When does the sober glow happen?

[Maisa45]

I have had a problem with alcohol since I was 18 (now 31) and over the past year it has really accelerated due to stress so I have finally admitted my problem and started to tackle it. I am on my 12th sober day which is the longest I've gone without alcohol for years (excluding pregnancy).

I have seen some minimal benefits such as reduction in bloating and sleeping better but disappointingly I still for the most part look and feel crap. My eye puffiness has gone away but I still feel so ugly. I was really hoping the appearance of my fine lines and wrinkles would be reduced and that I would generally just look nicer but I don't.

I want to stick with sobriety for a lot of reasons (mental health, finances, health) but my looks were a major factor. I have aged since having my DD four years ago and I haven't coped well with it. I know it's really vain and shallow and I'm very lucky in a lot of ways but I want to cry every time I look in the mirror and see my wrinkles and crap hair. I used to be so pretty and I didn't even realise it at the time.😪

Anyway sorry this has turned into a real pity party! I guess my emotions are coming out now I'm no longer drinking. My main question was if you started to look better, how long did it take?

Thanks for reading!

12 days is an amazing achievement so well done. You should be really prpud of yourself
Sorry I can't answer how long it will take for you to feel better but there's so many products you can buy now for skin issues. The ordinary brand is good and really reasonably priced. Try the AHA 30% peeling solution. Have a look at reviews online first
And maybe treat yourself to a really hydrating moisturiser/facial oil. You can get decent cheap ones, doesn't have to cost loads. I like superdrugs own face masks. I know alcohol can dry the skin out so might just need a good moisture boost.

@Rosequartz48 Thank you so much ❤I already have an intensive skincare routine and I love The ordinary products. I did actually think about the AHA peeling solution but I'm a bit nervous! Have you used it?

Wow 12 days is amazing.. can I ask how much you were drinking? I'm on holiday at the moment but going to try when I get back. I'm on a slippery slope of using wine to numb out life x

I think it takes a few weeks. If you are on Twitter have a look at ASoberLady. She’s been sober for almost two years and has some photos of the difference. I first came across her on there and the difference is pretty remarkable.

also make sure you are drinking lots of water and take a good multivitamin and maybe some Vit B12.

@Maisa45 😊😊 yeah I tried it and it's really good. I left it on for 5 minutes as it stings a bit but my skin felt tighter afterwards and more even toned. I think it's recommend to use once or twice a week but I'm sticking to one just incase it's a bit harsh. Just don't get it in the eye contour like I did 🙄

Well done, you're doing great!!

I was a late stage alcoholic so the differences were quicker and noticable. I'd also stopped having my hair done and just dressing was effort so I was immediately looking after myself better.

For me though, a huge part of the sober glow comes from inside. It comes from proudness at sobreity, from finding the joy in life in again, from living life being grateful for your health, from overcoming your demons. And that's what shines through and really brings the glow. Be proud of yourself.

Probably about a litre/litre 1/2 of spirits a week plus 2-3 cans of alcoholic energy drink such as Dragon Soop or the caffeinated WKD cans. I've been reading about the link between alcohol and breast cancer and I just can't live in denial any more.

Well done! Could you save the money you would be spending on alcohol put it in a pot and use it to treat yourself to Botox? I think that’s the only way to actually get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. Obviously a good skin care routine and hydration helps but ultimately it’s limited what it can do.

@Peridot1 Wow I've just checked out her pics and the difference is huge! I do take a B12 supplement as well as vit D and zinc.

@theemmadilemma Thank you. I know I should try to be more positive and stop focusing on my looks so much. It's become an unhealthy obsession. Congrats to you on your sobriety too ❤

Well done! I'd say a month to see a real change.

Sadly I can't get Botox for ethical reasons related to animal testing. I have tried microneedling but as you say nothing really gets rid of wrinkles like Botox does.

Well done on your 12 days! I'm a recovering alcoholic and know how tough it is. Im 50.
Make sure you are taking thiamin B1 as your body will be depleted of it.
Re skin, I follow a normal routine with added vit c serum. Thankfully I do not have many lines - very lucky.
However I'm treating myself to dermaplaning on Monday (£35) as heard great things for making your skin brighter and softening fine lines. My hair dresser has it and said she only needs to have it done every 4 months so much cheaper than buying the alcohol that I used to.
Good luck on your journey, I was way down the line of alcoholism and I did it.
Getting into exercise and healthy food really helped me focus on getting fitter stronger and healthier.
I wish you well on your journey.
I shall post again after my dermaplaning session Monday afternoon to report on what it's like and the results.

Ah okay, what about using the money for regular facials then? It gives you something to look forward to and should get that glowing look!

Why dont you treat yourself to a facial with the money you're probably saving? I recommend hydra facial- expensive but very effective.

Spend the money you would have spent on alcohol on salon treatments - hair and a facial or two?

I certainly wouldn't go down the dermaplaining road though!

There's probably not a lot you can do for fine wrinkles, most people do start to get them in their 30s.

If you were drinking a bottle of wine a day (I'm guessing) that's at least £80 you've saved already!

Congratulations on 12 days, op 🏆

Especially given how much alcohol you've cut out, I think its a real achievement.

Skin often takes 3-4 months to really see the benefit of any positive, healing change because this is the average cell turnover time.

Take a before pic and check again at the end of the summer and I'm sure you'll see a bigger difference than you'll have noticed :)

In the meantime, keep focusing on the other wonderful benefits of sobriety to keep your motivation up. You're doing brilliantly.

You could also try collagen supplements and 'face yoga' (facial massage). Done daily it cam have great results (I don't have the discipline myself!)

Put all the money you have saved by not drinking to one side and treat yourself.

If botox isn't out of the running financially, could you consider counselling?

Many people who sober up have had some sort of counselling along the way.

What I said above was true about it shining through from inside. If you look at the sober glow up pictures, notice how everyone's eyes are brighter, more open, how their face shows actual happiness, healthy joy. That is a not insubstantial part of the change of appearence. Honestly. Healing inside will reflect hugely outside.

Well done for deciding to quit. I've stopped for 2 months. I'm physically and mentally feeling better. I'm 51 and have been drinking since my teens, steadily building up the daily amounts. I was making myself ill and scared myself sober.
It's like a fog has been lifted. I can't believe I've been doing this to myself for so long.
My red lines on my face are not really fading BUT my face is less red. I look healthier. Less blotchy. Less puffy. Hair has more life to it. My eyes are more sparkly

Also my bank account has more money in it. I can remember what I did last night (mostly ) and I feel quite proud of myself for finally doing this. I wish I'd stopped sooner. I've wasted so much of my life prioritising alcohol.
Good luck. You can do this xx

Week 8 nearly and my hair is looking better. DH says there's more of it and I can certainly see regrowth along the hairline. Face is still blotchy, but a little better than it was. Weight is about the same, but that's probably due to my newly acquired Twirl habit!

However, the physical changes are nothing compared to being able to wake up in the morning without worrying about what I did the night before.

Stick with it and come back here for support if you find you're wobbling.

Hi there I stopped six months ago. Not really lost any weight although I have been going to the gym but I've noticed my face looking so much better in the last couple of weeks. Well done!

It’s gradual rather than sudden. Keep going x

Gradual. There’s no ta-da moment, but over time you honestly feel and look so much better.
And it continues. I assume you’re fairly young if you have a small DD. The gap between drinkers/non drinkers looks wise isn’t really pronounced until your 40s
Then it really shows. Life catches up with you when you hit 40 and you have to really look after yourself.
Youve done a great thing for your body - inside and out. Keep going x

Thanks everyone ❤️❤️