Woman quits alcohol for 16 months: How her life transformed

What happened after she quit alcohol

The woman decided to stop drinking at the end of August 2024 due to health problems. Alcohol was making her condition worse, and she was later diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It became clear that alcohol was triggering flare-ups.

Over nearly 16 months without alcohol, she noticed several significant changes, which turned out to be unexpectedly positive.

Reduced anxiety

Previously, drinking alcohol often led to intense feelings of anxiety the next day, sometimes called anxious hangovers. Without alcohol, this no longer happens. Experts explain that alcohol initially acts as a relaxant, but once it leaves the body, anxiety can spike, creating a vicious cycle over time.

Better skin condition

Her skin became smoother, with less dullness and swelling. Alcohol dehydrates both the body and the skin due to its diuretic effect, leaving skin looking tired, dry, and prone to inflammation. After quitting, these issues diminished significantly.

Improved sleep quality

Although alcohol can make it easier to fall asleep, it reduces the quality of deep sleep. Without it, her sleep became deeper and more restorative, and mornings feel much lighter.

Unexpected benefits

The biggest revelation was that sobriety turned out to be enjoyable. The sense of control, pride, and stable well-being became so valuable that the desire to return to alcohol disappeared naturally.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.