"Finally, I was off the anti-depressants, the sleeping pills, the anti-anxiety medication, and the alcohol and I never felt happier or freer in my whole life."
I was an alcoholic and a food addict, on anti-depressants and sleeping pills. The last few months of my years of drinking were a haze that was so bad that I can hardly remember anything. I drank constantly all day long and felt exhausted. I couldn’t keep my eyes open in the evening but then would wake up in a panic at two in the morning, shaking and vomiting. After being sick each morning, I would pop a Xanax to control the anxiety. When I ran out of Xanax, I would drink a beer in the morning and take one in the car on my way to work. I said terrible, hurtful things to my family and friends but could never confess what I had said while I was out-of-my-mind drunk. And I just couldn’t stop.
Finally, I realized that the man I had dated for the last eight months had never met the real, sober me. He’d never seen me only but a few times when my mind wasn’t altered by alcohol or prescription drugs. The sort periods when I was in a normal state, he would ask me “what’s wrong?” Over time, the anxiety that I was going to lose everything--my job, my love and faith, even my life--became overwhelming. One night, I threw the booze away and decided to start over. That was the hardest week of my life. Everything was terrifying. I was sick and trembled and didn’t sleep for days. I was on the verge of giving up.
I started looking online for encouragement and came across this site that claimed fasting could purge the body of toxins and help with addictions. While rolling my eyes skeptically, I started a fast, it was that or more drinks. I felt weak and nauseated for the first two days but by the third day my head started to clear and the anxiety receded. By the second week, I remembered what life felt like before my addictions. I was inspired and began new projects and set new goals. My boyfriend was amazed at my energy and I eventually gained the confidence to tell him the truth about my addictions. He saw me through it and encouraged me every step of the way.
My first fast was a full 28 days. There were times I wanted to give up but the fear of my old life kept me trudging along. There were also times where I felt a joy and a lightness I’d never had before. Finally, I was off the anti-depressants, the sleeping pills, the anti-anxiety medication, and the alcohol and I never felt happier or freer in my life. (I also lost some weight which didn’t hurt!) Now, I’ve been sober for over two years and it’s rare and fleeting that I ever crave a drink. I enjoy the sun on my skin and the taste of fresh fruit and I’ve never felt so beautiful. I believe fasting saved my life. Whether your addiction is to food, alcohol, drugs or all of the above, the only way to heal is to detox.
So, that’s my story and oddly, I wouldn’t take it back. I now have a real compassion for others who struggle the same way and a real appreciation for a life free of addiction.
Footnote
By
Ron Lagerquist
Thank you Liz for baring you heart. It’s remarkable to witness someone go from the horrible bondage of addiction to radiant health and freedom. What is even more extraordinary is the speed this change happens due to fasting. Many people break addictions, but fasting accelerates this process, speeding up the detoxifying of the body from drugs and alcohol, healing damaged cells and reestablishing a healthy homeostasis. The advantage of this is that this change is happening so quickly, before you forget what it’s like to feel the claws of addiction, you are becoming free. This provides a stark, tangible contrast between the two states of addiction and freedom that will forever solidify the importance of remaining free and never reverting back.
Related Article: Fasting To Overcome Addictions