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How would you know if you were chemically dependent? What does it feel like to detox from an addiction?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.
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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?<\/p>\n
Yes, like the USA, my prohibition ended.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading