I know, it’s February, but for the first time I tried to complete Dry January. I wanted to try it to see how much it affected my anxiety, brain fog and energy levels. In previous years, I wanted to try it, but the challenge lacked motivation. This year, I’ve had a problem (anxiety, brain fog, and low energy) and was curious to see if cutting out alcohol would help.
Alcohol/stress was like a hamster wheel. I was anxious so I would drink for relief but then the alcohol would cause more anxiety so I would have a drink the next day, repeat! I wanted to leave!
Did I successfully complete Dry January? More or less!
I had a 40th birthday party where I had two tequila and sodas and a Friday night where Nick and I shared a glass of wine. Other than that though, I didn’t drink any more alcohol for the month of January.
Here’s what I noticed when I stopped drinking wine every night:
First, I noticed that I was sleeping better. I still wasn’t getting out of bed, but I didn’t feel like waking up the garbage.
Second, I wasn’t waking up at 3 a.m. with thoughts that I couldn’t suppress enough to go back to sleep. Last month, I was getting up in the middle of the night and sometimes couldn’t get back to sleep because my mind was racing with things like camp registration, preschool, birthday party planning, worrying about non-refundable hotel rooms, etc.! In January, I noticed that these things largely stopped. I woke up ONE night with racing thoughts.
Third, I didn’t crave alcohol or wine like I used to. Kind of like when I was pregnant, when you stop drinking, you stop craving it. I liked things like kombucha, sleepy girl with latte Storekeeper tinctures or Athletic Brewing beers as appropriate.
Conclusion:
Not drinking wine regularly has reduced my stress, a lot! I also had more patience and energy with children.
I can’t be sure if it was just the alcohol though.
I didn’t just stop drinking in January to target my anxiety. I was also religious about taking ashwagandha during the day and magnesium before bed. I also did yoga 2 times a week and tried to meditate once a week even for just 5 minutes.
My brain fog was reduced and my energy was much higher! However, this made me stay up later and so I still had a hard time getting up in the morning.
However, I can’t help but think that it was the alcohol that really helped reduce my anxiety this past month.
I’ve been drinking twice this February. A glass of wine as a date on Friday and two glasses the following Saturday and I’m happy to report, I was stress free!!! I don’t plan to give up alcohol completely.
Will I dry up in January 2025? Probably. However, I am not going to avoid a glass of wine or cocktail if there is a special holiday event and I would like to participate.
That said, there’s no doubt that alcohol can have a complex effect on anxiety, particularly for women aged 35 and over, due to a combination of physiological, psychological and social factors.
Here’s an overview of how alcohol can affect stress for perimenopausal women 35 and older:
- Short term relief but long term increase: To begin with, alcohol can reduce stress and anxiety due to its calming effects on the brain. However, this is temporary and often leads to increased levels of stress once the results wear off. Over time, relying on alcohol to cope with anxiety can worsen anxiety symptoms.
- Hormonal changes: Women age 35 and older may begin to experience hormonal changes associated with perimenopause or menopause. These changes can affect mood and stress levels. Alcohol can interfere with hormone regulation, potentially making anxiety symptoms worse.
- Sleep disorder: Although alcohol may appear to aid sleep, it actually disrupts sleep patterns and reduces sleep quality. Poor sleep can increase stress levels. Women in this age group may already be experiencing sleep disturbances due to hormonal changes, and alcohol can exacerbate these problems.
- Increased risk of depression: There is a strong link between heavy drinking and depression. Anxiety and depression often coexist, and alcohol can make both conditions worse. Women may be particularly vulnerable to these effects as they age.
- Alcohol tolerance and dependence: As people age, their body’s ability to metabolize alcohol can change, potentially leading to greater sensitivity to the effects of alcohol or an increased risk of developing alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence can significantly increase stress levels, especially during periods of withdrawal. If your body metabolizes alcohol, it does NOT metabolize fat which can hinder your fat loss goals. Read more about how alcohol affects weight loss here.
- Physical effects on health: Chronic alcohol use can lead to a number of physical health problems, including liver disease, heart disease, and a weakened immune system, all of which can contribute to increased stress.
It is important to note that everyone’s experience with stress and alcohol is unique and the results can vary greatly from person to person. In addition, there are many effective treatments for anxiety that do not involve alcohol, including therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and stress management techniques.
