Guest guest Posted February 8, 2001 Report Share Posted February 8, 2001 Hi Simon, welcome to 12-Step-Free. I believe you are mistaken that alcohol craving is due to " simple thirst " -- actually, ethyl alcohol is very dehydrating, i.e. CAUSES thirst. Carbonated water is also not very effective at relieving thirst -- good old plain water, with a sip of fruit juice for taste and enzymes, is the best thirst quencher. As for ice cream and other sweets temporarily relieving alcohol cravings -- Jerry Dorsman, in " How To Stop Drinking Without AA " , points out that many heavy drinkers have unwittingly developed hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which may appear to be temporarily alleviated by consuming heavy sweets, but is ultimately aggravated by this practice. In addition to opposing AA's shame-based religious tenets, Dorsman is very much opposed to the AA recommendation of consuming heavily sugared coffee and confections -- says this actually tends to INCREASE alcohol (and carbohydrate) cravings. ~Rita > Hello, > > My name is Simon from London and I hope you are OK. I have managed two years > sober. I find it is impossible to be interested in alcohol if I guzzle as > much carbonated water as I can handle (the fizziness gives that good ol' > alcohol throat burn sensation) and have an ice cream. > It sounds simplistic, and it is. I was told much alcohol craving can be > traced back to simple thirst (most people do not drink sufficient fluid, say > urologists) and a need for glucose. Fizzy water and something sugary has > never let me down. > > Good luck > > Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2001 Report Share Posted February 8, 2001 Hi Simon, welcome to 12-Step-Free. I believe you are mistaken that alcohol craving is due to " simple thirst " -- actually, ethyl alcohol is very dehydrating, i.e. CAUSES thirst. Carbonated water is also not very effective at relieving thirst -- good old plain water, with a sip of fruit juice for taste and enzymes, is the best thirst quencher. As for ice cream and other sweets temporarily relieving alcohol cravings -- Jerry Dorsman, in " How To Stop Drinking Without AA " , points out that many heavy drinkers have unwittingly developed hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which may appear to be temporarily alleviated by consuming heavy sweets, but is ultimately aggravated by this practice. In addition to opposing AA's shame-based religious tenets, Dorsman is very much opposed to the AA recommendation of consuming heavily sugared coffee and confections -- says this actually tends to INCREASE alcohol (and carbohydrate) cravings. ~Rita > Hello, > > My name is Simon from London and I hope you are OK. I have managed two years > sober. I find it is impossible to be interested in alcohol if I guzzle as > much carbonated water as I can handle (the fizziness gives that good ol' > alcohol throat burn sensation) and have an ice cream. > It sounds simplistic, and it is. I was told much alcohol craving can be > traced back to simple thirst (most people do not drink sufficient fluid, say > urologists) and a need for glucose. Fizzy water and something sugary has > never let me down. > > Good luck > > Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2001 Report Share Posted February 8, 2001 ----- Original Message ----- > > Hi Simon, welcome to 12-Step-Free. > > I believe you are mistaken that alcohol craving is due to " simple thirst " -- actually, > ethyl alcohol is very dehydrating, i.e. CAUSES thirst. Carbonated water is also not very > effective at relieving thirst -- good old plain water, with a sip of fruit juice for taste > and enzymes, is the best thirst quencher. Hi Simon, Hi Rita, I read once that there was a belief prevalent among French physicians that 'alcoholism' was caused by unusual thirstiness! I've known several former heavy drinkers who, like Simon, missed the back-of-the-throat feeling produced by alcoholic beverages, especially beer, and substituted carbonated drinks. One of them calls the feeling " The Sparkies. " --wally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2001 Report Share Posted February 9, 2001 In a message dated 2/8/01 8:47:51 PM Pacific Standard Time, wagt@... writes: << I read once that there was a belief prevalent among French physicians that 'alcoholism' was caused by unusual thirstiness! I've known several former heavy drinkers who, like Simon, missed the back-of-the-throat feeling produced by alcoholic beverages, especially beer, and substituted carbonated drinks. One of them calls the feeling " The Sparkies. " >> very interesting. i have asked this question of myself. I suddenly feel very thirsty and i think i could just as easily reach for a diet coke. something to investigate. Piper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2001 Report Share Posted February 9, 2001 In a message dated 2/9/01 10:48:23 AM Pacific Standard Time, j_stillwater@... writes: << Laying aside all health-related arguments, one could define addiction as distinct from habit or discipline, because the activity/substance to which one is addicted is not socially acceptable. You plan yo >> That is really interesting but I still think maybe still christianity based, or religiously based. Alcoholism is at the cellular level. This does not make it a disease. Its just deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2001 Report Share Posted February 9, 2001 In a message dated 2/9/01 10:48:23 AM Pacific Standard Time, j_stillwater@... writes: << Laying aside all health-related arguments, one could define addiction as distinct from habit or discipline, because the activity/substance to which one is addicted is not socially acceptable. You plan yo >> That is really interesting but I still think maybe still christianity based, or religiously based. Alcoholism is at the cellular level. This does not make it a disease. Its just deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2001 Report Share Posted February 9, 2001 This makes me think of the idea that addiction is an activity around which to schedule the rest of one's day. You ingest the substance and get a certain physical/emotional reaction. But it is the social rituals around ingesting the substance, as much as if not moreso than, the physical emotional reaction to the substance, that make addiction a habit, a part of life that is difficult to change or break away from. Laying aside all health-related arguments, one could define addiction as distinct from habit or discipline, because the activity/substance to which one is addicted is not socially acceptable. You plan your day around when you can see your dealer, when you will see your buddies who you drink or smoke or whatever with. The rest of life is an intrusion on your time spent in addictive behavior. I once saw on TV about a treatment program where one of the last stages before a person finished treatment, was being shown a video of someone preparing and shooting up heroin (or crack or whatever). Pornography, except it stimulated the desire to use the drug of choice rather than sexual arousal. judith > > In a message dated 2/8/01 8:47:51 PM Pacific Standard Time, > > wagt@w... writes: > > > > << I read once that there was a belief prevalent among French > physicians that > > 'alcoholism' was caused by unusual thirstiness! > > > > I've known several former heavy drinkers who, like Simon, missed > the > > back-of-the-throat feeling produced by alcoholic beverages, > especially beer, > > and substituted carbonated drinks. One of them calls the feeling > " The > > Sparkies. " >> > > very interesting. i have asked this question of > myself. > > I suddenly feel very thirsty and i think i could just as easily > reach for a > > diet coke. > > something to investigate. Piper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2001 Report Share Posted February 9, 2001 This makes me think of the idea that addiction is an activity around which to schedule the rest of one's day. You ingest the substance and get a certain physical/emotional reaction. But it is the social rituals around ingesting the substance, as much as if not moreso than, the physical emotional reaction to the substance, that make addiction a habit, a part of life that is difficult to change or break away from. Laying aside all health-related arguments, one could define addiction as distinct from habit or discipline, because the activity/substance to which one is addicted is not socially acceptable. You plan your day around when you can see your dealer, when you will see your buddies who you drink or smoke or whatever with. The rest of life is an intrusion on your time spent in addictive behavior. I once saw on TV about a treatment program where one of the last stages before a person finished treatment, was being shown a video of someone preparing and shooting up heroin (or crack or whatever). Pornography, except it stimulated the desire to use the drug of choice rather than sexual arousal. judith > > In a message dated 2/8/01 8:47:51 PM Pacific Standard Time, > > wagt@w... writes: > > > > << I read once that there was a belief prevalent among French > physicians that > > 'alcoholism' was caused by unusual thirstiness! > > > > I've known several former heavy drinkers who, like Simon, missed > the > > back-of-the-throat feeling produced by alcoholic beverages, > especially beer, > > and substituted carbonated drinks. One of them calls the feeling > " The > > Sparkies. " >> > > very interesting. i have asked this question of > myself. > > I suddenly feel very thirsty and i think i could just as easily > reach for a > > diet coke. > > something to investigate. Piper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.