I think you're pretty spot on. We get used to operating between dual extremes. We're building up an emotional tolerance in parallel with a substance tolerance. It was like I was circling the drain -- which was for me a big spiritual hole -- in bigger and bigger arcs.
When I had about 40 days sober I told my sponsor I thought I was going crazy -- everything seemed too plain and simple, like something had to be missing. He said, "no, your just feeling normal."
I've grown to like it. And there are still moments of great excitement and amazement, and now when they pass, I no longer lose the perspective you mentioned.