My Own Prohibition

How would you know if you were chemically dependent? What does it feel like to detox from an addiction?

I used to be a heavy smoker and quit cold-turkey. The first week was miserable. I craved cigarettes and didn’t know what to do with myself. The second week got better, and so on. I am pretty sure that I am addicted to caffeine. I get this dull headache around 2pm if I miss my cup of Joe. Only a good afternoon nap or a dose of Tylenol-equivalent can fix it, not even a make-up shot of espresso. So when a loving family member suggested that I might be addicted to alcohol, I accepted the challenge of abstinence for one month. A whole month! All 29 days of it.

There was no trembling, sweating, depression, or other typical withdrawal symptoms. I learned the various occasions that I drink: beers after work, wines with good foods, sports programs on TV, or lubrication for conversations. I don’t drink to get drunk. I drink to enhance experiences. I found ready substitutions for alcohol for all of them. Water, slightly flavored with a drop of lemon juice, works in most cases. Teas and juices work well too. But they enhance less.

Enhancement or not, counting its energy density, alcohol is essentially pure carbohydrate, like candy. I consumed less calories in February by drinking mostly zero-calorie beverages and eating less. (The foods were still delicious. I ate less probably for three reasons: less “enhancements” to encourage me to have another serving, being more conscientious of the foods themselves, and stronger will power without chemical influence.) By the end of the month, I was about 3 pounds lighter.

I found myself eating less red meat and “fine cuisine” in restaurants. Steaks, lamb, burgers, etc., are so much more enjoyable with a nice glass of cold lager or robust red wine; as fine restaurant foods with wine pairing. This is the same as when I quit smoking. Like desserts, a cigarette is nice after a good meal. I missed that for many years and definitely missed pairing drinks with delicious foods. Gosh, why are we made to crave unhealthy things?

Yes, like the USA, my prohibition ended.

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