I Quit Everything: How One Woman's Addiction to Quitting Helped Her Confront Unhealthy Habits and Embrace Midlife

Freda Love Smith, a rock musician and author, decided to remove one addictive behavior from her life each month to see if sobriety was really all it was cracked up to be. She describes the effects of withdrawal from alcohol, sugar, caffeine, cannabis, and social media, and how they fed her addictions. The book is an exploration of passion, legacy, and what becomes of our identities once we've quit everything.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: Surrey Books,U.S.

In January 2021, renowned rock musician and author Freda Love Smith found herself immersed in the midst of a pandemic-induced anxiety that had been building for eight months. She yearned for a drink, desperately seeking solace in the familiar comfort of whiskey. However, she knew that a midday whiskey alone would not cure the underlying issues that plagued her—the same applied to her nightly cannabis gummy, four daily cups of tea, and the various other substances she relied on to navigate each day. Thus, she embarked on an experiment, challenging herself to remove one addictive behavior from her life each month.

With unwavering honesty and a touch of humor, Smith delves into the profound effects of withdrawal from alcohol, sugar, caffeine, cannabis, and social media. She weaves her personal reflections on childhood experiences and cultural norms that contributed to her addictions into the narrative, creating a captivating tapestry of personal history, sociological research, and astute observations on addiction, intoxication, media, and pandemic behavior. This book will resonate deeply with anyone who has danced with destructive habits, whether they are labeled as "sober curious" or not.

Smith's experiment extends beyond simply quitting these five addictive behaviors. Motivated by the unique circumstances of the pandemic and the broader state of the world, she makes a decision to leave an unsatisfying job and reevaluate other significant aspects of her life, including motherhood and the music that had defined her career.

I Quit Everything is more than a mere sobriety story; it is an exploration of passion, legacy, and the profound transformation that occurs when we relinquish everything that once held us captive. Smith's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-reflection. Through her honest and vulnerable storytelling, she invites readers to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, challenging them to question the habits and behaviors that define their lives and to seek out a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose.

In conclusion, Freda Love Smith's I Quit Everything is a captivating and thought-provoking book that offers a unique perspective on addiction, sobriety, and the pursuit of personal growth. With her honest and relatable storytelling, Smith invites readers to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, challenging them to reevaluate the habits and behaviors that define their lives and to seek out a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose. This book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-reflection.

Dimension: 127 x 184 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781572843271