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A 2025 Gallup survey found that 54 percent of adults consume alcohol.

The research on moderate alcohol consumption has shifted from positive to negative outcomes.

Responses after stopping moderate consumption vary in individuals but may be more profound in older adults.

Older adults who quit for health reasons are labeled sick quitters rather than abstainers or non-drinkers.

In August 2023, my cardiologist strongly suggested that alcohol may be causing an irregular heart rhythm. I didn’t read the summary until I saw him the day before my 2024 appointment. That was the beginning of my life without alcohol. On June 6, 2024, I stopped consuming alcohol. I assumed that the cessation would be a simple process.

A 2025 Gallup survey found that 54 percent of U.S. adults 18 and older who consume alcohol say they had an average of 3.2 drinks over the past week. These rates were way down from the peak of 71 percent of self-reported drinkers in 1976, 1977, and 1978.

Retirement and Losses

A phenomenon known as sudden retirement syndrome refers to the feelings of being lost, purposeless, or adrift after retiring from one’s career. For many people, their job isn’t just a means to earn a living; it’s a central aspect of their identity and purpose. When that role ends, many may feel lost.

Leaving work can strip away your sense of purpose and self-worth. No longer do you reap the financial rewards and achievements that a job provided.

Physical and Psychological Symptoms

Within 24 hours of abstinence, the nighttime awakening began with a nonspecific state of anxiety. At times, I was unable to catch my........

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