SvenskaI will be working this weekend at the pharmacy so I am having a peaceful Friday evening. Reading some. The first of December it will be 14 years ago I had my dissertation, and even though I am not within drug dependence any more, it feels good to stay in touch. I will see my former mentor, professor Jörgen Engel, at the yearly drug dependence meeting.
At the pharmacy, I mostly meet customers with nicotine dependence. Nicotine is as addictive as cocaine, so it is a real challenge to motivate. I talk about physiological (withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, nausea, headache), and psychological (craving) dependence. One of the most challenging tasks is to find a new reward instead of nicotine. And that is very individual. There are so many health benefits to quit smoking, but even though that is so evident, it still is difficult to change a habit. And maybe, that is dependence in a nutshell.
It is important to have rewards in life. Personally, I like training a lot, and indeed, there is ample amount of evidence supporting that exercise stimulate brain reward systems. Another is food. I like to read cookery books. To find inspiration. Food also reminds me of traveling and memories connected to various journeys. Every country has its own typical food. What is your favourite food?