The process of deciding which substance I would abstain from through this experiment quickly proved how difficult this 14-day experience would demonstrate to be. Whereas coffee is a mundane commodity our culture thrives on, for me, coffee signifies comfort, security and memories of time well spent with family. Beyond my physical dependence to caffeine, my emotional ties made this process all the more problematic. Through this endeavor, I witnessed the physical and emotional struggles that clients recovering from substance use disorder experience and the importance of having a stable and safe support structure to rely on. While I could read about the emotional and physical toll recovering from substance use disorder can have on a client, the significance of personally experiencing the struggles provided me a heightened sense of awareness and empathy towards a client’s path to recovery. Method Substance and Activity …show more content…
For instance, weekends consisted of family gatherings, and in my family, gatherings and a cup of coffee go hand in hand. I have grown to appreciate coffee for more than just a drink, rather for what it symbolizes. For me, the phrase “let 's get coffee” is synonymous with having a conversation. In my case, I knew I would have a difficult time letting go of caffeine and decided to focus this exercise on abstaining from caffeine. On the other hand, since I spend a lot of time in front of a computer, I realized I would have a problem disengaging from a website called reddit.com. I have grown accustomed to using reddit as a source of entertainment, news, and as a method social networking. Consequently, all of these facets make “reddit” so alluring to me, adding to the list of activities from which I would abstain during this two-week