Drinking alcohol is commonplace in our society. It’s available at nearly every event, tourist attraction, grocery store, and restaurant, so you may encounter the opportunity to drink many times in your day-to-day life. While drinking alcohol can be harmless, there are many reasons not to drink. Sobriety is beneficial to your health and alcohol use can lead to serious problems both socially and health-wise.
Our Path to Recovery Detox Center offers specialized treatment for those struggling with drug addiction in Pasadena, California. One of the substance use disorders we treat is alcohol abuse. It’s never too late to stop drinking! Here you’ll find inspiration and reasons to stop drinking.
Why You Should Quit Drinking
Deciding to quit drinking alcohol is the first step toward living a healthy, sober life. Although drinking is fine in moderation and can be fun, there are many reasons you may want to stop drinking alcohol. Here are a few reasons to stop drinking:
- Alcohol is an addictive substance and can lead to a substance use disorder.
- Drinking increases your impulsivity, which can cause you to act recklessly.
- Drinking alcohol can negatively impact your appearance. Excessive use of alcohol can lead to unhealthy weight gain and damage your skin.
- Alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle and can cause exhaustion.
- Alcohol use can contribute to major health problems such as liver disease.
- Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers.
- It negatively affects your long and short-term memory.
- Using alcohol may inhibit your performance at work or home.
- Drinking can cause relationship issues with friends, partners, children, and other family members.
- Alcohol depresses your central nervous system and can be harmful to your heart and lungs.
- Frequent alcohol use can get very expensive and create financial issues for you.
- Drinking alcohol may cause you to develop or worsen mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Benefits of Sobriety
Choosing to become sober can have a very positive impact on your mental, emotional, social, and physical health. While many can enjoy an occasional drink with no risk, sobriety offers benefits that lead to a more fulfilling life of health and happiness. Here are a few benefits of sobriety to consider:
Improved Physical Health
Frequent or long-term alcohol use can lead to serious health issues. It also increases your risk of developing stomach, oral, esophageal, breast, and pancreatic cancers. When you stop drinking, you give your body a chance to cleanse itself of harmful substances and once that’s done, your body can operate more efficiently.
One physical benefit of this is that your sleep pattern can return to normal and good sleep is great for brain function and your skin. You’ll also reduce your risk of heart disease which is a common concern for individuals who drink. Lastly, people who become sober often lose weight they may have been gaining due to alcohol use. When you stop drinking, you likely will look and feel healthier.
Improved Mental Health
Since alcohol is a depressant, drinking often causes feelings of sadness or loneliness. Those who drink to depress feelings, such as anxiety, often find that when the effects of the alcohol wear off, their anxiety symptoms worsen. Sobriety can give you clarity and provide you with more mental focus. This strengthens your ability to manage your mental health.
Better sleep also benefits your mental health like it does physical health. Being well-rested enables you to better balance your mood and decreases anxiety symptoms. When you stop drinking, you may experience this benefit right away.
Better Relationships
Substance use can strain relationships, but sobriety helps you to be more present when you’re with your loved ones. Drinking alcohol can have negative effects on your ability to make decisions. This may create problems with your partner, friends, or family members. But to try to be sober in these social situations, you may find that sound judgment makes you easy to get along with. Your relationships may also improve with sobriety because other emotional or physical issues caused by a drinking habit can be resolved.
Increased Productivity
Sobriety also helps you maintain higher energy levels. This is because your sleep and brain functioning is improved when you don’t drink. Having more energy may encourage you to try new things, which may lead to new hobbies and relationships. Being able to be more productive may also provide you with more success at work and home. In this way, your sober living will help you achieve your career goals and personal goals.
Financial Stability
Alcohol can be expensive, especially if consumed regularly. People with alcohol addiction may find it difficult to manage their money due to reckless behavior, poor decision-making, and the cost of obtaining the substances they crave. Quitting alcohol can lead to significant financial savings that can be used for other things such as travel or hobbies.
Increased Fertility
Alcohol can have a negative impact on fertility in women. It can disrupt hormone levels and menstrual cycles, making it more difficult to conceive. If you’re trying to get pregnant, quitting alcohol can help improve your chances. Sobriety can also help encourage a more consistent sex drive.
Higher Self-Esteem
Quitting alcohol can lead to improved self-esteem and self-confidence. Often drinking can contribute to feelings of sadness, loneliness, or worthlessness. But quitting drinking may help you feel more in control of your life. And you’ll be able to achieve more of your goals and feel accomplished.
Do I Have A Drinking Problem?
If you’re wondering whether you might have a drinking problem, there are signs that you can try to identify for yourself. Here are the signs or symptoms of alcoholism:
- You find it difficult to stop drinking once you start: People with addiction find it difficult to function without the substance they crave. You may develop a tolerance for alcohol and drink more than you intend to whenever you do drink.
- You have strong cravings for alcohol: You may experience intense cravings for alcohol and have the urge to drink often.
- You make drinking a priority: Alcoholics often neglect other responsibilities in their life and prioritize getting and drinking alcohol.
- You’re unable to quit despite negative consequences that occur: Once you develop an alcohol addiction, it’s very difficult to stop without professional help. Even the consequences of drinking cannot be enough to convince you that you don’t need the substance.
- You have tried to stop drinking alcohol but were unsuccessful: Many people with an alcohol use disorder try to stop drinking, but their period of sobriety doesn’t last. A professional addiction treatment program can help reduce the risk of relapse.
- You realize that you need to drink more to achieve the same effect that alcohol once had on you: After drinking large amounts of alcohol frequently, you develop a tolerance for alcohol, meaning that more is required for you to feel the effects of drinking.
- When you stop drinking, you experience withdrawal symptoms: You may have a drinking problem if you experience symptoms such as nausea, headaches, stomach pain, irritability, or mood swings when you stop drinking for a time. These are withdrawal symptoms and you should seek professional medical assistance to treat these side effects.
Resources To Help You Stop Drinking
When you decide you want to abstain from alcohol you may be able to quit on your own, but this can be difficult, especially if you have a drinking problem. Luckily, there are many resources available to help you stop drinking.
You could join a support group where you’ll meet other people like you who struggle with alcohol abuse. Support is crucial when trying to quit a bad habit. In a support group, you may make new friends and find the motivation to stay sober. This is one reason group counseling and group activities are a part of our addiction treatment services at Path to Recovery.
If you’re drinking problem is alcohol addiction, you will need professional help and should consider a treatment center. The types of treatment can include medical detox, inpatient rehabilitation, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient therapy, medication assisted-treatment, outpatient rehab, and relapse prevention care.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Path to Recovery Detox
At Path to Recovery Detox, we offer detox services for treating alcohol addiction and various other substances. We believe in helping you reclaim your destiny back in Pasadena, California. Our experienced staff is comprised of registered and certified case managers, professionals, and technicians to assist you on your road to recovery.
If you want to achieve long-term sobriety for yourself, check out some of our treatment programs, including, individual and group counseling, treatment, and evaluation of co-occurring mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. We will also develop a comprehensive individual treatment plan for you. This will include a process to help achieve all your recovery goals, taking into account your situation, strengths, and needs. Contact us today to learn more about how Path to Recovery can help you stop drinking.