Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona Discusses What Happens When You Stop Drinking?
Alcohol affects the body in a number of ways and has an impact on almost every major organ system. The effects you will feel, and the extent to which you will feel them, vary based on how much alcohol you consume and how frequently you drink. If you have been experiencing severe symptoms you believe may be related to your drinking, it’s worth calling an alcohol rehabilitation center in Arizona for help.
If drinking alcohol affects nearly the whole body and mind, then stopping drinking will make a huge difference by reversing many of those effects. You will likely go through an uncomfortable (and potentially dangerous) period of withdrawal before you see a marked improvement. Thankfully, over time your body could recover to normal or near-normal functioning.
The following are brief descriptions of what your body may experience when you stop drinking.
Within a Few Hours to a Few Weeks After Stopping
Starting a few hours after your last drink, your system will likely feel a shock from the sudden lack of alcohol. This is especially true if you have consumed alcohol frequently over a long period of time.
Sudden alcohol withdrawal after heavy use can cause:[1]
Brain and Nervous System
- Seizures
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Delirium Tremens (DTs)
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Fever
Heart and Cardiovascular System
- High blood pressure
- Fast heart rate
Digestive System
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Mental Health
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Depression
- Nightmares
- Mood Swings
Continued after infographic:
Within a Month to a Few Months After Stopping
Heavy alcohol use, especially prolonged over a period of years, leads to several health problems such as a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Thankfully, cutting out alcohol can reverse many of these conditions and return your body to good health.
Once the acute withdrawal has passed, your body will be able to heal from the damage caused by alcohol abuse and withdrawal symptoms.
Given enough time, you can expect the following changes:[2]
Brain and Nervous System
Since alcohol abuse disorder can lead to memory loss, trouble concentrating, and foggy thinking, eliminating alcohol should help you:
- Think more clearly
- Form memories more easily
- Retain those memories better
- Concentrate more effectively
Liver
Long-term alcohol use increases fat deposits in the liver.
Cirrhosis, a condition where the liver becomes so scarred from damage that it can’t function optimally, is also a major concern of heavy alcohol users.[3] Though damage from cirrhosis is usually permanent, liver function should improve without further alcohol use:
- Reversal of fatty liver problems
- Slowed or halted development of cirrhosis
Heart and Cardiovascular System
While some researches claim mild to moderate alcohol consumption can actually have protective effects on your heart by improving your cholesterol ratio, heavy drinking does quite the opposite.
If you’re starting from a place of high cholesterol and heart disease risk, quitting drinking should:
- Lower your risk of cardiovascular disease
- Return cholesterol to normal levels, especially with exercise and positive dietary changes
Risk of Cancer
Because alcohol is a known carcinogen related to 3.5% of cancer deaths,[4] eliminating alcohol consumption reduces cancer risk in the body systems that are at increased risk from alcohol use.
You’ll have a lower risk of developing cancer of the:
- Head
- Neck
- Esophagus
- Liver
- Breast
- Colon
- Rectum
Digestive System
Alcohol is high in calories per gram by itself, let alone when combined with sugary mixers and juices. The sheer number of calories taken in during a period of heavy drinking can cause significant weight gain over time.
Additionally, alcohol can inflame your whole digestive system by increasing stomach acid production.[5]
You will likely see improvement in these symptoms when you stop drinking:
- Reduced stomach pain and indigestion
- Relief from upset stomach
- Healing of the intestines
- Loss of excess body fat
Why Should You Turn to Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona Instead of Going It Alone?
Desert Cove Recovery recognizes that quitting any addiction is difficult, even before you take withdrawal into consideration. When alcohol withdrawal goes smoothly, it’s still an unpleasant process to endure. When it goes badly, it can be dangerous.
Our detox referrals ensure that you spend these critical days in the capable hands of medical professionals. Once you’ve cleared the alcohol from your system, we can help you begin the healing process.
Using 12-step addiction recovery treatments and comprehensive outpatient care, we help you learn how to live a happy and healthy life free of alcohol.
We also recognize that the battle is not fought and won all at once. That’s why we encourage patients to take advantage of ongoing, extended care so we can be there to support you in the months after your acute treatment ends. With long-term strategies and an abundance of support, you can reach a level of physical and mental recovery you may have thought was impossible before.
In ten years, you want to look back on this day as the beginning of your life of sobriety, not the first try out of many attempts to quit on your own. Make sure you have the help and support to move forward and never look back.
How Can You Find Alcohol Rehabilitation in Arizona?
Contact Desert Cove Recovery today to start healing your body and mind today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.verywellmind.com/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-quiz-69485 [2] https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-quit-alcohol-for-30-days#Benefits-of-Dry-January [3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cirrhosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351487 [4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23409916/ [5] https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/effects-on-the-body/is-alcohol-harming-your-stomach#:~:text=Put%20simply%2C%20alcohol%20irritates%20your,in%20heavy%20drinkers%2C%20even%20bleeding.
