If you have given up alcohol, do you feel better?

[MeltingWax]

I am thinking about giving up alcohol altogether as I find just cutting down too difficult.

Over the last 20 years I have had 2 alcohol-free pregnancies and have done dry January twice but other than that no long periods without booze. I have started to get to the point where I think a proper break would probably be good for me for both mental and physical reasons.

I think am also probably peri menopausal with the associated mild anxiety which accompanies that.

So, I have been 10 days alcohol free now which yes, I know is not much. But I was kind of expecting to be feeling, I don't know, different somehow by now. Maybe am expecting too much. On good weeks previously I would drink the recommended weekly number of units but many many weeks it would be, um, significantly more than that.

So, anyone who has gone permanently alcohol free was there some tipping point when you suddenly felt much better?

Watching with interest!

Also watching with interest as I’m seriously contemplating going alcohol free in the run up to Christmas.

Crikey, I guess no-one feels better for going booze-free then? Might as well crack open the vodka (just kidding) (sort of) .

I haven't had a drink since a glass of wine with Christmas dinner.

Always enjoyed wine but alone with little kids and get migraines from alcohol so just don't have it any more.

I haven't noticed actually suddenly feeling better, sorry! Obviously no hangovers etc but that's about it.

Goes and sits on boring stool.

I ask myself the same OP. But you need to be alcohol free for about 90 days (according to The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober) to feel all the benefits of the teetotal lifestyle.

So if you do it now, by December you’ll know for sure and if you decide to go back on the booze you’ll have the whole festive season to drink and be merry!

Then you’ll be able to compare the two lifestyles and make an informed decision rather than continuing to fall off the wagon because you’re addicted. I’m talking to myself really

Yes, much better. I stopped drinking on 2nd Jan, had a few drinks a week ago at a party, didn't enjoy it at all. I've gone back to being teetotal again. I have much more energy, don't feel bloated and don't get headaches when I don't drink. I was also (may be TMI here) puking up sometimes after drinking, like an acidy liquid, so obviously it was irritating my stomach.
It's also helping me to lose weight, I believe, because apart from the extra calories in the alcohol I like savoury snacks when I'm drinking.

Yes I do feel better.

At first I didn't. I had anxiety and a big hole where booze used to be. Like, a pub-shaped gap in me.

But I gradually came to feel better. Some specific things:

Fewer night sweats. I still get them occasionally (I'm 48)but less frequently.

I lost weight.

My face wasn't as red.

I no longer felt stiff and achy. I used to stump around when I got out of bed in the morning until my feet lumbered up. And turning over in bed used to be harder

Fewer negative thoughts. I used to be plagued by bad memories that would come swimming up to my mind. Things like remembering someone who humiliated me 20 years ago or the time I got fired for something really bad. That used to happen several times a day. Rarely ever now.

I feel calm now.

I have got into fitness in a big way so I think that now has a lot of positive effects on my mood.

Rita - that's probably it then, I still have my summer holiday wine consumption lurking in my system. Funnily enough, I did sort of have Christmas week as my first goal to reach AF from now so that would be 3.5 months. I can't see myself sticking at it over the whole festive season though - I love Baileys too much.

opal - perhaps you didn't drink enough in the first place to notice any dramatic benefits of stopping completely. That's very impressive though - all those months without any booze!

I’m on the road finding this out for myself. I’m sure I must do, because I feel awful a lot now. I’m also having to accept I’m not capable of moderation, currently reading The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober and it’s really reasonating. You’re welcome to join us on the Sober September thread in 30 Days Only.

Ooo, people who feel better! That's great! Am particularly interested in the reduction in anxiety and weight loss

You're probably right, I should have tried harder

Have heard a few people mention that book now - need to get some reading material for inspiration. And yes thanks, I will take a look at the other thread. Today is day 11 AF.

I’ve set myself the target of 100 days and I started nearly a month ago. I feel pretty much the same but no hangovers obviously and I think I’m sleeping better.

I read the Unexpected Joy of Being Sober which inspired me. No massive joy yet but I do feel slightly smug

I've completely given up alcohol, but it's only day 3 so far. I might join you on the sober September thread!

I've not gone teetotal, but I don't drink much. It's not so much I feel better when I don't drink, more that I feel so much WORSE when I do.

Drinking often gives me a stuffed up nose which can last from first drink until late the next day

Drinking makes my reflux worse

I sleep really badly when I've had a drink (fitful, wake up early having usually gone to bed late, struggle to fall asleep, racing heart)

If I've had more than a few drinks, the next day is largely written off - I make bad food choices, I don't exercise, I just want to veg out. On a weekend, I'm usually eking out as much as possible, so I hate wasting that precious time.

But I do enjoy having a few drinks in a social situation, so it is a balance. I live rurally, so often offer to drive so it takes the decision out of my hands, but it can make others feel awkward I find, and they will then often reduce their consumption.

8 days sober here. I feel calmer and better in the mornings. Seem to have replaced wine with cake but no weight change yet!

I don't feel any different day-to-day, but I sure feel a whole lot better when I wake up the morning after a party or a night out.

I've given up drinking for now. I have ME and alcohol makes my symptoms worse. I'm hoping at some point I can incorporate the odd drink. I love a glass of wine / gin!

I stop drinking for long periods when training and don’t feel any better for it day to day tbh just have less late nights and hangovers. I feel disheartened thinking about this but then maybe I don’t drink enough to make me feel bad in the first place?

It's interesting about others reducing their intake. Have just been away with a family member who I would normally share a few bottles with. I told her on the first day that am off the booze at the moment, I could see she was disappointed but she also hardly had anything to drink whilst we were away. Felt a bit guilty even though I kept reassuring her that I didn't mind at all if she drank as normal (which would usually be quite a lot).

I don't drink. But I was never a heavy drinker anyway, except maybe in my student days 20-odd years ago. Just gradually over the last 14 years (since I became a parent) I have drank less and less.

So I'm not sure if I'm the right demographic to answer, since there was no epiphany or giving up that happened. But I don't feel any different or any greater joy than a drinker would, I don't think so anyway.

I know I'm healthier, which allows a smug feeling. Bring healthy is the most important thing to me. I get a similar smugness from the fact I do a daily 5k run - I don't have to do this but I do and it makes me healthier.

Losing weight is easier because there are no empty alcohol calories to consider. And I never have to consider hang overs or being tired the next day - which helps when you have 4 children.

I've just a few days ago gone teetotal.

I am now taking some medication you can't drink with so I'm looking forward to not only feeling better because if the medication but feeling the rewards of being teetotal

I regularly do a month off - always do dry January and October too.

Can't say I feel any better or different. It just makes me realise how much I enjoy drinking and the whole social/relaxing/reward aspect of it

A couple of my friends have read The Naked Mind by Annie Grace. One stopped drinking altogether and the other cut down massively. Both seem to feel better for it. One of them insisted she didn’t feel that different to begin with but now that she drinks much less she notices the difference in how she feels when she does have a drink.

Not necessarily physically apart from better sleep but I get loads more done in the evenings now I've cut down. Much more productive instead of loafing on the sofa watching shit TV with a large glass or three