Lancashire

I am on day 7 and I want a drink.

I am not going to, but I have the craving, I didnt get them early on, but there here now. I am still learning to deal with them and to learn self restraint and AVRT.

I know they are only temporary and I know to surf the urge.

Can anyone tell me when they stop getting the cravings. I know with smoking it took 3-4 weeks.

Cecilia44

I think the physical cravings abate after about a week or two, but the psychological ones can last for quite some time. Make sure you get plenty of sugar into your system while battling the physical cravings. For me, I prefer orange juice because the natural sugar in it really seems to help.

Anna

It varies from person to person, but for me, it was a few weeks.

The main thing is to know what's happening and to not be pulled into it. You're doing great.

GracieLou

What is happening? What is going on in your life right now that makes you want to pick up? Stress? Bored? Lonely? Angry?

What's up?

Foolsgold186

Hi Lancashire,

I still have urges to drink and I'm over 6 months sober. This is something I've had to learn to live with. I like to keep busy, go to a meeting, come on SR, phone a friend, talk about how I feel, eat, watch a film. These were all suggested to me in early recovery. Just recently I've been meditating (another great suggestion) and I'm about to try pregnancy yoga!

Its recognising your urge and playing the tape until the end. As time goes on you'll feel such pride for yourself drinking just wont seem worth it.

Wishing you well.

Leigh x

SoberLeigh

As Cecilia mentioned, the physical cravings lasted a few weeks but the psychologiclal cravings lasted far, far longer. That is why a plan for sobriety is so important.

matilda123

GracieLou's questions are good ones, and are good to ask when the cravings hit. They can be physical, especially in the beginning, but at a certain point they are more situational.

I always thought that if I quit drinking--bam--things would be better, and they were. But there are a lot of patterns and habits in one's life that have to change too to ensure sobriety (or at least so it seems to me, early as I am on this journey).

Lancashire

7 day sober, been drinking for 22 years. I have the best week of my life and I mean that, I have had good sleep, no booze, no arguments. Works been very goods, good friends that understand what I am going through and the icing on the cake is I am now a part of a fantastic community.

Whats making want to drink, I think its addictive habit.

I have enough self control to stay strong, I will take the advice on sugar, I think I need more.

Lancashire

Just had a big glug of Vimto and starting to feel better already.

anattaboy

Yay! Onward! I've had 2 in almost 7 months--one that lasted like 20 minutes. Talking it through and posting helped me. Above all I made it and so did you. Congrats!

Standing~4~My~5

happy to hear:-)!!!!!!

Standing~4~My~5

happy to hear:-)!!!

BeBetterforkids

hang in there - it goes away. Just keep busy until it subsides. You're tough - you can do it!!

Soberwolf

I was having out of the blue cravings up until month 5 it wasnt every day or every week but the most important bit of info i can give is they dont last they are thoughts

Exellent job posting & exposing the AV

This wont last forever there will be days like this in the beginning i know its crappy but no point drinking doing it over & over thats all we were doing dead end roads

Funny you say vimto i used to drink apple & blackcurrent in times like this

have a nice cup of green tea my friend your dealing with craving in an awesome manner

and i commend you for it

matilda123

Good for you! I know for me that once I started feeling better my AV started playing tricks on me, trying to convince me that I could have "just one drink." Do you think that might be happening for you? If so, it can be helpful to go back and look at older posts you wrote, and remind yourself why you don't want to go back to that hell.

GracieLou

Are you doing any type of recovery program?

I know, for me, self control or self will would only take me so far. I had to get to the reason I drank like I did to begin with. A recovery program can help you do that.

If I had not discovered why I wanted to run away into the bottle, even on good days, then there was no way I was going to stay sober on bad ones.

ChloeRose63

Eat something! I usually eat something endulgent like a big chocolate sundae. Then I deal with the guilt of pigging out on that. It is easier than the quilt of giving into the alcohol craving and the after effects of alcohol.

Fly N Buy

Thanks for the post, and great job on 7 days!
I am sure you've come across the acronym HALT, but I'll post it just in case as it helps me and many others in my experience. Satisfying these issues helped me bypass the urges/cravings early on.

Hungry - eat!
Angry - chill/phone a friend/SR
Lonely - Phone a friend / SR!!
Tired - Rest/sleep (Even a 20 minute cat nap helps this geezer.....)

Keep up the good work!!

dwtbd

Hersey's Special Dark !

ReadyAtLast

I had the same problem. I didn't find it particularly difficult to stop drinking. It was staying stopped that was the problem.

It's good you are aware of it and expected it. Many feel so good in early sobriety, particularly when a bad thing has happened. But memories fade, it doesn't seem THAT bad and we convince ourselves it's ok to drink.

For me, it was changing habits which over time meant my life was less associated with drinking. The regualr cravings eased after a few weeks when I'd formed new habits.

Urge surfing is great because when you get a craving it really does seem like it will never end. For me, it was almost like drinking was the ONLY thing to do to stop it. I made that mistake at 6 weeks twice.

My advice would be to be aware and do anything-eat, drink anything non alco, exercise, sleep, any distraction and it will pass