The Benefits of Sobriety: Why You Should Turn Dry January Into A Sober 2020
Dry January is a movement to abstain from drinking alcohol during the month of January.
It started in the United Kingdom a few years ago but has quickly gained popularity around the world including in the United States. The idea is to take a break from alcohol to start the new year and reap the benefits of sobriety, but why stop there?
The Benefits of Sobriety from Alcohol
As a Boca alcohol detox center, we have seen firsthand the physical, mental, social, and behavioral implications of alcoholism and drinking too much, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of just taking a break with Dry January and seeing some temporary improvements, you could stop drinking for good and see even more sober benefits.Improved Physical Health
It is no secret that alcohol can negatively affect your health. Along with increased risks of liver problems, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers, drinking can also lead to serious injuries while intoxicated. While giving up alcohol won’t magically cure your cancer, when you stop drinking, it allows your body to heal. Your blood pressure and cholesterol may improve, you may lose weight, and your risk of these serious health problems related to alcohol drops dramatically. The problem with Dry January is that it is only temporary. If you go back to drinking regularly, you will not see any lasting results related to your health.Better Mental Health
Along with the numerous physical health benefits of sobriety, there are several benefits of no longer drinking that are related to your mental health. A lot of people who struggle with poor mental health also come to rely on alcohol as a way to numb their pain. In the long run, this habit not only makes their mental health worse but can also lead to alcoholism. When this occurs, a dual diagnosis program is often necessary to help the person work through both issues, or matters are likely to get worse. Because the benefits of being sober extend to various aspects of a person’s life, even if someone doesn’t suffer from any mental health problems, their overall well-being is likely to improve when drinking stops. The result of this is improved mental health. Often, these mental health changes can take a long time to notice, so just one month may not be long enough. Also, if you go back to drinking, these improvements will likely not last.No Regrets
Drinking lowers people’s inhibitions and can lead them to do something that they regret. In the case of a blackout, the person may not even remember what they did. This could mean you wake up to some regrettable texts from last night. Instead of cringing at the phone evidence, you could avoid dealing with unwanted consequences the day after by giving up drinking altogether. Dry January is a great start, but when you go a little wild in February to celebrate making it, you could accidentally go overboard. Wouldn’t it be freeing to know that you can go out without fear of doing or saying something you will regret?Save Money
Think about all of the money you have spent on alcohol in your life. The cost of alcoholism or even just a heavy drinking habit is expensive. Not to mention any medical or legal bills that came about as a result of your drinking. Instead of essentially flushing your money down the drain, one of the many benefits of sobriety is that you can save money. The money you spent on alcohol could go toward a new home, a vacation, or any debt you have. Dry January alone will only make a dent in your financial goals.Improved Relationships
Especially if you tend to get aggressive or agitated, your personal relationships may suffer from your drinking. In some cases, this can lead to broken trust and broken relationships that can be hard to repair. One month sober will not be able to heal any serious damage, but a lifetime of sobriety could lead to vast improvements.No Hangovers
Hangovers are arguably the worse part of drinking. No one likes waking up with headaches, the spins, or an uneasy stomach. Dry January will likely only spare you a few hangovers, but getting sober for good means you could avoid them forever.Do not stop now. Dry January is just a small glimpse into the benefits of being sober. If you struggle with alcoholism but are ready to get serious and get sober, our Boca rehab may be able to help.
To get more information about our substance abuse services, call us today at 888-280-4763.
Alyssa, Director of Digital Marketing
Alyssa is the National Director of Digital Marketing and is responsible for a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. All articles have been written by Alyssa and medically reviewed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne.
