114 days and still getting cravings.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 73
114 days and still getting cravings.
Hi all
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
quat
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,823
Congratulations on your decision, keep truckin'
It will help shorten that long way to go( AV bs btw) by knowing,not supposing( AV bs) that not boozing has most definitely, without a doubt, beyond question played a ( if not the role) , You Got This, rootin for ya
It will help shorten that long way to go( AV bs btw) by knowing,not supposing( AV bs) that not boozing has most definitely, without a doubt, beyond question played a ( if not the role) , You Got This, rootin for ya
Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 1,536
Hi AWald. Congrats on almost 4 months.
When it comes to how to ride them out I think some say cravings are just thoughts. Do you think at 114 days it may be especially so - just thoughts of having a drink because now you might be able to moderate and drink normally again?
I read Eric Clapton’s autobiography recently. After getting sober through rehab and staying sober for quite some time, it took one (protracted) relapse for him to realize that he could not moderate, and he then struggled to get sober for the second but last time.
For most of us here moderation has been an attractive yet unsustainable proposition.
Now might be the time to reenforce your decision to choose sobriety if, as I believe, that is what you choose.
I am glad that improvements in you life have become obvious from the outside and that it may relate, at least in part, to your sobriety.
When it comes to how to ride them out I think some say cravings are just thoughts. Do you think at 114 days it may be especially so - just thoughts of having a drink because now you might be able to moderate and drink normally again?
I read Eric Clapton’s autobiography recently. After getting sober through rehab and staying sober for quite some time, it took one (protracted) relapse for him to realize that he could not moderate, and he then struggled to get sober for the second but last time.
For most of us here moderation has been an attractive yet unsustainable proposition.
Now might be the time to reenforce your decision to choose sobriety if, as I believe, that is what you choose.
I am glad that improvements in you life have become obvious from the outside and that it may relate, at least in part, to your sobriety.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 535
Originally Posted by AWald88 
Hi all
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
What does getting drunk do for you?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: W Washington
Posts: 11,589
almost a third of a year is still very early in the recovery process...there is no magic date we achieve at which the symptoms of alcoholism disappear.
cravings happen. they just do. in most cases they last about 10-15 mins. which can seem like forever, but if we set a timer and keep ourselves busy or distracted, the cravings will dissipate before the timer goes off. there is no magic to making them GO AWAY, we simply ride them out and don't do anything stupid.
alcohol can't get into us unless we put forth action to make that happen. so don't DO that. lol
cravings happen. they just do. in most cases they last about 10-15 mins. which can seem like forever, but if we set a timer and keep ourselves busy or distracted, the cravings will dissipate before the timer goes off. there is no magic to making them GO AWAY, we simply ride them out and don't do anything stupid.
alcohol can't get into us unless we put forth action to make that happen. so don't DO that. lol
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,431
Hi AWald - congrats on your sober time. I dunno about you but I drank for years - so it was always going to take a little time for the cravings to die off.
There are some great tips and suggestions here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-cravings.html (CarolD's tips for cravings)
I also had to change my life a fair bit.
Going to pubs and wanting the cravings to die off are pretty much diametrically opposed, yeah?
I think sober support helps too.
I don't know what you're doing for your recovery besides posting here every so often but I do believe you'll get out of your recovery everything you put into it - put some more into it...more effort more focus more changes, more support.... see what happens?
D
There are some great tips and suggestions here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-cravings.html (CarolD's tips for cravings)
I also had to change my life a fair bit.
Going to pubs and wanting the cravings to die off are pretty much diametrically opposed, yeah?
I think sober support helps too.
I don't know what you're doing for your recovery besides posting here every so often but I do believe you'll get out of your recovery everything you put into it - put some more into it...more effort more focus more changes, more support.... see what happens?
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 73
Hi all thank for your thoughts. My apologies for not replying I actually didn't think I'd posted this as my phone was playing up that night.
On the posts on moderation: I haven't even been fooling myself about wanting to moderate my drinking if I was to drink again. My cravings take the form of let's just drink tonight and go back to not drinking tomorrow. Kind just wanting my cake and to eat it too.
On going to a pub and quitting be opposed to each other be diametrically opposed I both agree and disagree. For me going to pubs has never been an issue. I would in recent memory drink to moderation there and then get smashed alone. As such I can go the pub and have no desire to drink.
This is to such an extreme that sometimes if I'm craving a drink and I know friends are at the bar I'll go there to escape the craving. Werid right??
As to my recovery: I'm really doing very little of the traditional approaches like AA. I have been focusing on reading philosophy and contemplating how I am living which has helped a bit. I suppose I'm in a cage of my own making I'm too ashamed to admit to others that I have a problem. All the while I am hoping that I can find the strength to free myself.
On the posts on moderation: I haven't even been fooling myself about wanting to moderate my drinking if I was to drink again. My cravings take the form of let's just drink tonight and go back to not drinking tomorrow. Kind just wanting my cake and to eat it too.
On going to a pub and quitting be opposed to each other be diametrically opposed I both agree and disagree. For me going to pubs has never been an issue. I would in recent memory drink to moderation there and then get smashed alone. As such I can go the pub and have no desire to drink.
This is to such an extreme that sometimes if I'm craving a drink and I know friends are at the bar I'll go there to escape the craving. Werid right??
As to my recovery: I'm really doing very little of the traditional approaches like AA. I have been focusing on reading philosophy and contemplating how I am living which has helped a bit. I suppose I'm in a cage of my own making I'm too ashamed to admit to others that I have a problem. All the while I am hoping that I can find the strength to free myself.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
I don't think you have to admit to others that you have a problem.
I just tell people I don't drink. If they knew me when I was drinking I say, "I stopped drinking. I feel so much better when I don't drink!" So far only a couple people asked any further questions and I just repeat the same thing, or something similar.
It's nobody's business.
I just tell people I don't drink. If they knew me when I was drinking I say, "I stopped drinking. I feel so much better when I don't drink!" So far only a couple people asked any further questions and I just repeat the same thing, or something similar.
It's nobody's business.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 1,138
Originally Posted by AWald88
Hi all
It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack.
It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack.
No Dogma Please
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,562
I still have cravings. They weakened at about 120-150 days or so, but I was doing a lot of cognitive work in outpatient rehab to work with cravings, as well as other things. I still have them, mostly centered around anxiety and self medicating.
It's good to have some sort of active recovery program. I used AA in early sobriety, but it really wasn't a good fit for me. I think the AVRT method was useful to me, and definitely cognitive and individual psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience with substance abuse treatment. There are a ton of secular recovery threads that talk about various alternatives to 12 Step programs.
Whatever you choose, I think that an active recovery program, in addition to your reading and posting on SR, is more likely to lead to continued sobriety. I think of it as insurance.
It's good to have some sort of active recovery program. I used AA in early sobriety, but it really wasn't a good fit for me. I think the AVRT method was useful to me, and definitely cognitive and individual psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience with substance abuse treatment. There are a ton of secular recovery threads that talk about various alternatives to 12 Step programs.
Whatever you choose, I think that an active recovery program, in addition to your reading and posting on SR, is more likely to lead to continued sobriety. I think of it as insurance.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 524
Originally Posted by AWald88
Hi all thank for your thoughts. My apologies for not replying I actually didn't think I'd posted this as my phone was playing up that night.
On the posts on moderation: I haven't even been fooling myself about wanting to moderate my drinking if I was to drink again. My cravings take the form of let's just drink tonight and go back to not drinking tomorrow. Kind just wanting my cake and to eat it too.
On going to a pub and quitting be opposed to each other be diametrically opposed I both agree and disagree. For me going to pubs has never been an issue. I would in recent memory drink to moderation there and then get smashed alone. As such I can go the pub and have no desire to drink.
This is to such an extreme that sometimes if I'm craving a drink and I know friends are at the bar I'll go there to escape the craving. Werid right??
As to my recovery: I'm really doing very little of the traditional approaches like AA. I have been focusing on reading philosophy and contemplating how I am living which has helped a bit. I suppose I'm in a cage of my own making I'm too ashamed to admit to others that I have a problem. All the while I am hoping that I can find the strength to free myself.
On the posts on moderation: I haven't even been fooling myself about wanting to moderate my drinking if I was to drink again. My cravings take the form of let's just drink tonight and go back to not drinking tomorrow. Kind just wanting my cake and to eat it too.
On going to a pub and quitting be opposed to each other be diametrically opposed I both agree and disagree. For me going to pubs has never been an issue. I would in recent memory drink to moderation there and then get smashed alone. As such I can go the pub and have no desire to drink.
This is to such an extreme that sometimes if I'm craving a drink and I know friends are at the bar I'll go there to escape the craving. Werid right??
As to my recovery: I'm really doing very little of the traditional approaches like AA. I have been focusing on reading philosophy and contemplating how I am living which has helped a bit. I suppose I'm in a cage of my own making I'm too ashamed to admit to others that I have a problem. All the while I am hoping that I can find the strength to free myself.
Can I just say that I did just that last Saturday. I was at around 140 days sober, and practically had complete peace of mind and serenity. My anxiety had gone, I had no cravings, I didn't care less about drinking...BUT...I thought I'd go out and have a few drinks and then stop drinking again the next day. Unfortunately it doesn't quite work like that. I drank until I passed out, once I had a sip, I wanted lots more of it. I wanted to get completely drunk. The next day, all the anxiety and cravings came flooding back, and even though I resisted to drink, it was insanely tough, and you may not be so lucky, you might end up back to daily drinking very easily. It's now been 6 days sober and I am getting far more urges to drink than I did with 100+ days under my belt. Don't go there.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,776
If you want to get rid of cravings and improve your life, practice gratitude every day. Being grateful changed my life and my recovery for the better. And being grateful can make you happier.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/o...pier.html?_r=0
Being grateful changed my life and my recovery for the better. And being grateful can make you happier. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/o...pier.html?_r=0
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 73
Thanks for the responses guys.
The Cravings are still coming and going but are at the moment quite low key.
As to gratitude: I try to greet each day with the thought that I am fortunate to have been given another day. And attempt to try to live as if it was my last. This helps but is not a cure all for me.
The Cravings are still coming and going but are at the moment quite low key.
As to gratitude: I try to greet each day with the thought that I am fortunate to have been given another day. And attempt to try to live as if it was my last. This helps but is not a cure all for me.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,431
It took me a long time not to crave at all, even tho the cravings got less and less in intensity.
It took me so long i think because I had so many reasons for drinking - emotional, physical, situational - it took me quite a long time to discover and implement non alcoholic solutions for all those things.
Sounds like you're on the right track tho - its a long road, but nowhere near as long as we each gave to drinking.
Stick with it
D
It took me so long i think because I had so many reasons for drinking - emotional, physical, situational - it took me quite a long time to discover and implement non alcoholic solutions for all those things.
Sounds like you're on the right track tho - its a long road, but nowhere near as long as we each gave to drinking.
Stick with it
D
Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 177
Originally Posted by AWald88
Hi all
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
Day 114 today. I've been doing well mostly. Except for one thing. The cravings have really not disappeared.
Sure I go days without thinking about it but then they come back hard. It's weird I went to the pub 3 times at work and had a great time drinking lemon lime bitters. But then the next week on night shift I lay in bed feeling a strong pull to go grab a six pack. Im back home again and have been having super realistic dreams about going to buy drinks.
I've even found myself thinking more and more about drinking again some time in the future. Or that it would not hurt just to drink socially.
I guess what I'm saying is that it sucks to be almost a third of the year in and still struggling with it. But then again I suppose that's what being an alcoholic means. Having to keep fighting.
That said changing the subject a bit, I was out with a mate today and he was talking about how turning 30 makes you reflect on your life. He had noticed that I'd made a whole bunch of minor improvements in how I was living life lately.
He said he had got stuck on all the negatives in his life and felt a bit at a loss/trapped. I couldn't say it to him(I'm sure you see why) but I thought to myself that dispite the challenges I face I've never actually been happier. And I suppose that not drinking has probably played a part in that.
I've still got a long way to go but I just thought I'd check in to share.
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