Chung

Felt like drinking today after work. I won't pick up, but I had to admit it.

doggonecarl

Cravings are the plague of early recovery. It's okay to acknowledge it.

It's not okay to give in to them.

least

Cravings don't last forever. Ride it out. You'll be stronger for it.

Kaytea

Ughh me too good thing the cafeteria in the high school I teach at doesn’t have a keg!

Chung

Just came down to boredom and then came home and my youngest was throwing a temper about doing his homework...riding it out and want to get through the night.

SoberRecovery22

Before I relapsed someone drinking in a video set on these cravings everytime. They suck but they do fade. They make you feel like they never will but it's not true

Dee74

Have you seen this link Chung?
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-cravings.html (CarolD's tips for cravings)

D

Chung

Great tips! I will have to reread over and over.

Buckley3

Gotta say, you are really doing good work. It isn't easy in the early days and you are making your way through it.

It gets better.

Make sure to give yourself some credit. For as much self-loathing that you've felt (I get it, been there) I think it's important for you to see that despite everything you've remained focused and firm on not drinking.

There's strength in you, or you wouldn't have made it to this point. I really hope you practice telling yourself & reminding yourself of that, it can give you confidence over time.

Keep going, it definitely gets better.

Best-

B

Aardvajk

I'm on my sixth day today and I had a major craving/urge the night before last. I did ride it out and get to a meeting but it took several hours before it passed.

I figure each time I do ride it out, it makes it slightly easier to believe next time that it will pass. Doesn't feel like it at the time, so only experience can teach me that it passes.

Based on my previous experience getting and staying sober, as time passes the cravings pass quicker, occur less often and feel less physical when they do, but I know I have no shortcuts and have to just get through each one when it happens.

"Make hay while the sun shines" is some of the best advice I ever got in recovery. It is up to me to use the times I am well to shore up my defences so they are stronger in the harder times. I can't construct defences when I am ill, so I need to avoid complacency and work on my recovery as hard as I can while I am well.

That's just how it seems for me.

Branches

I felt a huge urge today to have a nice cold cocktail after an unnecessarily long day at work. I used to love how alcohol would ease my neck and shoulder pain that comes with my sedentary occupation. Love how the stresses of the day would melt away. But, I did not. I find there's a certain time of day that if I can distract myself through, then I'm okay, especially once I have dinner. It gets easier.