Some people find that Kava can give you almost the same effect as alcohol. It's been said to send your brain those same feelings of relaxation and happiness that you may get after that first cocktail's buzz.
However, by day 4 without alcohol, most people will have got beyond any initial withdrawal symptoms. All the alcohol will have left your system by now, and your body will begin to bounce back. If you're not as focused on alcohol, you may be eating better, drinking water, moving more, and perhaps sleeping more deeply.
Overall, there are an array of factors that contribute to alcohol dependence, not only with brain chemistry but underlying factors as well. Things like mental health, environmental influences, and genetics can all contribute to a drinking problem.
Research has also shown that taking a month-long break from alcohol can be good for the liver. For a successful break from alcohol, as with dieting, it's important to have a plan in place for when the allotted break time ends.
Impaired control over alcohol use
This might mean not being able to control how long a drinking session is, how much alcohol you consume when you do drink, how frequently you drink, being unable to stop drinking once you start, or drinking on inappropriate occasions or at inappropriate places.
If you stop drinking completely, one of the first things you notice should be improved energy levels, better sleep and finding it easier to wake up in the morning. Regular drinking can affect the quality of your sleep making you feel tired and sluggish during the day.
The formula was 0-0-1-3, which meant zero drinks if underage, zero drinks if driving, no more than one standard drink per hour, and no more than three drinks per occasion.
After two weeks off alcohol, you will continue to reap the benefits of better sleep and hydration. As alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining, after a fortnight you will also see a reduction in symptoms such as reflux where the stomach acid burns your throat.
So what happens when you stop drinking? The good news is that the liver is the only organ that can restore and regenerate itself. Because the liver is in a constant state of regeneration, in many cases the healing process can begin within just weeks after foregoing alcohol.
Generally, people drink to either increase positive emotions or decrease negative ones. This results in all drinking motives falling into one of four categories: enhancement (because it's exciting), coping (to forget about my worries), social (to celebrate), and conformity (to fit in).
At the same time, drinking alcohol increases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps us feel good, and triggers the release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter that motivates us to keep drinking.
It's common to feel anxious or cranky. Your mood should get better within 3 to 6 weeks. Tell your doctor if it doesn't. You may need treatment for long-term symptoms or an undiagnosed mental health condition.
There's isn't a set number of alcohol-free days that's recommended, as this is very individual to you. UK guidelines on low risk drinking simply recommend having “several” alcohol-free days a week. The key thing is to think about what's achievable for you in order to reduce your drinking.
Drinks with cannabidiol (CBD), hemp, elixir, adaptogenic, and kava can lift your mood and relax you. The Social Elixir, DRAM's adaptogenic sparkling water, Blackberry Hibiscus Hemp CBD, and Curious Elixir No. 2 are some alcohol-free refreshments that can get you buzzed.