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-   -   Alcohol and physical appearance/health (https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/newcomers-recovery/464403-alcohol-physical-appearance-health.html)

Winefreesophie 02-10-2024 02:16 PM

Alcohol and physical appearance/health
 
Hi there - thanks so much for this forum. I’m just finishing up day 13 AF after ten plus years of pretty much daily drinking.

I’m curious as to the changes that everyone has seen in their physical appearance/heath as a result of being free of alcohol. I appreciate that many benefits are mental, and also allow better choices in other ways. But how has simply quitting alcohol benefited your body in a way you can feel? I can already notice my red, blotchy skin getting clearer. What other aches, pains, ailments, bits of your body look better for you?

ThatWasTheOldMe 02-10-2024 02:24 PM

Well I'm no longer in danger of going into liver failure at a moment's notice :)

My stomach is mostly normal now too. And my sleep has improved. Also, alcohol withdrawal was the most horrible thing I've ever experienced. Never again, my friend. I don't drink.

Oglsby 02-10-2024 02:57 PM

Physically, everything will improve for you. Your eyes, your skin, your hair, the whites of your eyes---all of it. Drink lots of water and eat very nutritious foods.
Internally--Heartburn will go away if you have it, digestion will be way better, and as TWTOM said, INCREDIBLE sleep.

You have everything to gain. I look at least 5 solid years younger, and you will glow.

Congrats on your sober journey!!!

Pekelover2 02-10-2024 03:00 PM

Not a daily drinker. When I’ve taken a break from drinking the physical results are remarkable:
1. Less edema overall
2. Face is less bloated
3. Pallor is more even/uniform
4. Nose is slimmer
5. Sclera are clearer

Dee74 02-10-2024 03:01 PM

Welcome Sophie :)
Like others have said, you'll notice a difference more and more in the first few months :)

glad to have you join us :)

D

Zencat 02-10-2024 04:36 PM

Welcome to SR Sophie

Like Dee said; there is a vast improvement; mentally/emotionally/physically (less unsteady and shaking hands for one)/spiritually benefit of being sober.

Join the Class below for more support :)

Class of February 2024 Support Thread Part 1



Pekelover2 02-10-2024 07:03 PM


Originally Posted by Oglsby (Post 8025311)
Physically, everything will improve for you. Your eyes, your skin, your hair, the whites of your eyes---all of it. Drink lots of water and eat very nutritious foods.
Internally--Heartburn will go away if you have it, digestion will be way better, and as TWTOM said, INCREDIBLE sleep.

You have everything to gain. I look at least 5 solid years younger, and you will glow.

Congrats on your sober journey!!!

Agree with Og!!

Steely 02-10-2024 10:22 PM

It's not working for me at the moment.




Steely 02-10-2024 10:46 PM

It true though that alcohol wreaks havoc in every part of our body.

Skin and eyes eyes clearer without alcohol.

It soaks into everything, like a big wet molecule does. Brain especially.


Oglsby 02-10-2024 11:30 PM


Originally Posted by Steely (Post 8025401)
It's not working for me at the moment.


what do you mean? How can we help you, Steely?

Ravel 02-10-2024 11:53 PM

I used to experience sporadic heart pains at night, sharp stabs that only allowed me to sleep on my right side. They vanished swiftly after I stopped drinking. Nowadays, I'd be all over getting medical help for stuff like that without a second thought. When I drank, I knew that if I consumed enough alcohol, I could fall asleep without worry. In that hidden world of drinking, I never questioned why the very thing causing pain could also be the cure. Or why sleeping on one side should solve problems with an organ like the heart. Thinking back on those times still gives me the heebie-jeebies to this day.

Looking back, it's incredible how rapidly the body healed itself. No more reflux, improved stamina, clearer eyes, healthier skin, and so on… Back in my drinking days, I'd catch about 5 or 6 hours of shut-eye, now my cat has to dig me out of the sheets after 8 hours to get me up. It's marvellous!

My mind was as shaky as my hands; the tremors in my hands quickly subsided, my mind though took months and years longer to calm down. Congratulations on your first days, Sophie!

Steely 02-11-2024 12:30 AM

Oh, Oglsby. Thank you. :)

Under a lot of stress, and a lot of change at the moment.

Age does me no big favours. :)

But then, again,

Imagine what id look like if I were drinking. 💀👻

* I was also being a bit tongue in cheek.




vz427k 02-11-2024 02:25 AM

Physically, almost everything will improve. In my case, the times when I am drinking I start to gain a lot of weight and this is the first thing I star losing when I stop.

The swelling, especially in the face, disappears, as well as the digestive problems, which are greatly accentuated by alcohol.

Sleep improves a lot, this may take a while but after a time it gets much better.

But the biggest benefits In my case are mental and emotional.

Congratulations on starting this journey.

Gymbunny7 02-11-2024 04:04 AM

Hi Sophie 13 days is fantastic so much changed for me physically very quickly.
sleep massively improved
menopause symptoms hugely reduced
mood a lot more stable
anxiety gone
weight loss
much less bloated
clear eyes, better skin and nails
brain fog lifted

The list goes on you get the picture pretty much everything improved and I was a binge drinker that didn't drink all the time so it surprised me just how many improvements there were.

I think the best improvement for myself is mentally, I feel as though I have control back. I medicated a lot of stuff with alcohol and never realised it was alcohol that was aiding a lot of my issues. I'm newly sober just over 5 months and it is a learning curve. Learning to live life a different way, handling situations instead of running to alcohol to zone out. Breaking old habits and ways of thinking but it's so worth it. The physical changes I've had are one of main motivations to stay sober.

Reid82 02-11-2024 04:17 AM

Physically I don't look like total Sh*t anymore- not bloated, fat loss, a lot better skin, hair, etc. A complete 180 degrees on my mental health too.

ToughChoices 02-11-2024 05:33 AM

There are absolutely demonstrable and objective improvements in my physical appearance/condition.

Since entering recovery I've:
* lost 30 pounds and improved my muscle tone
* lowered my blood pressure by over 20 points
* improved my skin tone (clearer, smoother, less inflammation)
* improved the strength and length and thickness of my hair and nails

I easily look 10 years younger now than I did at the end of my drinking/medication abuse.

However.

That's all just a (tiny) byproduct of the spiritual renewal that recovery offers. When I realized my innate worth - my role as a LOVED and PRECIOUS child of God/HP/the Universe - I began to fundamentally change the way the I treated myself and talked to myself and busied myself. I changed how I moved, slept, and ate. I lost a huge percentage of the stress that had always plagued me. Life is not perfect, but it is lovely and full of growth.

It turns out, there are fewer lines around the eyes of those who do not need to squint to see their purpose.
Hair grows thicker in those who are not constantly pulling it out with worry.
Peaceful sleep and an easy smile cover a multitude of skin concerns.
Bodies designed for movement feel and look better when they are inspired to move instead of sedated into unconsciousness.

I stopped drinking/using in order to "get better". I just didn't realize how much better I could get!

You can do it, too, winefreeSopie! Glad that you are here!


Free2bme888 02-11-2024 06:29 AM

Wine free, the responses are all TRUE!

AND, on top of all the objective and subjective improvements, the urges to use come less frequently and with less intensity the longer ago the date was that you last drank.

ODAAT
🎊🎉♥️

Tailai 02-11-2024 07:25 AM

WineFree,

I agree with what others have said here. Improvement in my physical appearance, especially in my face, was a great side benefit to sobriety. The busted capillaries, the rosacea, starts clearing and keeps getting better and if you take care of yourself you get a certain brightness. For me, initially the motivation to stop drinking was the progressive nature of alcoholism and it’s affect on my health. At the end I was drinking all day, every day. But I have to say, looking in the mirror was also a great motivator.


VikingGF 02-11-2024 08:52 AM

Oh my goodness, I can't even count all the benefits. Just yesterday, I was noticing that my skin tone is even- and I'm no spring chicken at 58, but my skin is bright and smooth. I used to be so ashamed of my red cheeks and flushed arms from the thrombocytopenia from alcohol. Bruised like a peach, itchy skin (liver symptom), red eyes and kind of hooked on the Visine, which actually made them worse after time. I had to wear so much make-up to leave the house- everything was an effort. While I'm no model- I only need a touch of powder now- and no one ever guesses my age correctly- which always makes me feel good! I know age is just a number, but it's nice to be lumped in with the forty-somethings from time to time!

It's good to read about the cosmetic benefits, but beyond that is the real advantage to a sober life- you aren't actively killing yourself any longer. My body was done- I was no longer processing nutrients and really bad things were happening. I'm essentially a healthy person now. Keep going and your health will return and you will be paid back for all your efforts. After some time sober, you will get to a place where nothing would make you turn back. Stay committed, write down your experiences and listen to the wise words from those who have been there.

Good work on 2 weeks! That's a great accomplishment!

Pekelover2 02-11-2024 08:56 AM


Originally Posted by ToughChoices (Post 8025476)
There are absolutely demonstrable and objective improvements in my physical appearance/condition.

Since entering recovery I've:
* lost 30 pounds and improved my muscle tone
* lowered my blood pressure by over 20 points
* improved my skin tone (clearer, smoother, less inflammation)
* improved the strength and length and thickness of my hair and nails

I easily look 10 years younger now than I did at the end of my drinking/medication abuse.

However.

That's all just a (tiny) byproduct of the spiritual renewal that recovery offers. When I realized my innate worth - my role as a LOVED and PRECIOUS child of God/HP/the Universe - I began to fundamentally change the way the I treated myself and talked to myself and busied myself. I changed how I moved, slept, and ate. I lost a huge percentage of the stress that had always plagued me. Life is not perfect, but it is lovely and full of growth.

It turns out, there are fewer lines around the eyes of those who do not need to squint to see their purpose.
Hair grows thicker in those who are not constantly pulling it out with worry.
Peaceful sleep and an easy smile cover a multitude of skin concerns.
Bodies designed for movement feel and look better when they are inspired to move instead of sedated into unconsciousness.

I stopped drinking/using in order to "get better". I just didn't realize how much better I could get!

You can do it, too, winefreeSopie! Glad that you are here!

Exactly Tough! Especially the weight loss!!


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