Big cravings and forgot how to deal with them
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Miami, FL
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Big cravings and forgot how to deal with them
I am having big cravings for days and am really feeling lost.
I called my old sponsor (even though I am no longer in the program) and he obviously said he was powerless in this situation.
I am trying to distract myself, but the thoughts keep coming back.
I tried reading threads by people going through the same thing, but that made cravings more intense.
This is like dreamcrabs. If you think about them you give them power, but to not think is the hard thing.
I called my old sponsor (even though I am no longer in the program) and he obviously said he was powerless in this situation.
I am trying to distract myself, but the thoughts keep coming back.
I tried reading threads by people going through the same thing, but that made cravings more intense.
This is like dreamcrabs. If you think about them you give them power, but to not think is the hard thing.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,464
Urge Surfing really worked for me...I really encourage you to practice the technique so it's there when you need to use it.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-surfing.html
Also remember the HALT thing - eaten anything recently, MF?
D
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-surfing.html
Also remember the HALT thing - eaten anything recently, MF?
D
Sober since 10th April 2012
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 6,047
Hi Miami, I'm a sober alcoholic, so can't know exactly how you're feeling, but I did have cravings. I think learning how to handle them is a key to success. I'll give you a few thoughts and you can take or leave:
- Are they happening at a certain time of the day? For me it was straight after work so I walked a good part of the way home, listening to music. That was a great diversion and relaxing as well.
- Don't let yourself get too tired hungry or thirsty, and feel free to eat stuff you really like. I would have a fresh juice cocktail after work and it acted as a substitute.
- Learn to meditate, even for a short time. My method was to take 5 deep breaths, concentrating on my body. It was like magic for dismissing the cravings and I can't think of a time it didn't work. I think the cravings appeared when I was tense, and this relaxed me.
Hope some of these help a bit. Congratulations for resisting so far.
- Are they happening at a certain time of the day? For me it was straight after work so I walked a good part of the way home, listening to music. That was a great diversion and relaxing as well.
- Don't let yourself get too tired hungry or thirsty, and feel free to eat stuff you really like. I would have a fresh juice cocktail after work and it acted as a substitute.
- Learn to meditate, even for a short time. My method was to take 5 deep breaths, concentrating on my body. It was like magic for dismissing the cravings and I can't think of a time it didn't work. I think the cravings appeared when I was tense, and this relaxed me.
Hope some of these help a bit. Congratulations for resisting so far.
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,701
It has been coming for the last week. No real pattern.
When they are present I feel a slight nausea so I cannot eat.
I can try meditating, but i know that years ago when I quit it did not help. But I was also in 12-step recovery, so maybe it will be different now.
When they are present I feel a slight nausea so I cannot eat.
I can try meditating, but i know that years ago when I quit it did not help. But I was also in 12-step recovery, so maybe it will be different now.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
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The two things that helped me the most were urge surfing and playing the tape. I still use them as needed.
Sorry you are craving lately, Miamifella. Hang in there
Just remember that it's only a thought, and it will pass. And you DON'T want to go down that path again.
Sorry you are craving lately, Miamifella. Hang in there
Just remember that it's only a thought, and it will pass. And you DON'T want to go down that path again.
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Location: Miami, FL
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Urge surfing sounds a little like my Law and Order technique. I would just feel the urge and delay calling the dealer till the next showing of Law and Order on A&E. Back in the late 90s there were showings throughout the day and they became my time markers that would help me ride out the urge.
I always thought that deferring the urge like this was ultimately not a good thing. But maybe it is.
I always thought that deferring the urge like this was ultimately not a good thing. But maybe it is.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
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It's not about teeth gritting and white knuckles at all, which is what waiting for the urge to pass was for me.
If you're interested, there's any number of links around that can explain it better than I can I'm sure...
If not, no worries - Just trying to help MF
D
Instead of battling the urge (or wave) ride it out and wait for it to crash and for cravings to disappear. When you give in to the urge, and give yourself the "fix" you crave, it only increases future cravings. By learning to ride the wave and let it go, over time you will notice cravings are less frequent.
This is a technique that takes time and patience, but if you're prepared to invest the time, it can pay big dividends. The catch is that most people find that the urge to smoke, drink, eat or gamble is so strong, that they forget that this tool is available to them. One good way to get in the habit of using mindfulness to combat cravings is to practise meditation or mindfulness daily, even if only for 30 seconds.
This is a technique that takes time and patience, but if you're prepared to invest the time, it can pay big dividends. The catch is that most people find that the urge to smoke, drink, eat or gamble is so strong, that they forget that this tool is available to them. One good way to get in the habit of using mindfulness to combat cravings is to practise meditation or mindfulness daily, even if only for 30 seconds.
If not, no worries - Just trying to help MF
D
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I guess I don't associate this with teeth gritting. But the link just talked about waiting and observing which was something I thought every addict did at some point.
I think the term "urge surfing" implies a stressful, dangerous situation which is probably why I never investigated it. I don't like the idea of being a daredevil with addiction. But reading about it, it is a much more calm idea...more floating than surfing.
I think the term "urge surfing" implies a stressful, dangerous situation which is probably why I never investigated it. I don't like the idea of being a daredevil with addiction. But reading about it, it is a much more calm idea...more floating than surfing.
Sober since 10th April 2012
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 6,047
Originally Posted by miamifella 
It has been coming for the last week. No real pattern.
When they are present I feel a slight nausea so I cannot eat.
I can try meditating, but i know that years ago when I quit it did not help. But I was also in 12-step recovery, so maybe it will be different now.
When they are present I feel a slight nausea so I cannot eat.
I can try meditating, but i know that years ago when I quit it did not help. But I was also in 12-step recovery, so maybe it will be different now.
Do the cravings come and go, and can you see any pattern? It might not be a time thing; maybe it's to do with your emotional state.
Try eating something very digestible like ice-cream or whatever you like that you can get down, or even a sugary drink.
Everyone has their own methods, and a lot of it is trial and error until you find something that works for you. I guess my suggestion is to make it a priority. You might even consider seeing a doctor if there are medications that help.
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The only pattern is that cravings come when I have time to "get away with it."
Years ago, I tried making sure I had appointments every day of the week, but going without ever having a day off also created problems.
This may be something I just have to live through and struggle with when necessary.
Years ago, I tried making sure I had appointments every day of the week, but going without ever having a day off also created problems.
This may be something I just have to live through and struggle with when necessary.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
It would be easy to underestimate the Urge Surfing technique, but I found it to be effective and powerful. Anyway, hope you do give it a chance, Miamifella... it was in no way "dangerous" and instead was leveling and calming in my own experience of it.
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