Dry January is an opportunity for adults to evaluate their relationship to alcohol consumption and decide if they want to make long-term changes to their drinking habits.
In 2023, about 43% of adults in the U.S. said they wanted to complete the 31-day challenge.
Dry January started in the UK in 2013, and since then Americans have joined the challenge. Many have discovered physical health benefits of Dry January, including weight loss and lower blood pressure.
Locally, many adults seeking mental health treatment in the West Palm Beach area have discovered mental health benefits of starting the New Year with a dry January.
Consider these benefits for your mental health of stopping drinking for the month of January:
1. Improved Mood
One of the most surprising changes in the month-long challenge is a change of mood. Many people use alcohol to feel better about themselves or to reduce anxiety about socializing or having fun.
But drinking alcohol can actually put you in a mental fog that can affect your mood, making it harder to address symptoms of depression or anxiety.
However, people who complete a successful Dry January discover that they get better sleep, which is a critical factor in maintaining their mental health.
Abstaining impacts your overall mood and well-being and frees you to be more present in what is going on around you. By not taking in empty calories, you also have higher energy levels.
2. Less Anxiety & Worries
Many people engage in alcohol use as a way to reduce stress or deal with anxiety, because drinking dampens the fight or flight response that is managed by the amygdala structure in the brain.
While alcohol initially reduces activity in that part of the brain, it eventually starts to cause feelings of anxiety leading to heavy drinking to reduce them.
However, taking a break from alcohol creates positive changes. If you have been drinking heavily, you may experience withdrawal symptoms in which anxiety heightens.
But once you get past that, you will discover positive mental health changes including less worry and anxiety. If you are facing mental illness and need adult mental health treatment, reach out to us at Mark Behavioral Health.
3. Clearer Thinking
We often think of substance use or alcohol use disorder (AUD) as kicking off a chain reaction that can lead to mental and physical health problems.
Physical health problems from heavy drinking can include:
- Liver damage
- Liver disease
- High blood pressure
- Suppressed immune system
- Insulin resistance
- High cholesterol
However, sobriety can result in a similar chain reaction but in a positive direction. As you get better sleep, have better physical health, and experience a better mood, you find that your cognitive function improves as well.
You think more clearly, function better throughout the day, and are able to make better decisions.
4. Reduced Risk of Mental Health Relapse
AUD often co-occurs with mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and others.
Going alcohol-free for a month lowers your risk of a mental health disorder relapse. Relapses happen and the important thing is to not let shame keep you from seeking the help you need.
At Mark Behavioral Health, we offer psychiatry, therapy, and other interventions for adult and LGBTQ mental health treatment in the West Palm Beach area. Reach out to us today if alcohol has led to a mental health relapse.
5. Renewed Dedication to Recovery
If you decide to “try dry” and go a month without drinking, you will discover how much you are capable of. Staying sober through a 31-day challenge is a huge accomplishment.
Once you achieve that goal, you may discover that you can feel so much better and do so much more than you ever thought you could.
This may help you make long-term changes to your alcohol use as you commit to improving and maintaining your mental health.
Having a renewed dedication to recovery doesn’t only mean abstaining. It can mean trying new things like non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails. It can also mean inviting loved ones to join you as you enjoy socializing under different terms.
Seek Year-Round Balanced Mental Health at Mark Behavioral Health
At Mark Behavioral Health, we are committed to offering LGBTQ and adult mental health treatment in the West Palm Beach area.
If you are facing a mental health condition or have a dual diagnosis, you can get help today.
Our highly trained and compassionate mental health professionals can help you find clarity and relief from mental illness through therapy, medication, and other interventions.
You don’t need to continue suffering. Reach out to Mark Behavioral Health to get started on treatment today.