> Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty
Not for me. I used to be a smoker and alcoholic.
For smoking, I just felt uneasy without it, like idk when you're anxiously waiting for something important.
That's the physical dependence and was only the first two weeks and relatively easy to overcome. I got dizzy and other withdrawal symptoms but you can fight through that for a couple of weeks. The other part is the ritual to it. E.g. like most people probably brush their teeth once a day, smoking after eating is just something you do, give in once and you're back to physical dependence.
Alcohol was different for me. Self medication. Once i solved the issues i was medicating (insomnia and stress) i... just stopped drinking and never missed it. The biggest adjustment here was getting used to not being drunk and figuring out what to do with all the time i had now.
Not for me. I used to be a smoker and alcoholic.
For smoking, I just felt uneasy without it, like idk when you're anxiously waiting for something important.
That's the physical dependence and was only the first two weeks and relatively easy to overcome. I got dizzy and other withdrawal symptoms but you can fight through that for a couple of weeks. The other part is the ritual to it. E.g. like most people probably brush their teeth once a day, smoking after eating is just something you do, give in once and you're back to physical dependence.
Alcohol was different for me. Self medication. Once i solved the issues i was medicating (insomnia and stress) i... just stopped drinking and never missed it. The biggest adjustment here was getting used to not being drunk and figuring out what to do with all the time i had now.