5 Compelling Reasons to Quit Alcohol for a Healthier You
Updated: Jul 2, 2023
Perhaps second to caffeine, alcohol tops the list of is the most commonly used substances in the world. It's ranked a sheer "9" on a scale of 1-10. Of course, tobacco and cannabis follow closely at an estimated rank of "8" and "6".
Prescription drugs, especially stimulants like codeine and methadone are also ranked a good "6", perhaps even higher in contries like the US where, scores of people perish each year from an overdose. In 2017, the sitting president Trump even declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency.
This aside, many continue to suffer in silence, hooked in to alcohol consumption.
As of 2022, data from the WHO indicated that more than three people died each year from alcohol-related deaths.
Image: Pixabay
There are still millions out there who even when hooked to alcohol consumption, still yearn to quit with the anticipation of a better life. Whether you’re struggling with addiction to booze or your gap between being a social drinker and an alcoholic is slowly narrowing, read on.
Below are five compelling reasons you should (fight as hell to) quit alcohol for a healthier you.
Compelling Reasons to Quit Alcohol #1: It Lowers Inhibitions
The last thing you want is to find yourself in a ditch after a drinking spree. Now, countless studies have shown how alcohol consumption impairs the mind. Whatever seems wrong at one moment will, and after a few drinks, seem to be admissible. Having a sense of control over vices won’t protect you after you’ve had one too many.
You’ve heard of car crashes that were a result of drunken driving, as well as rape cases, wife battering, and a long list of scary scenarios. If you are looking towards preserving your sanity, maintaining a scar-free face, and not ending up in a ditch, then quitting alcohol could be the best decision you’ve ever made.
#2. Quitting Booze Can Improve Your Appearance
If you are not planning to look a day, a month, or a year older, then it's about time you said no to that last glass of whiskey. There’s solid evidence that alcohol dehydrates the skin.
Over time, it reduces the skin’s elasticity, increases wrinkles, and causes red blotches on the skin (rosacea). And hey, did you know that quitting alcohol increases your chances of gaining or maintaining healthy weight? Well, now you do.
#3. Dramatic Health Changes
Excessive consumption of alcohol has been associated with an increased risk of suffering from a myriad of health issues and complications. According to WebMD’s Natalie Slivinski, these range from high blood pressure to heart disease, liver disease, stroke, and some types of cancers – such as mouth, throat, and colon cancer.
Your risk of some of these debilitating diseases will begin to drop the minute you say enough is enough and ditch that last drink. Additionally, you’ll feel much better about yourself knowing that your body systems are functioning properly.
#4. Improved Sleep Patterns
While most people take alcohol to sleep better at night, not so many alcoholics reach a restorative sleep level. Most alcoholics suffer from a condition known as the rebound effect. This means that after taking alcohol, you might only sleep for a few hours and then spend the remaining hours paying for it.
The fragmented, restless sleep promoted by alcohol will –more often than not– leave you feeling unrefreshed if not fatigued in the morning.
And if you ask any habitual drinker, nothing feels better than having rested for 7-8 hours or more in slumber and waking up not feeling hung over. You’ll wake up feeling energized and ready to take on the day’s challenges.
#5. Improved Financial Health
The money spent on that cheap bottle of wine will in the long run accumulate to a lot of money... money that could help pay for some bills, take the kids out, or buy groceries for a week. In other words, alcohol puts your financial wellness in jeopardy. If you commit yourself to an alcohol-free lifestyle, you might see significant changes in your wallet.
Who knows, you might have some change left to pay for a homeless person’s meal! This is not to mention that you’ll be more energetic each day, meaning you can work harder and better. Maintaining a sober mind will also help you become more creative and productive. Arguably, all these factors combined equate to a financially healthier you.
Helpful Tips to Quit Alcohol
Quitting alcohol is not an easy task, especially for someone who’s been consuming it for years. However, it is very much doable. Here are some useful tips you could use to help you on the journey:
Take time each day for yourself and find supportive activities like exercise or mindfulness.
Seek out support from friends and family members who understand.
Find a local group or online forum where people share their stories about quitting alcohol.
If needed, contact a professional for guidance-they know just what to do.
Avoid triggering situations such as old drinking haunts and replace them with healthier activities.
Allow yourself grace along the way, understand that this is a process, and be kind to your journey!
Addiction to alcohol is a psychological disorder that causes not only health effects but economic constraints to the addict and their family members. In many instances, it damages relationships, ruins careers, and leaves one’s overall well-being in tatters. The above are just five in a long list of many reasons to quit the bottle as soon as you can.
Note!
Recovery from alcohol addiction can be a painstaking journey, moreso if you've been hokked to the bottle for several years. of habitual drinking, misuse, or abuse. Alcoholism is a mental disorder and and a disease in some people.
If you or someone known to you is suffering from alcohol addition, the best course of action would be to consult with your nearest physician, addiction psychiatrist, medical expert, or clinical psychologist for profesional advise and personalized solution.
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