Sobriety is a time of change – mentally, physically, and even spiritually. When you’re able to start setting long term goals, then you’re not just acting on impulse, you’re thinking. You don’t simply react to someone’s hurtful words, you pause, absorb, comprehend and respond. You’re given the ability to zoom out and think about what you’re doing or what you’d like to be doing more of. Your brain wants immediate gratification or the most rewarding choice for the least amount of effort. While short term rewards aren’t inherently bad, there needs to be a balance or else one night blends into the next and so on.

• Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%.
• These extra funds can be put towards retirement, travel, or other investments.
• Celebrating your sobriety is a crucial (and fun!) part of nurturing it, and milestones can be especially motivating.
• One of the main benefits of sobriety is a more relaxed life without chaos.
• In turn, you put less time and focus into your career and saving for the future.
• You will regain your appetite and desire to prepare balanced meals.

Just being dry for 1 month and going back to drinking in excess is a bad idea. If you are drinking in excess, it’s better to cut your alcohol intake,” said Dasgupta. Cutting out alcohol for 30 days can have benefits for those who drink more than the recommended limit of two drinks a day for men and one drink a being sober sucks day for women. Excess alcohol consumption may cause weight gain, which means that cutting out alcohol could lead to weight loss for some people. Other studies, such as this one from 2022, have found similar results, showing no health benefits of consuming alcohol in moderation for people under 40, only risks.

See if you or a loved one needs substance use or mental health support

Whatever your “why,” know that with treatment and support, getting sober is not only possible, but it’s also manageable long-term. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, we can help. More than likely, some of your relationships with friends and family members were damaged by your addiction. Addiction often has that effect, whether you were cut off from loved ones who tried to help or you yourself pushed loved ones away in the name of drugs. The best way forward for your recovery from alcohol or substance use is to incorporate a wide variety of strategies that will help foster success.

She points out that when cortisol becomes regulated after abstaining from alcohol, the body is better able to manage the effects of stress and even regulate weight. “Depending on the level of intake, individuals can begin experiencing health benefits as soon as a few weeks into their abstinence from alcohol,” says Dr. Kennedy. A therapist can help you learn new coping skills, develop new thinking patterns, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions that may make recovery more difficult. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way.

You’ll Sleep Better

It can cause memory loss and interference with brain development. For college students, being dry is the best thing to do,” he said. “[The bottom line] is, protect the heart with [a] low amount of alcohol, but increase the risk of cardiovascular disease with high amount of alcohol,” Dasgupta said. Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction. Having a chaotic or disorganized lifestyle can also hinder your recovery.

• It depends on many factors, including the amount of damage you’ve done, years of heavy drinking, age, and genetics.
• But the longer you abstain from alcohol and work on your sleep hygiene, the more improvements in your sleep you’ll see over time.
• Research shows that you will increase your chances of getting sober by engaging in detox and addiction treatment if you have external support in place.
• This is because you’re no longer attacking your body by putting dangerous amounts of toxic substances in it.
• Sobriety doesn’t just rebuild the individual; it rebuilds relationships.

“I would suggest cutting back on several things rather than completely eliminating to avoid feeling deprived, which can lead to rebound eating/drinking and weight regain,” she said. However, if you’re banking on a month-long break from alcohol to help you lose weight, Kumar said it’s not your best bet. Depending on the person, Kumar said she sometimes suggests cutting back on alcohol to lose weight. While alcohol is high in calories, and wine, beer, and mixed drinks add sugar to one’s diet, Kumar said that simply cutting it out may not always help you lose weight. For instance, Dasgupta cited research he conducted on the relationship between genetics and alcohol misuse.