Discovering the Causes

Today, I was diving into the Soberisti website’s principles about breaking free from alcohol! If you’ve ever thought about cutting back on booze or making a significant change for yourself or someone close, I highly suggest checking it out. Many of Soberisti’s principles seem pretty insightful and fitting for me, even though I haven’t decided to join their program just yet.

You don’t always have to label yourself as an alcoholic to believe life is better and more enjoyable without alcohol. Sometimes, alcohol isn’t the main issue but more of a mask for other underlying problems, creeping into holidays, weekends, or daily life too much. For me, drinking beer has often been a way to dodge feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. I’m not ready to delve into those reasons here, but what matters now is tackling and dealing with them. It’s crucial to pinpoint the real reasons behind drinking and reveal the roots of addictions.

Embracing Change

Soberisti focuses on freeing yourself, taking care of your body and mind, and recovering fully in a bright, positive way rather than forcing it. You’re not losing anything; you’re gaining a whole bunch of amazing things back. You can check out Soberisti’s theses on their “About us” page.

I’ve never seriously thought about cutting back on drinking out of fear of the side effects and permanent damage, which isn’t usually a strong motivator anyway. I also don’t want to base change on the idea that my brain and body are already wrecked and addiction is lurking forever. It’s way more encouraging to think I won’t slip back into old habits because I’d miss out on too many great benefits. Plus, I can heal entirely step by step.

Initial Challenges

After almost three months, some effects have been a bit tricky, though mostly positive later on in the long run. My brain’s more awake now, sparking creativity and a flood of ideas, sort of “manic” and hyperactive. There’s also been this rush to achieve everything at once, leaving me tired and sleepy by early evening.

Without alcohol, I’ve started craving sweets, chocolate, and pastries to fill the sugar gap. And oh, the buttermilk buns! Lately, I’ve also noticed some sudden swings in sexual frustration. But all these signs point to my body waking up, senses getting sharper and healthier, and I’m sure they’ll balance out with time.

Positive Changes

So, what good stuff do I notice now? Let me share a fantastic post by Ira Koivu (Soberist) from 24 Feb 2021 What are the effects of stopping alcohol consumption? The list of 27 points in there is super motivating, and I’ve read it three times in my excitement. Here’s what I can already see and feel:

1. Less swelling, slimmer face and stomach
2. Brighter eyes, fewer bags, better skin
3. Lower blood pressure
4. More frequent moments of deeper happiness in everyday life
5. Sex and touches feel better
6. Improved digestion
7. More time for home life and important stuff
8. More money for what really matters
9. Boosted self-confidence

Read more of my experiences in my diary post Clearly better update.

Understanding Addictions

(Next two linked articles were only available in FI language, but I kept the links here anyway and took the right to translate a few sentences here below)

Source: Article, Voima.fi 03/2023: “Eskapismi ruokkii riippuvuuksia – Usein addiktioiden takaa löytyy halu paeta vaikeita tunteita” (Escapism fuels addictions – Often behind addictions lies the desire to escape difficult emotions) Mika Pekkola writes about the research of A-Klinikka Foundation CEO Hannu Jouhki regarding cultural and social factors influencing addictive behavior:

“Addictions focus on what gives us that dopamine hit, the pleasure we crave. But chasing quick pleasures can weirdly lead to anhedonia, where joy becomes elusive. Those who try to escape reality seek pleasure to mask life’s hardships. We should learn to talk about addictions as part of life; they’re a sign of our times. Beyond media literacy, we need to develop dopamine literacy.”

This refers to how digital tech and social media make us compare ourselves to others, creating feelings of inadequacy. We compensate with pleasurable, addictive experiences. If someone tries to escape reality, drinking can worsen well-being without boosting life satisfaction for more than a fleeting moment. I’m convinced that’s been part of my journey—escaping reality—while some addiction roots remain hidden.

“Addiction is, without exception, a self-esteem problem. People seek solutions or blame outside themselves. From my perspective, all addictions start with trauma or something similar, often from childhood or adolescence.” (Primonitor Oy, Haapalehto.fi: “Pidä itsestäsi huolta – Riippuvuudet ja vapautuminen” (Take care of yourself – Addictions and freeing yourself)

My Journey with Addictions

I’ve thought a lot about the variety of addictions. I don’t feel like I have a real substance abuse problem or addictions to eating, gambling, exercise, or social isolation. But what if I’m addicted to close relationships or sex? Do I show signs of narcissistic relationship addiction? Was alcohol my biggest threat? Are the life events I know now the roots of my addictions, or will therapy uncover more surprising sources?

Maybe in a few months, I’ll have a clearer understanding. I know that someone with one addiction might be more prone to others, offering new escape routes when escapism strikes. That’s why it’s essential to find the root causes of unnecessary alcohol use.