This post was written based on an interview with Tim Kowaleski, DO, board-certified addiction medicine physician, Parkview Behavioral Health Institute.
After holiday parties and a season of indulging, many people look to the new year for a fresh start. A trend that’s been increasing in popularity is Dry January—or abstaining from alcohol for the entire month of January. Let’s learn more about the potential health benefits of not drinking alcohol for a month, as well as when to use caution in quitting.
Benefits of not drinking
Stopping a drinking habit could lead to numerous physical and mental health benefits. Within just the 30 days of Dry January, you might notice the quality of your sleep improving and that you have more energy. Without drinking so many empty calories, you may even lose weight.
You’ll likely also notice your mood improve. Many people believe that their drinking helps reduce their anxiety, but, in reality, it often makes anxiety worse. For example, if you were doing a lot of heavy drinking during the holidays, you might have felt more on edge. A break from drinking might make you feel more stable or even-keeled.
Cause for caution
Alcohol can be addictive and, depending on how much and how often you drink, quitting cold turkey for Dry January may not be a good idea. Alcohol is one of only two substances that can kill you when coming off them, as alcohol withdrawal can increase the risk of seizures. If you’re a casual drinker who just drank heavily over the holidays, you likely have nothing to worry about. However, if you’re a drinker who often has bad shakes the day after drinking or you have 6-10 drinks at a time, 3-4 times a week, then you might be at risk for alcohol withdrawal and should talk with your provider before quitting or participating in Dry January. Serious alcohol withdrawal can lead to complications, including death.
Step into a better lifestyle
Recent research suggests that there aren’t a lot of benefits to drinking alcohol. However, it has been a big part of our society for thousands of years, so many people, understandably feel like they need alcohol to be comfortable in social settings. However, if you do the work, and learn how to have fun and engage in social activities without drinking, you’ll likely find that you never really needed the alcohol in the first place.
Testing the waters with Dry January can be a great way to start yourself off on a healthy path for the new year—and you just might find that you don’t want to drink as much (or at all) after taking a month to reset.
If you have a difficult time giving up alcohol, learn get information about Substance Use Disorder and how to get help. New patients may call 260-481-2700 to schedule an evaluation and discuss a personalized treatment plan with a therapist.
