Updated February 15, 2015.

When you quit drinking after years of alcohol abuse, not only will your body begin to reverse the effects of the excess alcohol on your body, you will simply feel better. Research shows that some of the damage caused to your brain, liver and cardiovascular system by chronic alcohol abuse will begin to slowly heal.

When you first quit drinking, you will feel the temporary discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, but as the alcohol works its way out of your system you will begin to feel better, perhaps better than you have for years, as Robin explains in her post to our Alcoholism / Substance Abuse Forum:

Robin's Alcohol Recovery Story

I'm healthier, happier, less self-involved, have much more motivation, wake up hangoverless, I've lost 5 pounds, and have gained a ton of insight.

I dream more, both figuratively and literally. I sleep better. I have an appetite again. My daily exercise workouts have gotten much, much better since I'm not dehydrated all the time. When I'm with people I care about, I'm really there.

Everything Has Changed

I feel a sense of freedom that I haven't felt in years. It is so good not to have to stop and pick up a 12-pack or to head out in crappy weather to do so. I'm being constructive again. I'm reading before bed instead of just passing out. I'm playing the guitar again. I've gotten my self-respect back.

I could go on and on, but will sum it up by saying that nearly everything has changed. And that, my friends, is a very good thing and well worth the slight discomfort I sometimes feel without that beer in hand.

-- Robin

You Can Feel Better Too

Like Robin, you too can turn your life around and feel better than you have in years.

The withdrawal symptoms that you may experience when you first quit will last for only a brief period of time. Then you will gradually begin to feel better physically.

There are even medical treatments available that will lessen or eliminate the temporary withdrawal symptoms. If you want to quit drinking, there is a great deal of help and support available to you.