What is Abstinence?
{{about|the practice of abstinence in general|sexual abstinence|Sexual abstinence}} '''Abstinence''' is a voluntary restraint from following a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving [[pleasure]]. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from [[sexual intercourse]], [[alcohol]] or [[food]]. Abstinence can be due to personal preferences, religious practices of practical considerations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-02-11|title=What is Abstinence?|url=https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Abstinence.aspx|access-date=2021-06-01|website=News-Medical.net|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517080555/https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Abstinence.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> In medicine abstinence also refers to discontinuation of an addictive drug. This may lead to intense craving for the drug or [[Drug withdrawal|withdrawal]] syndromes.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mosel|first1=Stacy|last2=LMSW|title=Steps to Sobriety: Ways to Get Sober|url=https://addiction-treatment.com/rehab-guides/journey-to-sobriety/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Addiction Treatment|archive-date=2021-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628164010/https://addiction-treatment.com/rehab-guides/journey-to-sobriety/|url-status=live}}</ref> Abstinence from smoking is also recommended for those intending to undergo surgery. Abstinence may be a temporary or short-term goal meant for short durations of time. This includes refraining from compulsive eating or from compulsive drinking. The time and the measure is voluntary and is thus meant to enhance life. This is different from psychological mechanism of repression where the abstinence is not willingly adopted. In India, [[Buddhist]]s, [[Jain]]s, and some Hindus abstain from eating meat on the grounds both of health and of reverence for all sentient forms of life. Total abstinence from feeding on the flesh of cows is a hallmark of [[Hinduism]]. == Abstinence In Religion == Fasting, abstin