Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Sun 06 Nov 2005 03:24:18p, ~patches~ wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>
>>Arnold wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Anyone managed to give up cigarettes and alcohol and never looked back?
>>>
>>>If so, I would be interested to know the techniques you used, coz I am
>>>struggling with 'will power'!
>>>
>>>
>>
>>When I was dating DH eons ago, I dabbled in smoking. Back then it was a
>>cool thing to do. DH then current fiance hated everything about smoking
>>and would regularly destroy whole packs of my cigarettes. At that time
>>they were about $2 a pack. I decided the hassles and the cost of wasted
>>cigarettes were not worth it and besides I was head over hills in love
>>with him. I gave up the cigarettes and we've had peace & harmony ever
>>since - at least on the smoking issue To this day we don't even
>>allow smoking in our house. I've never regretted quitting smoking. We
>>have always used alcohol in moderation and I cook with a variety of
>>alcohols. As a female, I am very careful to stay within the Canadian
>>safe guidelines to alcohol consumption. It wouldn't bother me to go
>>without drinking alcohol. It would bother me more to go without using
>>alcohol in certain dishes but if I had to I would.
>>
>>Do you mind if I ask you if you are struggling with one or the other or
>>both? The thing is with either it is not just about will power as there
>>are physical withdrawl symptoms to deal with. There are several herbs
>>that will help with either or both. Camomile will help curb the
>>jitters, anxiety, and overall restlessness from either withdrawl. Milk
>>thistle should be used by anyone who consumes alcohol regardless of how
>>much. There are other herbs that will help, just do a google search.
>>If you are/were a heavy alcohol consumer, alcohol abuser, or alcoholic
>>you should seek medical help before quitting as there can be serious
>>side effects. You will also need proper assessment of nutritional
>>deficits. If you were just drinking more than you were comfortable
>>with, vit B especially thiamine is recommended as is zinc. A proper,
>>healthy diet rich in fruits & veggies is recommended for overcoming
>>either addiction. Other vitamins are recommended especially the
>>anti-oxidants and vit E. A higher carb, lower protein is recommended
>>for overcoming alcohol addiction. Caffeine should be avoided or
>>eliminated during withdrawl as caffeine is a drug itself and will
>>increase the anxiety. However if you are a heavy coffee or tea drinker,
>>suddenly eliminating that will cause another set of withdrawl symptoms.
>>There is a lot of info on the web to help you with this.
>>
>
>
> Very interesting and good recommendations. We do smoke, but neither of us
> drink alcohol, although I do cook with it. I think we are just not ready
> to quit smoking. We have both quit smoking for short periods before, long
> enough to break the physical addiction, but it was easy to drift back to
> it.
>

Thanks Wayne. Any kind of addiction can be very difficult to overcome.
I forgot to mention that the majority of addictions involve self
esteem issues that really need to be dealt with before you can
successfully overcome an addiction entirely. I also think that while
both smoking and alcohol abuse/alcoholism are harmful, alcohol
abuse/alcoholism is by far worse because of the psyco/social damage as
well as the physical damage.