Have you ever made a change that drastically affected your life without expecting it? A change that positively affected many more aspects of your life than you originally thought? That’s exactly what happened to me when I quit alcohol. And now, being one year alcohol free, I’ve had time to reflect on what those changes actually are. From better health physically and mentally, to having less anger, I’m truly grateful that I made the change. Here’s why:
Reduced Anger
When I was drinking, it was a catch-22 trying to maintain that lifestyle. When I drank, I felt giddy, which is typically what happens to everyone. But, due to a combination of other factors, I wouldn’t always stay giddy. And this isn’t something that would happen every time. There were plenty of times where I managed to stay in a terrific mood while drinking. But unfortunately, the other times, I’d eventually lose control over my emotions. I really didn’t like this about myself, which is one of the reasons I decided to stop drinking.
And I’m not saying that when I quit alcohol every bit of anger in my life went away. (Obviously anger is an emotion that everyone feels from time to time. It’s just a part of life.) But what did happen, is I became more in control of experiencing my emotions in a healthy way. I was able to experience my anger in a sober state and reflect on it rather than act on it. And when I can take that time to reflect, I’m able to work my way out of that state of mind rather than get absorbed by it.
What I can say with confidence that has happened in one year without alcohol is I haven’t taken my anger too far. And I know that may sound crazy or irresponsible that I even did in the first place, but it’s something I’ve had to learn to accept about myself in order to get better. When I allowed myself to act as if there wasn’t a problem, it eventually created more problems. But when I finally decided to address my problem, it allowed me to grow!
Increased Brain Function
This may go slightly hand-in-hand with anger, because there’s no longer that substance of alcohol that’s radically affecting the way I think anymore. (Again, another thing I had to learn to admit to myself in order to get better.) But from my memory to my cognition, my brain functioning has increased dramatically in the last year. And I’m not saying that quitting drinking made me smarter – I’ve always been a little academically inclined and I’ve always been accepting of that. But the way my brain functions and operates is a little different than when I was drinking – in a good way.
In fact, a study done by SAMSA shows that this is typical when someone quits alcohol. As it turns out, drinking can cause the part of our brains that’s responsible for memory and learning to shrink. Abstaining from alcohol not only helps reverse negative affects on thinking skills like problem solving, memory, and attention, but puts us back in control of the development of our brains. For me, this was a crucial part in helping me stay sober.
For example, I have always been an organized person, even when I was drinking. But it got to the point where I was confusing times, forgetting about something I needed to do because I didn’t write it down, etc. And it drove me crazy. I was beginning to feel like I wasn’t in control over anything in my life anymore and I was always feeling rushed or panicked like I was forgetting something. Since I’ve been alcohol free, I can remember important dates and times without writing it down. I can relax from time to time knowing that there’s not something important I’m forgetting anymore. And I feel more in control again!
Better Overall Health
At this point, if you’ve been following me long enough, it’s no surprise to you that I’ve had my bought with certain health issues. But, drinking brought on a whole other set of health issues that I didn’t realize at the time. Even now, there are positive effects at work in my body because I made the decision to stop drinking, whether I’m fully aware of them or not. From less anxiety to improved sleep, and even enhanced nutrition. Better immune system, lower risks for health diseases, it’s really amazing how quitting alcohol can benefit us now and in the long run.
For me, I’ve personally seen the difference it’s made for my anxiety. I do want to point out that I am currently taking a low-dose medication to help with my anxiety. But this isn’t something I ever considered when I was drinking. I remember having really bad panic attacks though where I would end up on the ground crying and feeling completely overwhelmed. I’ve experienced this since early childhood due to trauma, but these were worse. I was having outbursts, irrational fits, and sometimes began to hyperventilate. I didn’t know it at the time, but alcohol was a factor.
My sleep has improved and my diet has improved slightly. (I still could eat a more varied nutritious diet, but I’m eating more regularly and remembering to stay hydrated. And without even knowing it, my immunity has improved, my cardiovascular system has improved, and I’ve lowered my risk for stroke, cancer, and heart-attack all from eliminating alcohol from my body. It doesn’t take a full year for this to happen either! Within 1-2 weeks without alcohol, our bodies are vastly improved!
Positive Changes
So like I said in the beginning, have you ever made a drastic change that’s positively affected your life without you knowing? If so, please share in the comments below! This is a community where we are here for each other’s challenges, celebrate each other’s victories, and be unapologetically ourselves! And if you’ve been waiting for a sign to make that change you’ve been wanting to make, take this as your sign. I know you can do it and so do you. Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be!(:
With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma
