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Original poster

How long before I start feeling the benefits of quitting alcohol?

42 replies

BunniesBunniesBunnies · 14/04/2020 08:09

I’ve been drinking far too much (maybe three bottles of wine and a bottle of spirits per week) for a while now. I hadn’t had an alcohol free day for the longest time and with lockdown I also started drinking earlier and earlier.

I never think of myself as an alcoholic (rarely get drunk, don’t get withdrawal if I don’t drink for a day or two) but many attempts at moderation have failed so perhaps I am...!

Anyway, I decided to stop for a while and I have now not had any alcohol for the last three days. I don’t feel any better though! I still feel quite lethargic, get headaches, sleep poorly, etc. I remember this from it last attempt at quitting probably did ten days without booze and felt no better for it🙁

When will I start to feel the benefits? Or do some people not experience any benefits from quitting? If I belong in the latter group I think I am doomed...🙁🙁🙁

OP posts:
Oddgirlout · 14/04/2020 08:11

Don't know the answer but watching with interest

Original poster
BunniesBunniesBunnies · 14/04/2020 08:14

Oh, glad I’m not alone😅
I did wonder whether to post this in “alcohol support”, but a part of me is still firmly in denial that I need support with all this...😬

OP posts:
Salene · 14/04/2020 08:17

I'm not sure as I don't drink hardly ever but what I can is when I do drink like I did the other day , I had 3 glasses of cider and the next day I felt dreadful, I had no energy and a banging head ache . So it's definitely worth stopping as I can confirm it's not good for the body , only a few drinks very occasional wipes me out the whole next day

Stick with it x

Interested in this thread?

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SetSail · 14/04/2020 08:17

I noticed a difference after about 2-3 weeks, definitely after a month. Sleep, weight, skin, energy levels etc. I haven’t totally quit drinking, just reduced it to a couple times a week and in moderation. Good luck op!

nitgel · 14/04/2020 08:17

Think i read it takes 6 weeks to break a habit. Ive given up just over a year now and there's so many benefits. Sleep well. Calmer less stressed, even going through this. Fitter. Don't eat any crap. Give it time.

Oddgirlout · 14/04/2020 08:18

Absolutely! I don't drink quite as much as you've listed but more than I should. I definitely use it as a coping mechanism. I'd like to see if I can stop for that reason and to lose weight. Hopefully someone can tell us some good news!

Perfidy · 14/04/2020 08:18

I cut down to drinking only at weekends and that was a glass or two with dinner on a Saturday. That was from about half a bottle of wine a night, not every night but most and more at the weekend.

Over a month I lost a stone, slept better, skin better, more oomph, got loads more done.

But the first week no real difference, second week I noticed the sleep and oomph. Made a real difference to me. I’m back to glass of wine with dinner and g and t and was thinking want to get back to weekends only.

AmelieTaylor · 14/04/2020 08:20

@bunnies

Well done for giving up!🌷. You CAN do this

You might want to consider that LOTS of people are feeling like this....

still feel quite lethargic, get headaches, sleep poorly, etc

At the moment due to the CV/Lockdown.

I think you've picked a difficult time to stop drinking (less easy to distract yourself & do 'feel good' things), but try to do what you can.

Do you have a garden?

HoffiCoffi13 · 14/04/2020 08:20

3 days is definitely too soon to feel any tangible benefits. With drinking that much (and I’m not judging, I’ve drank similar amounts regularly in the past) you’ll still be suffering a bit of withdrawal.
When I do dry January it usually takes about 2-3 weeks to start feeling better.

Dontunderestimateme · 14/04/2020 08:23

Give it time. You will start to see the effects. Also don't forget about the things that will be happening that you may not feel. Your liver will be starting to repair, your immune system will improve, resting heart rate will likely drop.

Smellbellina · 14/04/2020 08:23

2-4 weeks is what my DSil told me, she researched the heck out of it as DB is an alcoholic (not saying you are!)

I also drink too much, will join you on quitting.

Smellbellina · 14/04/2020 08:24

Stopping drinking fucks with your sleep for a bit too, but you will feel the benefits ultimately.

StillDumDeDumming · 14/04/2020 08:27

I’m on day 102 alcohol free. The first two weeks are quite hard. You really have to stick with it. After that it’s great.

I can’t moderate- I tried but it’s a constant battle. I can feel the grip of alcohol taking over me almost from the first drink. Giving up totally was a lot better and easier than moderating. Take each day as it comes - most people have a few attempts. But it is so worth it.

If you want to know the science behind why it is hard to moderate, try the Alcohol Experiment. It’s a 30 day thing and they do not try to sell you anything or bombard you with loads of emails. It’s a US thing but during lockdown they are doing daily support sessions on Facebook. I was just thinking how lockdown is going to bring us some alcohol casualties.

I’m on the stay stopped thread if you want to join us there.

StillDumDeDumming · 14/04/2020 08:29

Also alcohol weakens your immune system and has been practically banned in some countries during the pandemic- if you need extra motivation!!

Please give it a go.

JungleGiraffe · 14/04/2020 08:32

Probably a month? Weight loss and improved sleep are the only benefits for me and tbh they're not worth it because the boredom-related cravings are torture, especially now during lockdown.

StillDumDeDumming · 14/04/2020 08:34

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3810419-Still-stopped-in-2020-a-thread-for-anyone-abstaining-from-alcohol?msgid=95608441#95608441

Have a mosey over. There are a few on day 2 or 3.

Also the author of the sober diaries is apparently doing a live Facebook chat this week- you are definitely not alone

jess3817 · 14/04/2020 08:40

Hi - I'm 6 weeks sober today. I was drinking a bottle of wine a night, sometimes more for the last 8 years with a few attempts/ days off in that time. This is the longest I've gone without and am now scared to even think about trying any again as feel alot better without it.
For about nine days I could have just slept, I was like a walking zombie- I don't know how I worked I was so tired. The good night's sleep suddenly started, for me around day 11, I litterally sleep like a log and I never use to ever. My face is much less bloated, and my stomach which I'm really pleased about.
If anything I'm just pleased I'm not spending money on wine at the moment as I'm not working.
Give it a few more weeks, we are all different you will feel some benefit then. My mind definitely shifted when I hit 25 days as never thought I'd go that long without it .

Crunchymum · 14/04/2020 08:41

Alcohol is physically out of your system after 10 days. The rest, unfortunately, is psychological.

Plenty of resources online to help you deal with this. You also may want to check out the Jason Vale or Allen Carr book.

nitgel · 14/04/2020 08:54

I would recommend the naked mind book. It's logical. And i think lockdown is the perfect time to quit. You dont need alcohol depression clouding your thoughts.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 14/04/2020 08:58

I polished off the last of the wine and gin last night and am going booze-free for the foreseeable. Watching with interest.

Original poster
BunniesBunniesBunnies · 14/04/2020 09:00

Wow, thanks guys!!!
Okay sounds like the benefits might not be immediate.

Yes, I just want to SLEEP all day long. Am normally an energetic person but at the moment (especially in the afternoons) I really suffer.

It has also started to dawn on me that symptoms I previously thought were hangover or tiredness (headache, irritability, poor sleep) may have actually been withdrawal😳😳😳

Eek. Thanks for the link to that thread, I will pop over!

OP posts:
TheABC · 14/04/2020 09:02

If it's any consolation, I have quit processed sugar and I had exactly the same symptoms in the past week - headache, dizzyness, lethergy - it's taken a lot of willpower to walk past the Easter eggs!

At this stage, it's easier to keep going than to quit and I am hoping to feel the benefits next week.

JungleGiraffe · 14/04/2020 09:13

It has also started to dawn on me that symptoms I previously thought were hangover or tiredness (headache, irritability, poor sleep) may have actually been withdrawal😳😳😳

A hangover IS withdrawal.

EIsaCragg · 14/04/2020 10:33

Hi, just popping over from the stopping alcohol thread linked to above. It's a lovely, supportive and non-judgmental thread, by the way.

Everyone is different. I felt better from day 1 (no hangovers), but it took me a month to get better quality sleep. Around the same time came the realisation that I cut not cut down, but needed to quit completely.

I also recommend Annie Grace and Allen Carr. Smile

Original poster
BunniesBunniesBunnies · 14/04/2020 19:52

Thank you Elsa! I just read your recent post on the other thread too. Thanks for taking the time to recommend those things😊

OP posts: