It's all about control

From the moment that we arrive into this cold world - we try to control it. We cry out as we're ripped from the warm safe place that we've known as home. As we mature we come to understand that we have very limited control over the outside world. At times we even lose control of ourselves. We have needs, desires, urges - but, we learn that we're better off in the long run if we suppress these primal forces. Acceptance by society requires it.
As described in an earlier post - alcohol depresses the activity of our nervous system. But, it seems to impair some parts of our personality more than others. Our super-ego, that part of us that attempts to act with perfect morality - and opposes the id, seems to be more affected. This isn't true at low or moderate levels - but, at high levels of alcohol consumption many people become violent or lecherous. We make bad decisions, say stupid things, put ourselves and others in risky positions. To me, this is the great evil of alcohol.
But, it's also probably the reason why people over indulge as well. Most of our day is spent at work - where we must constantly control what we say and do. We might want to tell somebody off, but maybe they're our boss - and we just have to say "all right, whatever you say sir." Alcohol gives us the opportunity to shed that pesky super-ego - to give our id whatever it wants.
Over the last month I haven't actually felt much of a physical change. My running hasn't greatly improved - I haven't lost any weight really. But that doesn't mean that I don't see any value in my experiment. It's probably happened at more of an unconcious level, but I think that I've had to find healthier ways to deal with the world. Chemically pressing the "off" button was no longer an option.
So, next is clutter. More on that in a few days.