Quitting alcohol can feel impossible when you struggle with an addiction. Alcoholism is a prevalent concern in the United States, affecting more than 15 million people – luckily, quitting is possible. You do not have to feel trapped under the weight of your alcohol addiction. Many treatments and options exist to help you stop drinking and improve your life in many ways. Let’s take a look at why quitting alcohol far outweighs drinking and why you should act to overcome alcohol addiction today.
Better Overall Health When You Overcome Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is not a healthy substance, and chronic drinking takes a heavy toll on your mental and physical health. When you drink, your body is required to work overtime to process the drug. Your liver works harder to metabolize, and your brain works hard to try and calibrate itself under the effects of alcohol. Meanwhile, your heart and lungs work at rapid speeds.
Alcohol also numbs the brain. When you stop drinking, the communication between your neurons and neurotransmitters begins to normalize. Therefore, after a period without alcohol, your entire body begins to return to processing how it should, which allows it to focus its energy on other necessary tasks.
You might contend that drinking helps relieve stress, though when you drink to excess, alcohol can cause you to make choices you regret. Over time, drinking can prey on your emotional balance, causing severe chemical and hormonal imbalances that can make your mood swing between discomfort, shame, regret and remorse. Eventually, your mental health may decline, and you may feel stressed and burned out from all the emotional spikes and swings. One of the most significant benefits of stopping drinking is that it normalizes your emotional, hormonal and chemical imbalances.
Social Stability
When drinking becomes a problem, it can lead to isolation. It can make you feel guilty and ashamed, causing you to feel like you deserve to be alone. You can also forget that there are people in the world that love and support you and want you to get better. Isolation can be dangerous – it lends the illusion that alcohol is the only constant pillar of stability in your life and can offer a false sense of safety. When you stop drinking, your connections become richer; you are now forming healthier and more authentic relationships with friends and family.
Because alcoholism is isolating, you might find it difficult to know who to reach out to or who to trust. At New Hope Ranch, we offer resources for individuals struggling to overcome addiction. Among the many options are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and other 12-step programs in Texas. When you become concerned that you are exhibiting the signs of alcoholism, there are options for you. You might have lost trust in the friends and family members in your life because you either hurt them in the past, they hurt you, or you enable each other to continue drinking. AA centers around the idea that compassion is the key to sobriety.
12-step programs operate to give you a safe space to connect with others. AA offers both in-person and online meetings to ensure that you can always be present. 12-step programs all work to open up a world of friendships, trust and provide a new lease on life.
New Activities
Alcohol inhibits the brain’s ability to focus, particularly on small tasks. Drinking also takes up a lot of time in your day. Drinking is so time-consuming that becoming bored during early recovery is common – you have so much extra time. One of the greatest gifts of recovery is having the opportunity to pursue healthy hobbies and activities. Some take to exercise, others like music and some like to go fishing. There is no wrong answer when choosing a healthy hobby; it can even lead to more social growth opportunities or a career. You will enjoy having much more time and energy to focus on doing the things you love without being interrupted by alcohol.
Making Amends
Everybody has done something they regret at some point in their life. Sometimes, when under the weight of your addiction, you might dismiss the opportunity to reconcile within and with others. However, when you overcome your drinking addiction, you can move forward to make amends. An essential part of recovery is going through the process of forgiving yourself and others. Throughout your journey, you will learn the difference between apologizing and making amends to move forward with your life. Taking these measures helps you repair the relationship with yourself and others. Making amends helps give you a fresh start toward the future.
New Perspective
When you overcome alcohol addiction, you give yourself a new lease on life. Without the burdens of exhaustion, hangovers and illness, you will have much more time to focus on your goals. Maybe you want to go back to school or write a book, or perhaps you want to start a family. Whatever your dreams, when you eliminate alcohol, you open all-new possibilities. Having a positive perspective will continue to help you grow your support groups, build your confidence and empower yourself to take control of your life.
Quitting alcohol for good can help you feel healthier, be more aware and feel more accomplished in your life. At New Hope Ranch in Manor, Texas, we will provide the attention and treatment needed to help you through your initial treatment process. Whether you are helping a friend overcome drinking or need help for yourself, New Hope Ranch accepts all and will meet every individual wherever they’re at in life and recovery. You don’t have to feel trapped under the weight of addiction any longer; seek help today. To learn more, call New Hope Ranch at (737) 600-8565.