May 20, 2024
I have not had a drink in 8 years! And the year 2024 adds up to 8! How auspicious is this? If you ask the numerology gurus what this all means, they will tell you:
The number eight is considered a good omen, the rainbow after a storm, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Experts agree that while there will still be plenty of challenges in the coming year, 2024 is a year of hope, growth, expansion, prosperity, and success. It’s time to embrace a new outlook on life and trust that your experiences can help carry you through the unknown toward a greater calling.
If you too want to join this period of growth and expansion, it’s a good idea to make the conscious effort to quit drinking alcohol as a great first step toward healthy sober living. Alcohol use creates a veil through which real life becomes dim and unreal, it’s an unnatural escape from the pain of living and coping with the past, the present and the future. You may have been drinking for years or a few months but deciding to stop using alcohol will help to lift that veil and bring clarity to your life – physically, mentally and emotionally. Facing the hard is not easy and where there is discomfort there is growth – the question is, can you do it and do you want to do it? For you, your family and your destiny on planet Earth.
These are my 8 auspicious reasons to stop drinking in 2024:
Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a spectrum disorder and can be mild, moderate, or severe and encompasses the conditions that some people refer to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or the colloquial term, alcoholism. Alcohol addiction refers to the moderate to severe end of the AUD spectrum.
The impact of alcohol on relationships is widespread and can affect every single relationship a person is a part of. From intimacy problems and lack of emotional availability to the financial burden and negative effects on children, alcohol use disorder can affect partners, their children and other family members.
When you give up drinking it can seem like all of the fun things you used to do go with it. Most of our social lives revolve around alcohol, which not only is unhealthy but can lead to the slippery slope of addiction. Choosing to live alcohol-free may seem like a daunting task, but all you need to do is find things that can replace drinking.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that causes brain activity to slow down. Alcohol has sedative effects that can induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness, but the consumption of alcohol — especially in excess — has been linked to poor sleep quality and duration. People with alcohol use disorders commonly experience insomnia symptoms. Studies have shown that alcohol use can exacerbate the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions. Drinking alcohol is associated with a risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, including alcohol dependence, and major noncommunicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, some cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
The science on heavy drinking and the brain is clear: The two don’t have a healthy relationship. People who drink heavily have alterations in brain structure and size that are associated with cognitive impairments. But according to a new study, alcohol consumption even at levels most would consider modest—a few beers or glasses of wine a week—may also carry risks to the brain. An analysis of data from more than 36,000 adults, led by a team from the University of Pennsylvania, found that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with reductions in overall brain volume.
As we all know, alcohol is often considered a social lubricant that can help people feel more relaxed and confident in social situations. However, the downside of relying on alcohol to feel confident is that it can have negative health consequences, and can also lead to addiction and dependency issues. Thankfully, there are many other ways to feel confident without the need for liquid courage.
Addiction changes the brain in a way that limits your ability to feel happy. In time, and with sobriety, the brain heals and learns to send the right cues again. Like most things learned, it takes practice. Happiness won’t automatically return in your sobriety. If you’ve been looking for happiness, take charge. You can change it with your thoughts, choices and actions.
Check out more of my stories about being sober and happy here and let me know how you are doing!
