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[quote=Anonymous]When you stop drinking, try to be mindful of the present moment. People who quit drinking often speak of the 3s - 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. The first 3 days is when most of the acute detox occurs, which can be extremely unpleasant and life threatening depending on how much you drink. Alcohol is a depressant and over time your central nervous has adapted. So take away the alcohol and it's like removing the brakes from a runaway train - very high blood pressure, auditory hallucinations, extreme agitation, insomnia are all very common during the first three days.

Usually, people start to feel better physically by the fourth day. But the brain takes longer to even out. It will continue to be flooded with cortisol and all the other bad brain chemistry responsible for stress, anxiety, agitation, and so on. Exercise helps a lot here. Usually that lightens up after three weeks and you'll start to feel calmer. But you're still not done though. You will probably have a dopamine deficit for a little while longer, when it's hard to generate feelings of joy, happiness, and enthusiasm. And again, this is all from the impact of alcohol. Exercise again helps. You might not be able to generate any dopamine, but you can at least make endorphins. I'd also use this time read up on alcohol, books like Alcohol Explained and This Naked Mind.

Usually around 3 months is when you start to approach your baselines normal. It's why many rehabs suggest 90 days. An it's why AA makes a big deal of 90 days. It really does take about three months for things to settle down once you quit drinking. Alcohol is a very insidious drug and it takes a bit of time for your brain and body to heal. [/quote]

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