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JOIN FREE GROUP The Benefits of Sobriety

Deciding to stop drinking is a courageous and admirable choice. Although you may experience many challenges throughout your process of becoming alcohol-free, focusing on the ways sober life can change your physical and mental health for the better can encourage you to overcome obstacles and continue down the road to success. The long-term benefits you can experience when you quit drinking can help you live the happy, fulfilling life you deserve.
Image via Flickr by nano.andersonOne of the main reasons people choose to stop drinking is because they realize the negative effects alcohol has on their mental health. As noted by British Columbia's Here to Help initiative, alcohol is a depressant that affects your central nervous system, which includes your brain and spinal cord. Its impact on the central nervous system leads to slower breathing and decreased reaction times, which gradually worsen as your consumption increases. Although the effects of alcohol depend on many factors, such as your age, sex, height, weight, and genes, drinking excessively is dangerous for anyone.When you drink, you might feel that it's easier to talk to people and let go of your stress. However, this feeling is only temporary. The hangovers you might experience after drinking are harmful in many ways, including to your mental health. Maybe you've woken up the next morning and experienced intense shame or anxiety, or maybe you've found that your cognitive skills, like memory and ability to learn, aren't as sharp. When you quit drinking, you'll likely see a significant improvement in these areas.
Table of contents 1. Mental Benefits 2. Mental Focus 3. Overall Well-Being 4. Physical Benefits 5. Lower Risk of Cancer 6. Improved Sleep 7. Better Skin 8. More Energy
Mental Benefits

Mental Focus
One of the immediate changes people notice when they stop drinking is that their mental focus improves. Drinking often can lead to hangovers that make you feel confused, disjointed, tired, and unable to concentrate, even on daily tasks. Even if you don't feel sick, you might still have trouble focusing and remembering things. When you get sober, your brain can recover from many of the effects of alcohol on your cognitive processes. Even within the first day or two, you may notice that you feel more clear-headed. Over time, you may experience other beneficial effects on your focus, such as improved:- Learning.
- Problem-solving.
- Memory.
- Attention.
- Reaction time.
Better Overall Well-Being
As it affects your mental health, alcohol can distress other areas of your life. Its effect on your brain can lead to a change in mood and behaviour that's harmful to you and those around you. When you become dependent on alcohol, you might experience cravings that can lead to detrimental circumstances, such as:- Missing work because of alcohol-related illness.
- Starting arguments with loved ones who worry about your drinking.
- Forgetting about important tasks.
- Losing money or other personal property while inebriated.
- Operating a vehicle while under the influence.