quitting – alcohol withdrawal.
- She also notes that a craving for alcohol is common once people stop.
If it’s winter, you may notice fewer colds than in the past, but in warmer months, the changes may be more subtle, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. “Giving your body six months of water absorption will improve your digestion and constipation,” says Dr. Mosquera. For people with mild to moderate drinking habits, withdrawal is usually manageable without medical intervention. However, having a plan and support system in alcoholism symptoms place makes the process easier. Not everyone needs medical supervision when quitting alcohol, but some people do.
Physical Health Improvements
- Quitting alcohol has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels.
- However, the journey can also be fraught with difficulties, especially for those who have been heavily dependent on alcohol.
- But if you drink alone, or down multiple drinks a day, it could turn into an unhealthy habit.
Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of treatment for alcohol addiction. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge.
Week 2: Starting to Feel Better
- After about a week without alcohol, your sleep architecture begins normalizing.
- Heavy drinkers may experience confusion and memory problems when they quit.
- When there is poor gut health, meaning an imbalance of bacteria, the lining of the gut becomes affected.
Alcohol and depression often co-occur together because alcohol can trigger depression due to its effect on serotonin levels, and depression can trigger alcohol use disorder. After refraining from alcohol, the levels of serotonin in the brain begin to stabilize, and your mood becomes more stable. This can mean you have a decrease in depression, fewer angry outbursts, a reduction in mood swings, less anxiety, and overall feel more stable and happy. Quitting drinking can have many important benefits for your physical and mental health, but there are many other types of benefits you may experience as well.
Some of alcohol’s negative effects on health may surprise you
Symptoms are often at their worst between 24 and 72 hours after you stop drinking. For women, heavy drinking means four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week. If you’ve made it through the Dry January challenge or are giving up alcohol for Lent, you’ve likely noticed some significant changes to your body. The good news what happens when you quit drinking alcohol is that you can give up drinking for at least a month any time and be surprised at the results.
Withdrawal symptoms appear hours after the most recent drink, peak around 72 hours, and begin to resolve around day 4 or 5. Sunnyside Med offers access to compounded naltrexone (50mg + B6 5mg), paired with behavioral tools to help you reduce your drinking over time. One of the surprising side effects of giving up alcohol is that your skin may start to look better. This is because alcohol can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry, dull skin.
Quitting Alcohol Timeline: What Happens When You Stop Drinking?
Understanding when professional help is necessary can prevent dangerous complications. Skin appearance changes – Alcohol causes inflammation and dehydration, both of which affect your skin. After two to three weeks without drinking, many people notice their skin looks clearer and more hydrated. Energy levels stabilize – Without the cycle of alcohol and recovery, your energy levels become more consistent throughout the day. The afternoon slumps and morning grogginess that often accompany regular drinking start to fade. Hydration increases – Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your body to lose more water than you take in.