While some people don’t have a problem with drinking on occasion, drinking alcohol can become a bad habit that can affect your mental and physical health as well as your relationships. Alcoholism is a disease that can feel impossible to shake. However, there are many benefits that come with the decision to quit drinking. Here is a list of seven reasons why you should consider quitting:
1. You No Longer Have Hangovers
One major side effect of alcohol consumption is the hangover feeling you get the next day. Some symptoms of a hangover include headache, nausea, fatigue, weakness and dehydration. Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is a chemical that can be toxic to the body. When you cut alcohol out of your diet, you no longer have to worry about the often times dreadful hangover feeling you get the next day.
2. You Save Money
Alcohol is expensive, especially when it is a completely unnecessary expense. The restaurant industry makes a killing off of people buying alcoholic beverages. Not to mention they mark up the prices. While it is less expensive to buy alcohol at the grocery store, the cost of alcohol adds up. Depending on the amount you drink, and how you buy it, you can save a ton of money.
3. Your Physical Health Improves
Drinking alcohol often is very unhealthy. It isn’t a surprise to realize that your health drastically improves after you quit drinking. Drinking alcohol can affect your heart, liver, and other vital organs in the body. Alcohol causes more fat in the bloodstream, which is bad for your heart. Further, alcohol can cause liver disease and in severe cases can cause death. Alcohol also effects your brain on multiple levels. It can affect memory, coordination and can actually kill brain cells. When you stop drinking your organs can improve in function and your overall health can improve. You can also see significant weight loss when you stop drinking.
4. Your Appearance Improves
When you stop drinking, your appearance improves drastically. Drinking alcohol excessively can make you look older. Alcohol is a diuretic, which causes dehydration in the skin. Dehydration can lead to dry skin and wrinkles. Further, drinking causes inflammation. Inflammation in the skin can cause a red appearance and can cause further damage to the skin. Alcohol can also cause acne. When you quit drinking, your skin looks younger, more hydrated and healthier.
5. You Have a Clear Perspective
When you drink excessively, it can be hard to make proper and informed decisions. Further, alcohol clouds your function to think properly. When you stop drinking, your perspective on your life and your choices can change. You can focus more on what you want to do with your life.
6. You Form Better Relationships
Excessive alcohol consumption can cloud your judgement and make you push people away who care for you. It can also leave you surrounding yourself with people that aren’t healthy. When you stop drinking, you can have a better perspective on who you want in your life and who truly cares about your well-being. You can begin to make amends and form healthier and happier relationships.
7. You Have More Time To Do Things You Enjoy
When you drink excessively, one drink can turn into an entire night. Drinking can be something that you do every day. However, when you quit drinking, you can spend more time doing what you enjoy and less time recovering from a hangover or surrounding yourself with unhealthy people. When you quit drinking, you have a sounder mind and can find more productive things to do with your time. Whether it is going to school, picking up a hobby, or spending more time with healthy people, you will be more productive than you were when you were drinking.
The Recovery Village is an excellent resource for learning more about alcohol addiction and treatment options.