Great question!
Hey there,I think the degree of persistence and severity of cravings is different for everyone. I know for myself that if I was Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired those feelings would trigger a craving. In a nutshell it depends on the experiences that you have. I drank during the 5:30-7:00pm time period each day for years so once I got sober it wasn’t surprising to me that I would crave alcohol during that time.
As far as withdrawals I’ve heard that withdrawals get worse and worse the more you relapse. Things get worse never better. That may be a good motivation to stay sober! : )
My last withdrawal in Feb 2017 last for weeks. I had severe insomnia and anxiety for weeks. I keep that fresh in my mind if I ever decide that picking up a drink is a good idea. Hope I was helpful!
Garrison