Category: Sober living

By promoting the release of these feel-good neurotransmitters, alcohol temporarily amplifies feelings of joy and lightheartedness. Alcohol poisoning can cause a person to fall into a coma and could lead to their death. The excess Sobriety amount of alcohol in your system can also upset your digestion, leading to symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and indigestion.

Deciding about drinking

Overall, the effects of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease are detrimental in all societies with large proportions of heavy-drinking occasions, which is true for most societies globally (Rehm et al. 2003a). This conclusion also is supported by ecological analyses or natural experiments. For example, studies in Lithuania (Chenet et al. 2001) found that cardiovascular deaths increased on weekends, when heavy drinking is more common.

• This slows the communication between brain cells and has a calming effect on the mind and body.
• Over the long term, alcohol can increase your risk of more than 200 different diseases, including in the liver and pancreas, and certain cancers.
• Alcoholic liver disease and alcohol-induced pancreatitis are other alcohol-specific disease categories that are of global importance.
• Most of the remaining 80 percent is absorbed through the small intestine.

Pancreas

Here’s a breakdown of alcohol’s effects on your internal organs and body processes. Some of these effects, like a relaxed mood or lowered inhibitions, might show up quickly after just one drink. Others, like loss of consciousness or slurred speech, may develop after a few drinks. “Excessive alcohol consumption can cause nerve damage and irreversible forms of dementia,” Dr. Sengupta warns. The morning after a night of over-imbibing can cause some temporary effects on your brain. Things like trouble concentration, slow reflexes and sensitivity to bright lights and loud sounds are standard signs of a hangover, and evidence of alcohol’s effects on your brain.

Sexual and reproductive health

People who drink heavily over a long period of time are also more likely to develop pneumonia or tuberculosis than the general population. The World Health Organization (WHO) links about 8.1 percent of all tuberculosis cases worldwide to alcohol consumption. Over time, drinking can also damage your frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for executive functions, like abstract reasoning, decision making, social behavior, and performance. If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater complications and side effects related to diabetes.

• Some examples include behavioral treatments, support groups, and FDA-approved medications.
• Liver diseases related to alcohol intake are known to humankind from the very beginning and probably are one of the oldest known forms of injury to the liver 15.
• Tolerance and dependence can both happen as symptoms of alcohol use disorder, a mental health condition previously referred to as alcoholism, that happens when your body becomes dependent on alcohol.
• Alcohol is a part of cultural traditions all around the world…and it’s also a drug that chemically alters the body.
• Long-term alcohol use can change your brain’s wiring in much more significant ways.

During those years of transition between childhood and adulthood, the brain grows and changes in many important ways that are crucial for that transition to be successful. When teens and young adults drink alcohol, it can interfere with that process of brain development in ways that affect the rest of their lives. In the United States, a standard drink usually is considered to what are the consequences of alcohol contain 0.6 fluid ounces (or 14 grams) of pure alcohol.

This can deregulate menstrual cycles, cause or worsen infertility, and most disconcertingly, be a risk factor for some estrogen-mediated breast cancers. The pancreas normally releases insulin, which helps the body respond to high blood sugar. Alcohol, however, inhibits this function of the pancreas, which leads to high blood sugar or hyperglycemia.

Despite this, less than half of the US public is aware of any alcohol-cancer connection. That's why the Surgeon General issued an advisory in January 2025 recommending that alcoholic beverages carry new labels warning of the alcohol-cancer link and highlighting that no safe low level of alcohol consumption has been established. Changing the labels as suggested by the Surgeon General will require congressional action that may never happen. Mutual-support groups provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. Group meetings are available in most communities at low or no cost, and at convenient times and locations—including an increasing presence online.

After drinking 8 to 9 units of alcohol, your reaction times will be much slower, your speech will begin to slur and your vision will begin to lose focus. Alcohol is a powerful chemical that can have a wide range of adverse effects on almost every part of your body, including your brain, bones and heart. Considering these hormonal dysregulations, unhealthy alcohol use can also contribute to low bone density for older men and post-menopausal women.

Getting ready for life can be just as fun, if not more fun, now that we’re sober…because drunk never looks good. Giving a book as a gift is an amazing idea but what could be even better is an e-book subscription! This way, your loved one can continue to receive new and interesting books that can provide new learning and entertainment. Depending on how long your friend’s treatment is, he will be away from home for a little while and may experience some homesickness or even maybe nervousness about coming home. Help put your loved one at ease by reminding him that someone will be a support for them after treatment.

Brothers in Recovery AA/NA Sobriety Medallion - Antique Silver

• A serenity stone (or worry stone) is a small stone that can be carried around in pocket or purse as a reminder of sobriety.
• Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors.
• Celebrating milestones in recovery should be special, and that’s why we’ve curated these unique sobriety gift ideas to inspire you.

Wonderful variety of items to choose from, ordering was easy, my order arrived quickly, I got exactly what I ordered, and the quality of the items is great. Alysse Bryson is a strong woman in recovery, an innovative media maven, marketing guru, and gal about town. "I'm just a laid-back old school Seattlite...with sober superpowers. You can take the girl out of the party, but you can't take the party out of the girl." Pay attention to the things they mention and find a gift that meets their need.

Pirate Raider AA Coin 1-50yrs Sobriety Chip

• Just like any anniversary gift, a sobriety gift celebrates a sobriety anniversary–perhaps a year of sobriety or 5 years or 10.
• They may also be able to fill you in on anything your loved one has specifically requested.
• Plan a camping trip to a national park if they are outdoorsy.
• Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists.
• Recovering from substance use disorder or any behavioral addiction is no easy feat.
• Celebrate your loved one’s progress with a t-shirt that celebrates sobriety.

With "sober dad" sewn into the bottoms of these comfy socks, he can have a little extra joy in each step toward a better life. My passion is recovery but what brings me true joy is designing and creating beautiful things for others to wear, look at, and give as thoughtful gifts to others. My friend said the gift was the most beautiful and thoughtful one he’s ever received. Make sure to check out WALK YOUR TALK with Sober Fashionistas Kate Vitala, Harley Skorpenske, and Alexandra Nyman. This section celebrates fashion and the role it plays in our recovery.

Codependency: Warning Signs in Recovery

Like any anniversary gift, sobriety gifts are meant to celebrate a sober anniversary, whether it’s a year of sobriety or 10 years. Recovery happens one day at a time, and a gift pays tribute to this Alcoholics Anonymous fact. But a customized memento with their sobriety date or a present related to the hobbies they gained in recovery can honor their accomplishment. Sobriety gifts are an excellent way to honor a loved one who has worked hard on their recovery. If you’ve supported a friend or family member through this journey, you’re probably excited to celebrate their sobriety.

Many different styles are available, so find one that fits your loved one. Sobriety gifts for him could be self-made or purchased from inspirational-themed stores. You could even make it a tradition every month, half-year, or year of sobriety to buy another little houseplant for your loved one to fill their home with nature. Many individuals in recovery initially turned to substances for the sensation of feeling ‘alive’. A natural, non-harmful adrenaline rush could be a fitting gift for someone in recovery. The gift could be skydiving, snowboarding or skiing, rollercoaster passes, rock climbing, cave diving, etc.

Many of them know what you are going through personally and can answer any of your questions. We Level Up Rehab Center’s free hotline is open 24/7 for no-hassle calls about interventions. This is a gift best reserved for someone farther along in their sobriety because, at the start of recovery, having a consistent, stable routine should be prioritized.

• Sobriety is a difficult journey, and one that deserves to be celebrated as milestones are met.
• Within that, there is a collection of unique gifts that focus on sobriety, health, commitment, drive, and inspiration, all things that have immense meaning for someone in recovery.
• There’s no gift too large or too small to show your support for a loved one’s dedication to sobriety.
• Many different styles are available, so find one that fits your loved one.

For people that want to continue to work on their art following initial treatment, it can be expensive. As people continue on their journey to recovery, they will pass milestones such as three months, six months, one year, and so on and so forth. When someone passes one of these milestones it is common that they receive some sort of relic like a medallion to commemorate their accomplishment. While some organizations will give out these tokens, there are also opportunities for you to buy a personalized one for your loved one. Celebrate your loved one’s progress with a t-shirt that celebrates sobriety.

Big Book Covers

These pieces are so important to commemorate our special birthdays, anniversaries and milestones (including clean time chips) and to acknowledge each unique sobriety gifts other's accomplishments. We also feature collections of gift and anniversary cards for those special moments and a full selection of the essential 12-Step books, journals and meditation guides. Getting sober is no easy feat, so having something that marks this life event is something that can be cherished forever. Sites such as Etsy offer many personalized sobriety gifts, which could be engraved with your loved one’s sobriety date. A popular sobriety gift is a personalized memento that celebrates your loved one’s sobriety. You might try a key chain, sober card, mug or framed picture.

Also included are 10 high quality therapeutic grade essential oils, each contained in 10 mL amber jars. This journal is a great companion to make recovery an easier process and help sober people maintain their progress. Maybe he isn't the kind of guy who wants a key chain or jewelry that announces his sobriety to others, but these socks are a great way for him to be reminded of how far he's come.