So, I recently made a pretty big life decision: I decided to give up alcohol. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a decision I have made many times. I have given up alcohol probably a 1000 times in my life so far. “I’m never drinking again” I say on a Saturday morning, followed by “should we have wine with dinner?” on a Sunday. This time it is a little different because so far, I’ve made the decision and stuck to it for 12 weeks! No more wine with dinner, no more cocktails on a night out, and definitely no more Saturday morning hangovers. It’s been a journey, and I wanted to share my experience.
Why?
First off, let’s talk about why I decided to quit. It wasn’t because of any dramatic incident or health scare. There was no rock bottom moment and I was sticking quite sensibly to the recommended 14 units a week prior to quitting (I track my drinking on the Try Dry app). I was using alcohol to unwind after a stressful day, to socialize, and sometimes just out of habit. However over time I just started to notice that my relationship with alcohol wasn’t as healthy as I wanted it to be. Sometimes I felt like I needed alcohol to numb an unpleasant emotion and reflecting on this I realised that drinking to avoid things in life that I find unpleasant is like turning the lights off so you don’t see the mess in the house. Sure, I can’t see the mess any more, but I still know it’s there. Plus, I was tired of feeling sluggish and unmotivated the day after drinking. The older I get the less easily I bounce back and my energy levels were at an all time low. I wanted to see what life would be like without it. I felt that the money I spent on alcohol was totally wasted. It was not adding a positive benefit to my life, and not only did I have to waste energy working to earn money to buy the alcohol, I also had to then waste more energy exercising to try and burn off the calories just to get back to square 1. I felt it was actually sending me down a negative spiral with my mood so I did some research with the help of a book “the easy way to control alcohol” by Allen Carr, and decided it had to go.
The First Few Days
The first few days were a rollercoaster, I won’t lie, at times it was tough. I was very motivated to stay sober, but without my regular dopamine hit at the weekends (and occasionally on a week day) my life felt flat and I was very tearful and depressed on some days. I tried to replace the drinking with exercise to get a buzz, but this left me physically exhausted and I have to admit there were times when I felt like life was just totally unmanageable. At one point in the first couple of months I decided my only options were to go back to drinking, or run away leaving my family and my job and live in a cabin in the woods because I didn’t think I could handle life without it.
I don’t feel like that now. I’m only 3 months in but I have had a clear month without these crazy thoughts and it was another book that helped me through. Dopamine nation by Dr Anna Lembke. This book explained how the dopamine levels can fluctuate causing both pleasure and pain, and giving up an addictive substance or behaviour can take weeks for our brains to reset. This was reassuring, I didn’t run off into the woods and my life is looking and feeling brighter now I am pleased to report.
Support
Through these first few weeks I have supported myself by reading, joining online communities via apps and Instagram and by listening to podcasts. I make a daily pledge each morning, and do an end of day review to keep my goals fresh in my mind. Also there are many, many helpful videos on Youtube that are just great to listen to when ever the craving strikes! There are also countless support options available for people who feel they need more support. For example :
The Benefits
Now, let’s get to the good stuff. The benefits of giving up alcohol have been amazing. Here are a few things I’ve noticed even in this short time:
Better Sleep: I’m sleeping like a baby these days. No more waking up in the middle of the night feeling dehydrated or restless.
More Energy: I have so much more energy throughout the day. I’m more productive at work and have more motivation to exercise.
Clearer Skin: My skin has never looked better. No more dullness or breakouts.
Weight Loss: I’ve lost a few pounds without even trying. Cutting out those empty calories really makes a difference and better still it seems to have come off my waist which makes me look and feel so much better.
Mental Clarity: I feel more clear-headed and focused. My mood has improved, and I’m less anxious.
Social Life
I’ll be honest, my social life was not amazing before I quit alcohol. Our kids have busy schedules with sport and my husband and I mostly just facilitate their social lives. I often felt we just can’t commit to social occasions as we end up cancelling because of an unexpected football match or gymnastics competition. However, since giving up alcohol my social life has actually got a lot better. Once my energy levels improved I started reaching out to old friends who I had lost touch with. Rather than suggesting we meet for drinks, I suggested a walk or trip to the local café. By stretching my brain cells to come up with social activities that naturally don’t involve alcohol I’ve found new ways to enjoy time with friends and family. I’ve even signed up for an allotment and joined an adult cheerleading team.
Final Thoughts
Giving up alcohol has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I am fairly early on in my journey, but so far I have no regrets. It’s not always easy, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. If you’re thinking about cutting back or quitting altogether, I encourage you to give it a try. You might be surprised at how much better you feel. Thanks for reading, and alcohol free cheers to a healthier, wealthier, happier life!
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