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Why Do People Miss Drinking Even When They Want to Quit?

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“I know alcohol is bad for me, but why do I still miss it so much?”

If you are trying to quit drinking, there is a good chance that you recognize this feeling.

I have worked with many people who feel puzzled, or even embarrassed, about continuing to miss alcohol after they decide to quit. They feel like the FOMO they feel when they turn down a drink is an indication that they are too weak, and the lingering craving is a sign that something is wrong with them. So if you feel that way too, you are not alone.

My goal in this post is to help you see that there is a reason that you still miss alcohol, and that it is not because there is something wrong with you.

What do people really want when they say “I miss alcohol”?

Here is the thing that many people don’t realize: when a person says “I miss alcohol,” it’s rarely alcohol itself that they miss. More often than not, what the person really longs for are the things that alcohol has come to represent in their life. For many people, this could look like:

A boost of confidence

A shortcut into connection

Or a........

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