Breaking The Routine
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 41
Breaking The Routine
The big thing for me after a 13 hour workday on Saturdays is stopping at the store and picking up a bottle. Usually by the time I've been home 15 minutes I'm already buzzed and then asleep/passed out not long after. I've been without a drink since Wednesday and am starting to feel a lot better after a terrible binge session. However, the craving for that drink to calm me down after a busy day is tough. It's been too long for me to even remember a sober Saturday night and a Sunday morning without a hangover. After my last binge I said "enough", but here it is Saturday night and I feel the craving coming back.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,544
Ignore the craving 
I've been sober for a little over 6 months. It does get easier, yet I'm finding while I hit the 6th months the cravings are sort of sliding back in. So I find myself having to stick it all out again. I know it gets better, and I would be so angry with myself if I drank. So I won't....but just like you I'm feeling the urge to! Have a great Sober Saturday!
I've been sober for a little over 6 months. It does get easier, yet I'm finding while I hit the 6th months the cravings are sort of sliding back in. So I find myself having to stick it all out again. I know it gets better, and I would be so angry with myself if I drank. So I won't....but just like you I'm feeling the urge to! Have a great Sober Saturday!
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
I learned to allow myself to sit with and observe the urge to drink, and to realize it is nothing more than my addiction, it's temporary, it's usually over within minutes. Each time you turn down drinking and say no to an urge, the easier it gets.
Early on, it helped to have a list of things I could do at any moment to distract myself and stay focused on my recovery. Chatting and posting online, reading recovery books and meditation books, exercise, cleaning house, and going to Continuing Care meetings were all on my list.
Time to carve out some new habits and routines for yourself
Early on, it helped to have a list of things I could do at any moment to distract myself and stay focused on my recovery. Chatting and posting online, reading recovery books and meditation books, exercise, cleaning house, and going to Continuing Care meetings were all on my list.
Time to carve out some new habits and routines for yourself
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,424
Hi and welcome Zackman - I move your thread here from Stories of Recovery. You'll get feedback this way
Craving can be tough - until we learn we don't have to give into them, and they pass anyway.
Fora little discomfort you'll learn a great lesson
here are some other tips:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
Craving can be tough - until we learn we don't have to give into them, and they pass anyway.
Fora little discomfort you'll learn a great lesson
here are some other tips:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 41
Originally Posted by zackman 
The big thing for me after a 13 hour workday on Saturdays is stopping at the store and picking up a bottle. Usually by the time I've been home 15 minutes I'm already buzzed and then asleep/passed out not long after. I've been without a drink since Wednesday and am starting to feel a lot better after a terrible binge session. However, the craving for that drink to calm me down after a busy day is tough. It's been too long for me to even remember a sober Saturday night and a Sunday morning without a hangover. After my last binge I said "enough", but here it is Saturday night and I feel the craving coming back.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
I really needed to change my routines at weekends, plan new things to do.
Rather than do the same thing minus alcohol, that just created a lot of time on my own, with my thoughts, not a great recipe!!
Rather than do the same thing minus alcohol, that just created a lot of time on my own, with my thoughts, not a great recipe!!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 26
Hey Zackman,
Do you think that craving will again prevail upon you? If it does, I think you will again find yourself under the gun because binge sessions are no good. I cannot guarantee you could be smashed away by the craving, but I believe you must do something good to yourself by staying far away from it.
Do you think that craving will again prevail upon you? If it does, I think you will again find yourself under the gun because binge sessions are no good. I cannot guarantee you could be smashed away by the craving, but I believe you must do something good to yourself by staying far away from it.
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: fort worth tx
Posts: 1,373
The perception of drinking alcohol has nothing to do with the reality of it. You may think you deserve a drink after a long work day and that will relax you and destress you. The reality is it will cause you more stress and anxiety over time. Alcoholism is a magician. It fools you with every drink. What it really does is rob you of health and happiness. The more you buy into it, the greater the changes it destroys you. Eventually taking your life. Do not crave alcohol. Its poison. Pure poison.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5
I too think of alcohol as a "reward" after a long day, after my husband and I reunite after work, after we meet up with friends.......
This is yet another important piece of the puzzle. I need to deal with my reward system feelings...........
This is yet another important piece of the puzzle. I need to deal with my reward system feelings...........
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