Sober October - What comes when alcohol leaves

Can’t say I was ever a hard alcohol drinker but your girl loves her wine and the motto was “Champagne can relieve all pain”. On a crisp mid-April day in the heart of Manhattan, I had my breakthrough moment and decided to continue my adventures in life without my liquid courage.

So, what happens when you decide to kick the cocktail habit for a while? You slowly transform into a little buddha in a hotter body. This is what happened to me at least - will not guarantee results.

Let’s dive into the changes I enjoyed after 6 months of full clarity.

The Serotonin Sitch Alcohol can mess with your serotonin levels, which are like your brain's little mood regulators. When you sip one too many, serotonin takes a nosedive, leaving you feeling down in the dumps. By giving booze the boot, those levels start to bounce back, and you're back on the emotional rollercoaster.

Sleep Sweet Sleep Even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy, the actual quality of sleep decreases significantly affecting REM sleep.

Anxiety's Adieu Alcohol and anxiety are like frenemies. A drink might seem to chill you out, but it will increase your anxiety levels in the long run.

Emotional Resilience Cutting out alcohol means you're dealing with life's curveballs with a clear head. Instead of masking emotions with a martini, you're facing them head-on, which is the true essence of emotional strength.

The Glow-Up Game When you bid adieu to the bottle, you're not just cutting calories; you're unlocking the secret to radiant skin. Alcohol will make your skin look dehydrated and speed up the aging process. Sobriety means more restful nights and waking up looking and feeling like a million bucks. It also means you come back home and are able to do a full night skincare routine without passing out looking like a clown.

No Hangover Blues Let's not forget the morning-after mood swing. Without hangovers wreaking havoc, you'll wake up feeling like you can conquer the world, rather than crawling under your duvet, cursing the day.

Facing Demons Emotional growth often means confronting those emotional demons we’ve been sweeping under the rug. Sobriety gives courage and clarity to tackle those issues, to make peace with your past, and to pave the way for the future you want.

The Circle of Authentic Connections Without the liquid buffer, relationships become more authentic and genuine. Connections are deeper and people that do not serve your purpose will eventually leave your circle. They were never meant to be there in the first place and now it is clear. Those new deeper connections become a catalyst for your emotional growth.

No Regrets Being sober means no more drunk texting, or impulsive online shopping at night. It means more money in the bank (Why do cocktails even cost $25?)

Food Fiesta Studies show that people increase their food intake by 30% after consuming alcohol. We are also more likely to make unhealthy choices the morning after a drinking night out.

Facing Fears Personal growth often means confronting fears and stepping out of your comfort zone. Sobriety is your sidekick on this journey, giving you the courage to tackle those intimidating challenges head-on.

Masks off The friend circle will get smaller, but better. Without alcohol, you are actually able to understand whose company you enjoy or not. You can also quickly tell the friends who only care about themselves (spoiler alert: they are the ones who will call you boring for not drinking or try to get you to drink on the spot).

The Gift of Time Sobriety gives you back more time that would be otherwise lost trying to recover from a bad hangover. Time for self-care, family time, or working on world domination.

The Heartfelt Benefits Lowered blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease are just a few more health perks of cutting down on alcohol.

The Powerhouse Liver We already consume so many toxins through our food, pollution, and various products. Your liver is your body's very own detox superhero, and alcohol is distracting it from working its magic. Cutting back on booze gives your liver a much-needed break and helps it function at its best.

Cutting alcohol is a journey of self-discovery and emotional evolution, a tale of growth, vulnerability, and authenticity. I am not telling you to cut it down forever, but let’s experiment. See how long you can go, notice what you feel, what bothers you and why, what you enjoy and why. It is not just about what's in the glass; it's about what's in your heart.