ElegantlyWasted

Craving came today for Coke. Used fairly heavily in my mid-20s. Last line was about 7 years ago... Had dream fantasies (and overt cravings) about using (coke ) right after I quit, which stopped after a couple months of not using. Continued to drink Alcohol. Sober (no booze) for 37 days now.

Out of nowhere; today I had a craving for a line after finishing a cup of Coffee. Is this kind of thing normal? Anyone else have similar issues early in recovery from Alch with substances thought to have been totally put behind them years ago?? This is freaking me out a little. Thanks in Advance.

CarolD

I did not have that happen EW and I'm sorry you did.

Glad you are remaining on track regarless of cravings.

AcceptingChange

cravings happen to me at least two times a week. it sucks, it's hard, and i don't enjoy it. It took me a while to change from being scared of them when they occurred, to just stopping what i'm doing and focusing on the craving, trying to understand how it works. I'm approaching it like it's a set of body sensations, and trying to see how it works itself out through my brain and body. if they get real bad, i may take a shower and try to take a nap.

CarolD

Oops...........let me clarify ...
I did have craving just not for drugs

I think there are 2 types of cravings
perhaps a mixture?

One type is more a habit than physical.

You drive home and your car steers into your
favorite bar or package store.
You come home tired...sit in "your: chair and
want the usual comfort of a glass/can in hand.
To sleeep better...toss down a drink.

These can be avoided by changeing your routine

Drive a different route
Change the furniture around..sit in a different place.
Fix a glass of anything non alcoholic.

If you drink booze from a can...use a glass
If you did drink from a glass...use a mug

I did time my cravings in early sobriety.
Mine were 5 to 7 minutes in duration.
seemed forever...but that was false.

I took action....drank cold watter ...brushed my teeth
went for a walk...danced around the room...ate Lifesavers

Within 2 weeks they lessened immensley... in both
intensity and duration By 2 months they vanished...

smacked

I don't have cravings anymore at all.. however I do remember when I first got sober, ANYTHING that would f me up for a few hours sounded good. Course, I was addicted to many things when I quit them all at once, alcohol was just the most readily available and cheapest way for me to get messed up.

Once I stopped entertaining those thoughts for more than a few seconds (like Carol said, by distracting myself, changing my routine), they diminished rapidly.

We can think about a lot of things.. it's how we act on those thoughts that really matters.