- Oct 8
- AddictionDrug Addiction Treatment
We know how hard recovery can be after years of alcohol consumption and abuse. Sometimes, all you need to get started on the road to recovery are simple reminders of why stopping alcohol use is beneficial for your overall well-being. Here are five ways stopping alcohol use can improve your life.
1. Save Time
One benefit of stopping alcohol use is the time you save by increasing your capacity to get things done. Because excessive alcohol consumption causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness and disorientation, staying on task or concentrating for long periods can be difficult. Although side effects like these may only last a few hours after increased alcohol consumption, negative symptoms like headaches and dizziness can follow you into the next day.
2. Save Money
Alcohol is not cheap! Many people overlook the effects alcohol abuse can have on their wallets. Use this calculator to find out how much money you spend on alcohol per week, month and year to discover how much you could save.
3. Sleep Better
Alcohol blocks REM sleep, which can cause you to wake up tired and irritable. REM sleep is the deepest, most restorative sleep. It also boosts learning, concentration and memory. You can probably guess, then, why it’s a bad idea to miss REM sleep. While alcohol does cause you to fall asleep quicker, it can negatively impact the quality of your sleep, especially during the second half of the night. According to researchers, moderate alcohol consumption can decrease a person’s restorative sleep by 24 percent. Excessive alcohol consumption reduced it even more.
4. Look Younger
It’s no secret that excessive alcohol consumption increases visible signs of aging. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health explores the link between alcohol abuse and noticeable signs of aging. According to this study, excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increased risk of developing earlobe crease and arcus corneae in men and women. An earlobe crease is a diagonal line that cuts across the surface of the earlobe and can be indicative of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Arcus corneae, on the other hand, is a white or gray ring that expands in the margins of the eye’s cornea.
So, stopping alcohol consumption can keep you looking younger.
5. Feel Better
Feeling better is one of the more apparent benefits of stopping alcohol use. The increased quality of sleep enabled by lowered alcohol consumption can lead to higher energy levels and better concentration throughout the day.
Stopping alcohol use could also result in improved mood. Many people report feeling sad, tired and lethargic after a night of heavy drinking. This is because excessive alcohol consumption interferes with the neurotransmitters in our brains, causing depressed moods and elevated anxiety levels.
Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol abuse affects the body, brain and behavior in negative ways. Not only can it increase your risk of cancer, but it can also harm your body’s internal organs and impair the immune system. Other adverse effects of alcohol abuse include mood disorders, diabetes, memory loss and an increased risk of osteoporosis.
No matter where you are in the recovery process, you’re not alone. Contact Gateway to request care if you or someone you love is struggling with excessive alcohol consumption.
