Christmas has just passed and many of us found ourselves coming back into work with terrible hangovers and headaches that we can’t seem to get rid of. What’s worse is that you feel like all the work you did around the year to reduce your intake went down the drain. But there’s no reason to lose hope.

Even if you did let loose a little during the holiday season there are still a number of benefits to reducing your alcohol intake that can motivate you to stay on course.

First, lets talk about how there are two types of alcohol intakes, one is the normal regular basis consumption and the other is substance abuse meaning the over consumption of alcohol on a daily basis and using it as a drug rather than just a drink. People consume alcohol for many reasons such as:

1.       Social gatherings where you enjoy a drink a two while catching up with your friends and family
2.       In some circumstances an individual is forced to drink and engage in other activities, such peer pressure is more likely to come from high school or college students
3.       Some people drink away their feelings, stress and anxiety and use alcohol as a coping mechanism
4.       Family history of alcohol abuse or high consumption of alcohol can pass one from one generation to another. Ethanol slows down one's central nervous system and has a direct effect on the reward centre of the brain which changes their drinking pattern and they develop tolerance for hangovers. This explains why some people drink more than usual and still don’t get as drunk as any other person.
5.       Alcohol is also considered as meditation as it helps one escape reality and have a good time instead. This helps them to have a good time with the constant buzz and ‘high’ feeling only to wake up later with a terrible headache and no recollection of the night.

How does quitting alcohol affect your body?

If occasional drinking has led you to allowing substances to take control of you then it’s best to cut out the alcohol from your life and seek therapy or join a group where people have a similar experience as yours. There’s nothing to be ashamed about as the scientific meaning of alcohol is “psychoactive drug”.

You can also follow a few tips to control your temptations when in public such as trying something new such as gaming, socializing, cooking, exercising etc and investing your time into that activity or cutting yourself away from the people that are likely to expose you to alcohol related situations, at least till you get a grip of yourself.

Decreasing your intake has the following effects:

•         Less risk of facing accidents
•         Getting a better sleep at night and always waking up to a healthy morning
•         Less risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer
•         Weight Loss
•         Improving your relationships
•         Healthier lungs and liver
•         Boosts your brain function
•         Your immune system gets stronger
•         Stable blood pressure

While cutting out excessive drinking has its health benefits to your liver and heart it also puts your body at multiple risks of psychological effects. Sudden detox can contribute to depression and anxiety and can also make one suicidal.

Some people start leaning towards drugs and cigarettes as an alternative and start depending on those. The person is also at a risk of withdrawal and relapse hence a close eye should be let out on those people.