Other medications might include anticonvulsants, anti-nausea drugs and sleep aids, depending on individual symptoms and medical history. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for a tailored treatment plan. Alcohol cravings are a common challenge for people trying to stop drinking or reduce their alcohol intake. These cravings can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies and support, it is possible to manage them effectively. This guide provides actionable tips and insights to help you control alcohol cravings and support your recovery journey. While diet alone cannot cure alcohol cravings, it can certainly play a key role in the alcohol addiction recovery process.
Question the Urge
Freedom and clarityLong-term sobriety is often described as freeing. You no longer feel controlled by alcohol, and you gain clarity about your values, goals, and relationships. This is natural, especially because you may start experiencing alcohol cravings at this time. There are lots of tools to help curb cravings, including medication to stop drinking.
Levels of Care
The intensity of urges increases and decreases over time. Dr. Bowen’s MP3 files (link above) offer an excellent “urge surfing” meditation. It’s available as a pill (generic) and as a once-monthly injection (Vivitrol) given in a physician’s office. Vivitrol is expensive but does not require a daily decision.
– Remember that the pain is only temporary.
With practice, the urge can become a signal that it’s time to use an urge coping strategy. Read on for five (5) practical ideas on how to cope with urges and cravings after you have decided to abstain from drugs and alcohol. The good news is that using these tips can improve your ability to manage and reduce urges and cravings overall. Some people think tapering can be a safer way to finally get your heavy alcohol use under control. But even if you try it, you may still have withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may decide to order different tests, such as blood work or a heart test.
Tips to Help You Stay Sober
This approach is especially helpful for people healing from long-term alcohol abuse. No feeling lasts forever—even alcohol cravings come and go.7 Sometimes all you need to do is wait them out. During that time, you can distract yourself with an engaging alternative to drinking. You might go for a walk, listen to music, or try a new sober hobby. By the time you leave rehab, you’ll have plenty of practice responding to triggers.
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- Focus on what you are doing, like having coffee with a friend, instead of what you’re not doing, like going to a bar.
- The need to address the specific triggers that cause cravings is essential for recovery and helps make the process more effective.
- Part of managing alcohol cravings involves avoiding situations where you’re likely to be tempted to drink.
- The real key is to change your perspective so profoundly that alcohol simply loses its allure, becoming as unappealing as a stagnant puddle of dirty water.
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In these intense moments, a technique called Thought Field Therapy (TFT) can be surprisingly effective. It involves gently tapping on specific meridian points on your upper body – like your cheekbone or above marijuana addiction your eyebrow – for a few seconds. This might sound like “new-age mumbo jumbo,” but thousands attest to its efficacy for cravings and phobias. It acts like a “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” for negative emotions, interrupting the brain’s program that’s commanding you to drink. It’s a handy fire extinguisher; you might not need it every day, but you’ll be grateful it’s there if the flames appear.
- Cravings can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to ten minutes.
- Completing 30 days without alcohol is a huge accomplishment and it’s within your reach.
- When you stop, it takes time for your brain to rebalance, leading to intense cravings.
- The vast majority of people who stop drinking experience cravings.
Surround yourself with people who understand and support your goals for sobriety. This might include family, friends, support group members, or a sponsor. Physical activity can be a great way to shift your focus and boost your mood. Even a short walk or some light exercises can help reduce the intensity of cravings. Find alternative activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Focus on hobbies, exercise, or spending time with loved ones.
