Pros and Cons

Every time there is a major change in someone's life there are always Pros and Cons to said change. In my case with quitting alcohol, I am experiencing several pros and cons.

Pros:

Better Sleep - I have been able to sleep a lot better.  I am also getting my natural circadian rhythm back in balance because my body’s need for “recovery” is not there as much anymore. 

Clear Mind - I think I should call this a sharper mind, instead of clear, because I feel better capable of making quicker sound decisions. There is a brain related con, so you will see why I have an uncertainty on how to label this point. 

Create Output -  With a clear mind, my creative output is on the rise. I have started finding creative outlets to get my ADD/ADHD brain (that is on the rise, see Brain Fuzz) to release everything it is thinking. I am one of those people that I need to get the ideas out of my head and onto paper (or computer) so that it can stop circling around. Then I can go back and figure out what I want to do with that information or how I can bring that creative thing to life. (You should see the list of ideas for this project).

Cons: 

Brain Fuzz - This is the counter part to the Clear/Sharp Mind. I call this Fuzz instead of Fog because it is more like a constant white noise in my head now.  My ADD/ADHD (I have had different Dr tell me different things) is going wild now. I didn’t realize how much I used alcohol to calm all the chaos going on up there. But because of the lack of calm that creative output is on the rise. 

Withdrawals - while I don’t consider my drink to have been an addiction, I had created a codependency with alcohol. Now that my body doesn’t have alcohol on a regular basis, it is going through a form of withdrawal.  First it was the “I need…” thoughts where my brain thought it needed alcohol to function. Those have passed and even making it through my bartending event where my instinct to have a drink when people would irritate me my mind is starting to acknowledge that alcohol is not a requirement. Now I just have major sugar cravings, and I have been having Coke Zero to fulfill my body’s desire for a sweet drink. 

I am sure there are many more Pros and Cons to come as I continue on this Journey, and I look forward to experiencing all of them. 

-A