Stopping alcohol has several effects on the body, especially on the brain, but also on the weight, skin and psychological state of the person who regains self-confidence.
SUMMARY
- First effects
- Brain
- Liver
- Weightloss
- Deflated belly
- Tired
- Hydration
- Face
- Tremors and dizziness
The lifelong health risks of alcohol consumption increase with the amount consumed . However, the more you drink, the stronger the addiction becomes. The effects of addiction are visible during consumption but also when you stop drinking. What Happens In The Body When You Stop Alcohol? In the brain ? From when do we see the first effects ? Answers with Dr Dan Véléa, addictologist and psychotherapist psychiatrist in Paris.
When do we see the first effects?
“Once people stop drinking, there are changes in the body” , ex poses Dr Dan Véléa, addictologist psychiatrist and psychotherapist in Paris. They appear more or less quickly: “It depends on the people , continues our interlocutor. It still takes a good period of withdrawal before the person sees them, it also takes a drastic period of reduction or even total abstinence so that the skin can regain a beautiful appearance without redness for example. ” The weight loss either not done at once, but is visible and can be accelerated “with a bit of sport with a support and relaxation sessions.””It’s not a situation where you stop drinking alcohol and the next day you’re great.” warns the addictologist.
Brain: a feeling of depression, of lack
Stopping drinking alcohol is a ” long-term job “, warns the addictologist. “There can be times of euphoria and happiness when you stop drinking, but there can also be times when there is a relapse .” During weaning, a lack can be felt. ” When you stop drinking alcohol, there is less stimulation in the brain . There is less dopamine and serotonin, two molecules released as pleasure molecules in alcohol addiction.” This drop in dopamine and serotonin explains that ” To compensate for this lack, the doctor advises to turn to other practices to compensate , such as sport or work.
“The first benefit the patient notices is weight loss.”
Liver health improves
Alcohol consumption is the leading cause of cirrhosis of the liver in France and Europe, indicates the AFEF (French Association for the Study of the Liver) which recommends not to drink alcohol every day and to limit yourself to 3 glasses when the opportunity arises. About 12,000 people die each year from cirrhosis of the liver in France, half of them due to excessive alcohol consumption . Alcohol can also make other liver diseases like hepatitis C worse . To see if your liver is affected, a blood test may be ordered . If necessary, an ultrasound of the liver can also be done.
→ If you do not have cirrhosis and if you stop consuming alcohol, the liver will be able to regenerate more or less depending on the case. “When cirrhosis is present, the liver cannot regenerate as easily as without cirrhosis. However, stopping alcohol and treating the complications of cirrhosis can, in some cases, lead to a normal life without it. no other restriction Sometimes the liver is functioning very poorly and does not improve despite stopping alcohol consumption and we can ask ourselves the question of transplantation “ explains the AFEF.
Weight loss, especially fat
“Alcohol contains a lot of calories and fat, so automatically, a person who stops drinking will see his fat mass decrease,” says Dr. Véléa. “This is the first benefit that the patient who stops drinking alcohol will notice.” In addition, the drugs used in the context of withdrawal (called “anti-cravings”: in French, “craving” means “compulsive cravings”) ” are drugs which play a role in food compulsions”. This means that there is a reduction in the desire to drink but also a reduction in the desire to eat.
A deflating belly
When alcohol is stopped, the stomach is less swollen. “A swollen belly is typical of beer drinkers for example, they are very thin people with large bellies because of alcohol, its dehydrating action on the body and the lack of water” argues the specialist. The lack of water caused by alcohol consumption causes the body to retain water which causes it to swell.
Decreased fatigue
“A person who stops drinking regains energy “, notes Dr Véléa. “When we stop excessive practice, there is a recovery from fatigue , we recover from sleep.” Why ?
→ The number of calories consumed is reduced by stopping alcohol. The body is less tired.
→ The patient sleeps more. If the person used to drink at night “everything was out of order, disturbed, which could cause a lack of sleep and nighttime awakenings.”
Hydration is better
“In the withdrawal phase, the correct use of drugs is conditioned by massive hydration with non-alcoholic drinks such as water or juice.” explains the addictologist. “It can range from 2 to 3 liters per day during weaning and after that you have to maintain good hydration.”
“Narcissistically speaking there is a reconstruction which is being done which is fundamental and beneficial”
Face: the skin is more beautiful
“People addicted to alcohol often have visible signs on their skin such as redness called rosacea. This is a typical phenomenon of vasodilation caused by alcohol,” says Dr. Véléa. Alcohol dilates the walls of blood vessels, which creates vascular fragility and leads to the signs of rosacea . When the person stops drinking alcohol, his skin will regenerate, the redness will gradually disappear, his hydration will be better. “It takes a drastic period of reduction or even total abstinence so that the skin can regain a beautiful appearance without redness for example“nevertheless specifies our interlocutor without forgetting to ” supplement by using creams recommended by dermatologists and by being careful not to be exposed too much to the sun because the skin is weakened “ .
Note: “While this type of redness could be a sign of alcohol dependence, it could also be due to something other than alcohol.”
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Tremor and dizziness stop
The tremors can be caused by lack during alcohol withdrawal. “If it was not alcoholism taken to the extreme, the tremors and dizziness gradually disappear” observes the addictologist. “When you stop drinking, it shows in your gait, in your attitude and the person regains control of their body .” Self-confidence returns, self-image becomes better… “Narcissistically speaking, there is a reconstruction taking place which is fundamental and beneficial.”
