I agree with others who said I never romanticize it. Even the term "ice cold beer" would be an issue for me, especially early on - I would instead try to conjure up an image of chugging a desperate room-temperature beer in a vain attempt to stave off yet another hangover!
As far as taking a break, when I was drinking (and for a while after I stopped), I had a "wound up" feeling that was part of a cycle of perfectionism and driving myself to the point of exhaustion, until I could finally "release" it with a drink. Over time, I'm much more even-keeled and less anxious overall, so I don't have as much to unwind FROM, if that makes sense? The extremes have mostly balanced themselves out through sobriety.