lovesymphony

Urges seem to come from nowhere sometimes, but I've noticed a few triggers. Here are some of mine. Feel free to add your own.

Someone buying me drink I didn't ask for

being keyed up on caffeine

being alone for too long but not wanting to talk

too much time with my crazy family

thinking my alcoholism is under control because I didn't drink for three WHOLE DAYS

Getting great news that makes me excited and nervous all at once

wanting to avoid a problem on my mind

remembering a happy alcohol experience

fantasizing about my favorite drink


What makes me not want booze:

spending literally hours on this forum, starting in the morning and coming back through-out the day

watching YouTube documentaries about drunk driving

eating healthy. walking outdoors, getting sunshine

laughing and talking with fun people sober

curling up with a good book I can't put down

doing something I really enjoy sober

being fully aware that I have a deadly, dangerous illness that isn't going away on its own

ArcticSA

At the end of the night. By then my 2 toddlers and attitudal 10 year old have mentally dragged me behind a bus all day long and I am worn so thin that I am ready to explode and am absolutely volatile. After the fight to get them in bed is over and I am so emotionally depleted that I am on the verge of tears. There is nothing to look forward to, nothing to calm me down, and nothing to make me feel good. EXCEPT for alcohol.
That is my worst time.

Nikkabean326

Good thread. I'm new so I'm just learning what my triggers are. A few that I know of are:

Being alone.
A long frustrating day at work.
Being around my family.
Being at parties with a lot of people that I don't know.
Watching a favorite TV show and seeing characters I admire with a beverage.
Party music from when I used to go out to bars and clubs (party mode).

I'm not sure of what does not make me want to pick up a drink. I haven't been placed in a situation where alcohol is around (I'm a binge drinker). I'm looking forward to my first experience with saying "no thanks" though!

anchorbird

4pm is when I start to feel antsy. With each passing day of sobriety though, I have noticed that sometimes I don't even think about drinking, I just need to do something or have a snack.

When I first got sober I HAD to keep busy in the afternoon. I planned something every day for that time and it got me through.

Weekends are a bit tough because of all of the free time, but I have been using it to catch up on books, puzzles, spending time here, going to the gym, cooking and baking and yes, sometimes just sitting in front of the TV. The first few weeks of sobriety I could not stand watching TV!

deeker

I don't think about drinking anymore, have not had that thought in over 9 months. But I want to just add my 2 cents Bare with me.


So you mentioned that these are things that made you want to drink.

Someone buying me drink I didn't ask for

being keyed up on caffeine

being alone for too long but not wanting to talk

too much time with my crazy family

thinking my alcoholism is under control because I didn't drink for three WHOLE DAYS

Getting great news that makes me excited and nervous all at once

wanting to avoid a problem on my mind

remembering a happy alcohol experience

fantasizing about my favorite drink
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There are many solutions to the reasons you want to drink

I would avoid spending time with people who would want to buy me a drink.

I would lay off the caffeine.

I'd stop isolating and find support groups.

I'd Set boundaries with my family. My emotional well being is more important to me than anything. If they are not good for it , see ya!

I have learned to Respond to good news or bad news and not react. I don't have to go with my 1st impulse.

I try to Stop and take pause and think that drink all the way through to the next morning. Play the tape all the way through. to the guilt shame and remorse.

There are a lot of factors that we do have control over .

But for me putting down the drink was just the beginning. Recovery is a change in thinking and behaviors. I'd say one of the big things for me and when I always turned to alcohol was when my expectations were not being met.

Acceptance has been key. Acceptance that I will never be a moderate drinker, I have an illness. It is the 1st drink I have to avoid.

Acceptance that I have no control over anybody or anything only my own perceptions and attitudes.

And that feelings pass but the consequences of drinking and or drugging may last a life time.

Sober22

Opportunity is the most dangerous thing for me that I have to watch, especially when im alone indoors with plenty of time on my hands. opportunity can pop up at almost anytime during a 24 hour period so it does good to keep busy.

As you said lovesymphony this forum seems to help me stay focused also.
planing things like future holidays breaks etc helps me in the battle to abstain.
Finally my girlfriend who I have been with for 4 years keeps me from drinking, just remembering the pain and suffering she went through whilst I was killing myself slowly makes me think twice every time an urge comes on.

safe2breathe

i am with Deeker ... that is some pretty good insight and advice ... the only fleeting thoughts i ever have about alcohol are when some new beer or something comes out and i think - GUESS ILL NEVER GET TO TRY THAT ONE ... there is no obsessing and it is humorous -but i understand my drinking and know if i have that drink - there is a good chance i may not make it back to sobriety --- i was a miserable POS (no matter how many "good memories" i can conjure up)and ready to be dead --- NOT WORTH THE RISK

lovesymphony

Thanks deeker. yesIn had to give up caffeine. That was almost as hard as alcohol. I slipped and drank coffee yesterday

KateL

I am ok now, but it would always be after an aurgument with my ex, that is why he is now my ex Oh, and health worries ~ barmy

KateL

I always drink decaf now because cafffeine has a really weird affect on me, not sure why.

Mentium

I had a very specific pattern to my drinking which developed and established itself over years and years. Every night at around 8.30 when things were quietening down I would open a bottle of wine (started with beer in my 20s) and 'relax' in front of the TV. For 'relax', read 'get drunk'. As a tense sort of person I did for a few years 'wind down' I suppose for a bit, but the toll over the years as a couple of cans turned into four, then to stronger lager, then to a bottle and a half of red wine, just increased until I felt like sheer hell much of the time.

I was luckier than many people. I hardly ever (literally three or four times only over 25 years) drank in the day. I didn't really enjoy socialising and drinking, though I did do it now and again. I just preferred drinking alone, switching off and watching crap on TV.

The lucky bit is that I am not remotely tempted to drink in the daytime and I have found that I have needed to do something mid evening to replace the booze. As luck would have it AA meetings are held during those hours! Win!

Cathryn2001

Don't have nearly as many cravings, now, but when I did, they usually occurred:

• when I was hungry
• Friday nights, especially on Fridays at the beginning of a vacation
• while seeing "at the moment" photos that "friends" were posting on FB on Friday and Saturday nights

Solutions: eat, log off FB, take bath and read a book, eat ice cream, go to bed early.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that fact that ALL cravings pass!

BradJustBrad

In the kitchen, cooking. This is a major trigger for me that I must be mindful of.

foolsgold66

Mostly when I'm awake.

Nonsensical

+1

Inca

I used to get triggered when I was doing some activity that I used to drink during. Or when I was bored. Now that I've replaced the auto response with healthy activities, the main trigger for me is work frustration. I still struggle with that one.

IslandChuck

Once my work for the day was over (I work on commercial fishing boat) I'd get home and pour myself a drink, like a reward for working all day I guess... Then I'd continue to drink till I went to bed. Woke up feeling like crap, repeat the process.