People drink for a variety of reasons, Koskinen notes, but “stress-management and social connections” tend to top her clients’ lists. You might toss and turn at first, but give up alcohol and the sleep you get will likely leave =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you feeling more refreshed and sharp the next day. For most people, participating in month-long challenges will provide a range of benefits and little downside, even over the longer term.

Why abstinence if your goal is to moderate your use?

That’s why many of us wonder if a month of avoiding drinking is enough to “reset” your liver back to normal. It’s true that taking a break from alcohol for any amount of time will be beneficial overall, with some research showing that liver function begins to improve in as little as two to three weeks. But a full detox is needed for the most benefit, and how much time that takes depends on a variety of personal factors. If your drinking seems to be affecting your work or personal relationships—regardless of how much booze you’re knocking back—it’s time to consider taking it easy, he adds. drug addiction treatment Be aware that over-drinking doesn’t always look like you think it does. Here’s how to figure out where you are on the alcohol use disorder spectrum.

Health Categories to Explore

For example, you can use an alcohol break to support your physical readiness. You could also time the break right during Dry January when people all over the world are also taking a break. The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help you recognize and find high quality treatment for alcohol use disorder. If you drink excessively, seek medical help to plan a safe recovery as sudden abstinence can be life threatening. NIAAA’s Rethinking Drinking can help you assess your drinking habits and provides information to help you cut back or stop drinking.

Take some time to explore your relationship with alcohol

It’s important to seek urgent medical care if you experience any of these symptoms. It’s common for the first symptoms to appear within a few hours after your last drink. Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women’s health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders. If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal.

Thinking about taking a break from alcohol? Here’s how to cut back or quit

• Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you’re uncomfortable opening up to your healthcare professional.
• “Again, depends on what the baseline alcohol consumption is,” she said.
• Researchers have yet to uncover the specific ways that drinking raises your risk of developing these health conditions.
• But today I’m fitter and thinner than I have ever been because drinking messes with your metabolism in really sinister ways.

Your liver has enzymes that work like special tools to help metabolize (break down) different toxins that enter your body, such as alcohol. In general, alcohol hampers your immune system, making you more likely to get sick than if you weren’t drinking, says George F. Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Abuse and Alcoholism. These withdrawal symptoms occur because of overactivity of the central and autonomic nervous systems. Dasgupta said the best people to avoid alcohol always are those under 21 years old, and not just for legal reasons. For anyone concerned about heart health, Dasgupta recommended decreasing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity, which also raises good cholesterol.

Research has also shown that taking a month-long break from alcohol can be good for the liver. While that amount is generally thought to be okay for your health, having more than that on a regular basis isn’t. The thing is, it’s easy to go above moderate levels of drinking is a mainstay of your social life. After all, a serving of alcohol is a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol.1 Most taking a break from alcohol people have more than that at happy hour or on the weekend. Some people notice significant changes when they stop drinking.