The first 48 hours are some of the worst with withdrawal symptoms such as: tremors, vomiting, nausea, profuse sweating, anxiety and paranoia. Cravings for alcohol will be intense as our body looks for a solution to the pain and discomfort. For up to 72 hours the withdrawal symptoms will be at their most severe.
When a person stops drinking, their brain is still producing extra chemicals, which can potentially cause unpleasant alcohol withdrawal symptoms that are associated with overstimulation. The brain will readjust, but until it does, a person in withdrawal might feel unwell.
The First Two Weeks
Most people will stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms in less than a week, in which time their body will begin to restore its normal function and quality of life can already improve considerably.
Symptoms/outcomes you may see
Onset of withdrawal symptoms which may include hand tremors, retching, excessive sweating, restlessness and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms continue. Alcohol cravings, reduced energy and feeling low or depressed are common. Sleep is likely to be disturbed.
That's why you end up feeling tired the day after drinking. Two weeks off alcohol will help you reset your sleep cycle, getting you into a regular and undisturbed pattern. You'll wake more refreshed and alert each day, helping to boost your concentration and performance at work and play.
However, by day 4 without alcohol, most people will have got beyond any initial withdrawal symptoms. All the alcohol will have left your system by now, and your body will begin to bounce back. If you're not as focused on alcohol, you may be eating better, drinking water, moving more, and perhaps sleeping more deeply.
Healing can begin as early as a few days to weeks after you stop drinking, but if the damage is severe, healing can take several months.
When you stop drinking, you have the opportunity to: Improve your mood, anxiety, and stress levels. Get better sleep and feel more rested. Focus on having better relationships with your friends and family.
You might find yourself in a better mood
Alcohol can ease emotions in the short term, but once the alcohol begins to wear off, it can actually create more anger, depression and anxiety. Plus, after three weeks without alcohol you will almost certainly be sleeping better, which also has mood-improving benefits.
Like any drug, alcohol produces intense cravings for a person when they try to stop. This is one of the major barriers people face when they are trying to stay sober.
What do you mean by heavy drinking? For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.
When you suddenly stop drinking, your body has become accustomed to overproducing glutamate and under-producing GABA so you can become over-excitable, anxious, and shaky. The majority of people will recover from these withdrawal symptoms and normally the physical symptoms will subside after 72 hours.
Better mental health
Regular, heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that are vital for good mental health. So, while you might initially feel relaxed after a drink, alcohol can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. And stopping drinking could make feelings of stress easier to deal with.
The similarities between simplicity and sobriety are fascinating. Both lead to less decision fatigue, better health, less spending, and deeper connections. I noticed these things and other benefits listed here about 100 days after I stopped drinking.
Depending on the organ and whether there is relapse, functional recovery is possible. Even after years of heavy alcohol use, the liver has a remarkable regenerative capacity and, following alcohol removal, can recover a significant portion of its original mass and function.
Even if you only have one or two drinks a day, your liver can't cope and can't repair itself, but you don't have to become a 'tea-totaller' to fix it. Your liver needs at least 48 hours without alcohol to repair itself. Cutting back your daily intake won't help your liver.
Depending on how much you drank, your starting weight, your age, and how you've treated diet and exercise since you stopped drinking, it's not uncommon to lose anywhere between 6-15 pounds after a month without alcohol.
Going even 7 days alcohol free can help reduce your anxiety and depression levels and help your brain chemicals come back in balance.
If you remove alcohol from your body for an entire month, you may find that you have an easier time sleeping through the night, which will give you more energy during the day. If you stop drinking alcohol for a whole month, you can reduce the stress placed on your GI tract. It could help you with bloating.