Congratulations on 6 months academia! Zenbear got me thinking about you considering switching. My addiction counselor was quite emphatic about me not seeking addictive substitutes for alcohol in the recovery phase (even day-trading, to which I was already addicted) and she did not even support non-alcoholic beverages as a substitute. I've heard sky-diving is pretty good for achieving an adrenaline fix, but like Zenbear, for me yoga and meditation have provided fulfilling alternatives to the "void" we may feel in alcohol withdrawal. Good luck for the next six months!