Five benefits from becoming sober and losing the hangover

The reasons for giving up alcohol are personal to each individual. For me, losing the hangover was just one of many gains from not drinking. Listed below are five positive gains I experienced from becoming sober and losing that hangover.

1-Better physical health

Once I started drinking, unfortunately I did not have a stop button. You could guarantee I would be the last to go home, if I actually went home.

My perception of risk was greatly reduced by the alcohol leading me to put myself into unsafe situations, and regularly falling over and hurting myself. The volume of alcohol my liver had to filter was dangerously high. The alcohol dehydrated me, making my kidneys work harder, slowing my digestion, drying my skin, and causing a swollen face and muscle cramps.

When I drank, I misused illegal drugs. These had additional negative impacts on my health.

Additionally, when I woke the next day, with a thumping hangover headache, I would crave junk food. This led to further weight gain in addition to my swollen face and weight increase from the calorie dense alcohol I consumed.

Therefore, my physical health improved from becoming sober, as it was no longer impacted from the alcohol, or from my behaviour the following day whilst I suffered with a hangover.

2-Better mental health

For me, no hangover means reduced anxiety. There is not the worry of what I said or did the night before. Who had I upset? What did I do? This is all bad enough, and additionally I have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder). Whether the symptoms from this, is what led me to binge drink, or the dangerous levels of alcohol I consumed impacted my brain leading me to present with these symptoms is something I can’t be sure of. What I can be sure of, is I put myself in dangerous situations due to my impulsivity, mood swings, and reckless behaviour, driven from not wanting to be with the thoughts in my head.

Alcohol alters mood which can cause anxiety, depression and irritability. My therapist helped me to realise that unless I gave up alcohol, I could not begin to heal myself.

I had dehydrated my brain and poisoned my body from alcohol for many years, so stopping drinking was not an instant fix for my difficulties. However, as each day, week, month and now years pass, my mood is much more stable, and I no longer present with BPD symptoms.

3-More time

Without the hangover, I now have more free time as I do not lose a day in bed following a drinking binge. Plus, I have the energy to do something positive with my day.

Having more time means being with your thoughts so I had to work hard to manage my mental health, explore what triggered me to drink and make changes. The great thing was that I now had the energy and time to focus on this.

4-Better relationships

Waking up with a hangover meant I cancelled many plans with family and friends at the last minute. I did not have the energy to go. I felt sick and was crippled with anxiety at times, worrying about what happened the night before. I made up excuses for why I did not turn up, which people could see through.

Once I started my sober journey, family and friends were supportive and I naturally kept to plans and looked forward to the activities.

5-More money

Not buying alcohol or the subsequent recreational drugs means a healthier bank balance. Additionally, I use taxis less which cuts another cost and people often buy a soft drink for me, as the designated driver.

Spare money means the opportunity to arrange fun activities to fill your newfound time and to reward yourself for making these positive changes.

Your drinking may not be as extreme as mine was, but even moderate alcohol use can have negative health impacts, lead to weight gain over time and eat into your money.

I became caught in a loop of drinking, waking with a hangover, losing a day in bed, eating junk food and feeling anxious. I then went out drinking again, as it was easier than facing and dealing with the reasons behind my behaviour.

I found it helpful to list the benefits I gained from becoming sober and losing my hangover the next day. This kept me motivated in the early days of sobriety. I hope it helps you too.