Hey guys thank you so much for all your answers and support to my previous questions. I decided not to walk away and try to help my husband again with his addiction. I'm trying to see what has helped people fight a craving or a urge to use. He is doing good but when he gets a urge or craving and I'm not around to pre occupy and redirect his mind he really struggles with it. I know everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for the next person but ideas would be helpful and appreciated he has a addiction/habit to crack cocaine not alcohol. I truly believe he's more addicted and adapted to the habit of doing it alot and habits are hard to break.
3 Likes
Simply, just as it took some time to become addicted it will take time for him to learn how to enjoy life without a substance. I personally had to force myself to get out and ride my bicycle on bike trails, take walks, exercise, go fishing, call my sponsor, call or visit a sober/clean friend, go to NA/AA meetings, forced myself to go out on NA/AA functions and be around people. Eventually the depression became less and less the longer I stayed away from the substances. Even though I wasn't highly motivated to do so. I then got a gym membership and started a military themed model set. Something that required more thought and focus. Long story short I had to replace my substances with healthy coping mechanisms and fill up my down town with positive and constructive hobbies. None of these things provide the immediate high like a substance can provide. However, in time these things became more and more enjoyable and provides a sense of accomplishment and not misery, self destruction or pain to those around me. Oh I also volunteered to do some mechanic work on some of my family's vehicles on days off ie replaced brake pads, bearings, fuel pumps, water pumps, alternators, belts, blown headlights, vacuum lines, oil changes, rotated tires. I'm not an ACE certified mechanic or own my own shop but I'm very mechanically inclined. I used to this to help occupy time and build back trust with some of family. Also, it felt really good to be able to help my family out along with save them money from taking their vehicles to a shop for simple fixes that can be done at home. It also appears to have built some trust again. Shows them that I am reliable and dependable again. They they offer me money to do these simple things but I always turn it down. I get statisfaction just helping them. Where that was not always the case.
3 Likes