3 Reasons to Stop Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol is an accessible substance upon which people become chemically dependent. Because alcohol is so readily available, a person can purchase alcohol from their local grocery store or liquor store and bring it home and drink it from the comfort of their home. But there are a number of reasons you may want to stop drinking alcohol.

Because drinking is also socially acceptable, alcohol is something that a person can do socially and then advance to drinking each night to cope with issues. However, alcohol can carry with it some significant side effects that can affect a person’s mind, body, and spirit. Here are three reasons to stop drinking alcohol:

Stop drinking alcohol for your physical health

A person’s physical health can suffer if they become chemically dependent upon alcohol. First, alcohol is made almost entirely of sugar. The body digests as if it were a sugary snack. As the alcohol enters the bloodstream, it gets stored as fat more quickly because the body converts it into pure sugar.

The pancreas must also process this sugar. A person who has too much sugar in the form of alcohol can create chronic illnesses such as diabetes and other issues. A person who drinks too much alcohol can wake up with physical side effects such as headache, fatigue, and brain fog.

Sugar can also be linked to other chronic pain and inflammation that starts in the gut and spreads to different body areas, including the joints. A person can lose their ability to walk freely, and joints like those in the elbow can be affected by the inflammation caused by sugar causing further limits to mobility. This is the antithesis of a person who is productive in life.

In addition, an excess of alcohol can be linked to other more severe illnesses such as cancer and stroke. While there’s nothing wrong with having one drink from time to time, a person needs to drink in moderation or stop drinking alcohol totally to allow their body to recover and work at an optimal level.

Stop drinking alcohol for your mental health

The most severe part of a person’s body that alcohol affects is the mind. Once a person begins drinking alcohol, it rewires the brain to crave that alcohol when it doesn’t have it. Even a person who drinks socially may find they crave alcohol more readily.

The person who is craving alcohol may find they drink it more often, creating a dependency. A person who is physically dependent upon alcohol will alter their mental state. Addictions can cause brain cells to die when a person drinks too much alcohol. A person can have memory loss, which contributes to mental issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or long-term memory loss.

Alcohol can also compound a person’s mood. For example, if a person is dealing with depression, it can make them more depressed. Although alcohol can be used to lessen a person’s anxiety, too much alcohol can change a person’s anxiety to depression. Depression, if not treated, can lead to suicidal thoughts and ideations that, if gone unchecked, can be acted upon.

Quit for your spiritual health

Christians can also discover the harmful effects of alcohol. Scripture says not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. While this does not condemn drinking alcohol at all, it does condemn the action of drinking to get drunk all the time. A person who has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them will not need alcohol, as alcohol tries to fill a void that only God can fill.

A person with the Holy Spirit dwelling within them will be convicted of their sins, allow them to repent, and move toward a new or renewed life. People, especially Christians, should be wary when it comes to drinking alcohol. It may help them fit in socially with others, but if they are not careful, it may separate them from God.

A person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health can be deeply affected by chemical dependencies such as alcohol. Drink responsibly and be sure to understand why you’re drinking. If you’re drinking to numb the pain of a previous trauma, stop immediately. Alcohol is only filling the void of pain that needs to be addressed with the help of professionals and perhaps even medication.

If you need the help of a professional to stop drinking alcohol, contact our office today at Texas Christian Counseling, McKinney. The Christian counselors in McKinney, Texas are ready to help.