March 04, 2019

How does the human body behave when one stops drinking?

Addiction Alcohol

While everyone has a fair idea of what happens to the human body when one consumes alcohol on a consistent basis, ironically they have less idea as to what happens if one stops drinking. In case you are someone planning to become sober, there is good news lined up for you. Here is what doctors have to say about giving up alcohol and the good effects it has on the mind, body, and spirit.

Impact on mental health

An individual dependent on alcohol treats the substance abused as a social crutch. Once they quit drinking, they would soon realize that they feel much better leaving behind this self-made support. In fact, they can now establish healthy social connections with like-minded people and engage in various activities and conversations that bind them together. Some of the visible effects of quitting drinking on mental health include the following:

• Improved sleep patterns: Even though alcohol is a sedative, it can interrupt rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. So, the first improvement that one sees on quitting alcohol is an improvement in the sleeping pattern. As the human mind is a storehouse of infinite energy, one of the most important aspects of mental well-being, is adequate and quality sleep. When an individual does not get sound sleep at night, it becomes increasingly challenging for them to function during the day.
• Improved cognitive ability: Once someone consciously stops drinking and the withdrawal symptoms subside, there is a marked improvement in an individual’s cognitive ability. There is less pressure in the neck and no headaches. In fact, the mind is able to process things faster with less effort from the central nervous system.

Impact on physical health

The human gut is home to microbiotas, also known as healthy bacteria, that promotes vigorous body functions. Owing to the toxic nature of alcohol, substantial amounts of this healthy bacteria gets eliminated thereby creating an imbalance in the bacterial colonies. This type of imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract leads to stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. According to Dr. Niket Sonpal, a gastroenterologist and internist, the associated conditions due to this bacterial imbalance tends to subside when an individual starts eating healthy and ceases drinking. The other effects on physical health include the following.

• Improved physical energy: Alcohol irritates the intestines and leads to pancreatitis. So when an individual quits drinking, the digestion improves significantly, bloating reduces and weight gain gets obstructed. As an outcome, people quitting alcohol feel more energized.
• Improved liver function: Liver cirrhosis, a condition caused by excessive drinking, prevents the liver from detoxifying the human body from toxins and negative enzymes, thereby creating a snowball effect for the entire body. When one quits drinking, the liver gets time to recover and detoxify the body, significantly improving liver function.
• Improved digestion: Quitting alcohol improves gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and gastritis, as a result of improved digestion. It also leads to added calorie reduction and thereby aids in healthy weight loss.
• Improved skin and more: Once an individual becomes sober, there is an improvement in the overall body functions. As the body is able to detoxify properly, acne and pimples subside clearing the skin and restoring its natural glow.

Apart from the above, blood pressure stabilizes and the chances of developing liver, throat, stomach or any other cancers associated with drinking minimize. And better mental and physical health automatically leads to a better spirit.

Seeking help for alcoholism

Like any other form of addiction, with support from a good alcohol treatment facility offering effective alcohol treatment programs, an individual can receive treatment for both physical and mental dependence on alcohol. Invictus Health Group understands the fact that in order for sobriety to last, an alcohol addiction treatment program needs to be customized based on the patient’s severity, nature, and duration of alcohol use.

If you or a loved one is battling alcohol addiction and are looking for reliable alcohol treatment centers, get in touch with Invictus Health Group. Call our 24/7 helpline (866) 548-0190 and speak to a member from our admissions team to seek certified advice. You can also chat online to a representative to avail customized world-class alcohol detox treatment at any of our state-of-the-art facilities in California.