How does everyone deal with cravings? I’ve been sober since Feb. 24th of this year and it’ll happen so randomly. I’ll be driving and singing to the radio then all of a sudden images of alcohol pop into my head and then it’s like I smell and taste it. It is so weird! I know this too shall pass, but any insight on dealing with cravings and intrusive thoughts would be much appreciated(:
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I’m in the same boat . Today was really hard for me . I made a mocktail. It didn’t make the cravings go away but it did help . Then I took a class . Still there lol but better . So I’m on here hoping that helps more .
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I listened to so many Sobriety podcasts at the beginning. One I loved is “Recovery Happy Hour”. There are really so many!!!
Be so carful at 6 months sobriety, that’s when I relapsed. I let the program go stale😭 to deal with cravings, work out, go to a meeting or eat a piece of chocolate, chocolate seriously helps my cravings so much….. also, everyday before I go to sleep I journal one way why alcohol & drugs ruined my life. It helps me to stay in the mindset that alcohol & drugs ruined me & why I shouldn’t go back
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I learned about ‘surfing the urge’ as a technique to deal with cravings while I was in treatment. It’s basically a mindfulness exercise. I’m new to recovery, about 2 months in and have recently been having physical and mental cravings myself. Ive used these steps several times. If I can get into the right mindset and focus, the urges usually dissipate in 5-10 minutes.
Here’s the steps…
Identify the Physical Sensation in the Body. Stop for a few minutes and be mindful of your physical responses to your urge. ...
Focus on the Sensations. ...
Notice Breathing. ...
Refocus on Your Body. ...
Stay Curious and Present.
Stay strong, and hope this helps!
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I like to drink ginger ale out of my old whiskey glass.
Sounds weird but like the familiarity of the glass in my hand.
But that's after 16 months of sobriety.
I kinda had to work my way to that point. If that makes anysense.
Thanks for sharing.
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Reach out to another alcoholic and complain and moan and get it all out. Sobriety can be wonderful and it can also be excruciating. No one can do this alone.
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I haven’t had a drink since 5-27-1996 and when I get stressed I still think about a drink.. it’s normal.. I get busy doing something.. I go to a meeting.. I eat sweets.. I had to stop drinking 26 years ago due to going blind and my blood sugar.. I didn’t have a choice.. it was only by the grace of God and a lot of prayers.. ask God to give you strength.. and believe He will..
I think past the drink. What will the day after feel like. What would the slippery slope lead me to. I know once I do one weekend of slippage, I’d do another weekend of slippage soon after because why not? I think of all the things that a clear head has brought to me and usually all this brings me to the conclusion that it’s sooooo not worth the moments during the drink. I used to need to do the “just not going to drink today, idk about tomorrow, just not today” thing. GJ on your path so far. Keep that perseverance. Let it be worth it.
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Been sober for a year and love advice. It ultimately helps you isolate what triggered the craving. Whether it was an outside stimulant, or an emotion you experienced from your thoughts.
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Sometimes I pull into a McDonald’s and have a small coke and small fries
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John Q alluded to this, but remind yourself where that first drink will inevitably take you. For me, having that first drink makes me develop a case of the "f$ck its" real fast, leading to a full blown relapse and bender that will last for God knows how long.
Think about the unpredictable, yet inevitable consequences of succumbing to that craving, and then ask yourself, "is the going up, worth the coming down?"
You can do this!