Every 30-45 days I get intense cravings that, historically speaking, I have usually given into.
What do you do to break the patterns that cause repetitive cravings or relapses?
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I try deep breathing, focus on anything else and I mean anything like a tree lol, tv,walking,jogging, find projects around the house
Walking or other exercise is super helpful to help stop a craving. If you’re having an especially bad craving, I personally find it helpful to have a dessert or a sugary beverage. Not ideal but better than alcohol. Another good one is to call a trusted friend or sponsor. Sometimes I’ll even mentally go back to hangovers of the past, remember the misery, and then I feel disgusted by the thought of drinking which can cancel a craving. stay strong!
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I read or listen to audiobooks and even podcasts that talk about how much damage all this stuff does to my body and my mind. For me it always seems to help with that nagging crave.
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I like the sugary snack idea! It really works even though it can really get out of hand 
definitely you have to refocus. If you start counting backwards and out of sequence for instance 10,9,6,2 your mind has to actually stop and think about it. Taking that thought away. I taught myself how to sew with YouTube university and many other crafting skills that help with coping skills! Also, use your 5 senses to refocus your mind. It never really gets easier you just learn to cope better. Good luck to you!!
From what I’ve been told your not having cravings as those occur only when you actually take in Alcohol. Then the phenomenon of craving begins. I believe what you’re describing is the obsession of the mind. This is what the real Alcoholic has as part of the three part malady to our disease. The obsession kicks in then we begin to obsessively think about using. If we can learn to sit in these feelings they typically go away in about 15 minutes. Or we distract ourselves by taking a walk, calling another alcoholic, go to a meeting, or call our sponsor.
For me taking steps 1,2&3 honestly the cravings have vanished. I hope you can continue to stay sober. Reach out if you’re going to use…
i can relate. i’m only a month in and ive been in treatment for most of my sobriety. i am really nervous about going back into the real world and the temptations…for me i really struggle with the permanence of never drinking again. trying to get through each day with the cheesy mentality of one day at a time. i know that these cravings will be very prominent as i continue down the road of recovery. i try to remind myself of the awful things i did when i drank and all of the people i hurt. drinking was doing way more harm than good in my life and turning me into someone i’m not. before coming to treatment i couldn’t wait for the clock to strike 5 so i could have my first glass of wine. this more times than not lead to a bottle or even more and i would get emotional and mean. i am starting to finally feel like myself again without the alcohol but the moments of weakness are really tough.