The longer I abstained, the better I felt, in ways that spilled into marriage, work, parenting, friendships. Recently, someone unaware I\u2019d quit told me I looked years younger. I\u2019m more patient. My headaches are infrequent, my energy up.<\/p>\n
Those results fit with a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal<\/a>, among the first focused on moderate drinkers\u2019 mental health. Researchers studying cohorts of people in Hong Kong and the United States found even \u201csafe\u201d drinkers, women in particular, showed improved well-being if they stopped.<\/p>\n Today, I can label myself. I had moderate alcohol use disorder, a \u201cchronic relapsing brain disease<\/a>\u201d marked by loss of control over alcohol. The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse says 6.2 percent of American adults<\/a>, more than 15 million people, are on the alcohol use disorder spectrum. (Other research puts the numbers higher.<\/a>) I\u2019d guess many, like me, drink modestly enough that they don\u2019t believe they have a problem. I feel lucky I quit before anything worse happened.<\/p>\n Sobriety can still be a challenge. If all goes according to plan, I\u2019ll never again experience the soft scrim that drops between me and reality, as wine drains from my glass. It seems sad, until I remember that three times since quitting, I\u2019ve tried a celebratory drink. Most recently, in Peru, I had one of the country\u2019s famous pisco sours. It gave me a mild buzz and a hangover. I haven\u2019t had a drop since.<\/p>\n These days, I awaken clearheaded. I\u2019m closer than ever to being the mother, wife, relative and friend I want to be. It feels good. Really good. I get up the next morning. I do it again.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Quitting booze is one of the hardest things I\u2019ve ever done,” writes Nancy Wartik. “I pined for it: At restaurants, I\u2019d gaze at ruby goblets as if at a divine elixir. After workouts I\u2019d crave a beer. And what was the point of socializing sober?” https:\/\/t.co\/S1gRZD23IH<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) January 31, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n