Alcohol is one of the most culturally embedded products that is commonly used in our society. The popularity and oblivious innocence of drinking a glass of wine every evening, or a can of beer with friends on the weekend, makes us easily forget about the overall negative consequences of alcohol on body and mind. In fact, we might even end up treating using alcohol like every other everyday activity, especially when it accompanies social gatherings.
Don’t let alcohol fool you, though; it’s a drug just like all the other products that make you easily dependent. And just like all the other drugs, it’s not good for you or the people around you, especially when used long-term or overused.
With this realization, more and more people decide to give up alcohol temporarily, aiming for a healthier diet and lifestyle. This isn’t without reason, as there are multiple various benefits of taking up such a responsible decision. Here are several:
When Should I Consider Going for Alcohol Detox?
If you consumed three or more alcoholic beverages per day for a period of one year, you should seriously consider going through an alcohol detox treatment program. At the same time, it is important that you understand that doing this does not mean that you have to give up alcohol forever. You do not have to remain a lifelong abstainer!
Benefits for Your Brain
The most important benefit of taking some time for a solid alcohol detox regime is the improvement of the state of your brain. Regular use of alcohol leads to deterioration of brain function, impairs thinking skills, and inhibits the brain’s ability to repair itself. After giving up alcohol for merely one month, you will notice changes such as sharper focus and improved memory.
Another reason why it is highly recommended to go through a clinical alcohol detox regime is the fact that most addicts usually relapse after one or two weeks of alcohol abstinence. This happens because you are dependent on the substance, and your body and brain will begin to crave alcohol if they don’t receive it. However, if you go through an effective detox program and cleanse your body, the odds of relapse are significantly lower.
Finally, a no-booze month is also a great time to discover your self-control. It’s one of those things you tell yourself you have, but it’s never easy to test unless taking on such a task.
Benefits for Your Body
Ditching alcohol for a month can also give the rest of your body some time to regenerate. A month is just enough time for you to become more hydrated and make your metabolism work faster. Heck, you might even lose some extra pounds! It is also the right time to let your skin, nails, and hair recover from what alcohol has done to them.
One more positive thing that might happen when you give up alcohol for a month is the improvement of your overall health and wellbeing. As an addictive substance, alcohol leads to various health risks – such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease, brain damage, and regular intoxication. Eliminating it from your life can result in noticeable positive changes in your physical wellbeing.
Benefits for Your Social Life
Many people are worried that without alcohol, their social life won’t be as enjoyable anymore. That’s a very common and toxic misconception, causing people to ultimately believe they can’t have fun without at least a glass of wine. Ditching alcohol for a month will actually help to prove the exact opposite, as you will get reminded of how fun of a person you really are when you’re not intoxicated.
After a few days, the sense of clarity will come, and you will start to feel better than ever. Soon enough, you will be able to see through different kinds of situations, and you will have more confidence than ever before. You won’t have a problem with getting yourself up on a stage or starting a conversation with an attractive person – you will do that with ease.
The Bottom Line
Giving up alcohol for an entire month is a great test of self-control, but that’s not the only reason why you should give it a try. It can also tremendously improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Even having as little as two or three drinks per day can make your mood quite dependent on your level of intoxication, and you don’t ever truly realize that until you stop drinking for at least one month. Finally, this brief period of abstinence can lead to a reset in your relationship with this substance and allow you to enjoy it healthily, without the potential for abuse.
