When an individual develops higher drinking habits, alcohol shifts from being a luxury to a need. A dysfunctional connection with alcohol may make quitting it challenging. Even after receiving alcohol addiction treatment, some individuals could still have trouble overcoming their alcohol cravings. For example, it is possible that as you sit at work and all you can think about is when you can have your next drink!
It may be very confusing when sudden alcohol cravings strike those who have become accustomed to the alcohol recovery program. If not properly managed, the need to drink might soon result in a relapse.
What are alcohol cravings?
Strong impulses to consume alcohol can be brought on by either internal conditions or by external factors like things, events, or people. Alcohol cravings can either be the result of withdrawal symptoms or a trigger, which might vary from person to person. They can frequently occur to those who are trying to quit drinking. These alcohol cravings can make you think that it is safe for you to drink alcohol after attaining the treatment.
Why do you crave alcohol?
While you may have mentally recovered from drinking alcohol, the taste and longing for its effects on our mind and body may resurface sometimes.Since some neurochemicals are repressed during alcohol withdrawal, your brain craves alcohol to restore its normal functioning. Your brain remembers the euphoric effect of alcohol which results in a strong desire to drink. Moreover, alcohol withdrawal symptoms come with unpleasant physical and psychological effects and you might start to crave alcohol to overcome these symptoms.
How long do alcohol cravings last?
The alcohol cravings depend on the person, their surroundings and the situation they are in. Severe addiction leads to longer-lasting cravings. The majority of alcoholics in recovery are unable to pinpoint the precise time when their cravings subsided. For certain individuals, cravings can last up to several years and for some addicts, they can lessen over time. Some people may never completely overcome their cravings, but perhaps they use relapse-prevention techniques they learned in alcohol rehab centers to help them cope with these episodes.
How to prevent alcohol cravings?
If you are undertaking an alcohol treatment program or you have successfully completed it, cravings are more likely to happen due to the triggers. Learn several strategies for occupying your thoughts of alcohol cravings.
- Identify and avoid triggers:
Knowing your triggers can help you recognize them and act accordingly to prevent them in the future. You can use your coping technique when you come across an unexpected trigger to prevent any urges from growing worse. One way is to keep note of your desires for alcohol for a few weeks to figure out what prompts them.
- Learn coping techniques for triggers:
Certain internal triggers of drinking like emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations are tricky and hard to deal with. So the best way is not to entertain the thought of drinking because the more you think about it, the more likely you are to give in. The most important thing is to ignore any thought that is causing you to consider drinking.
- Challenge your thought and remind yourself why you went to rehab recovery. Think about the negative consequences of drinking.
- Perform distracting activities like watching something, listening to music, reading a book, exercising, or anything you prefer.
- Talk with a trustable person.
- Change the place immediately when you have a trigger and take a walk outside in fresh air.
- During an intense craving, avoid any stressful situations.
- Avoid any risky social situations:
Avoid any high-risk situations like going to a drinking party or meeting a person who is into drinking. Besides, asks your family members or friends not to drink in front of you and make sure you do not have alcohol handy.
- Find a new life:
Build a new meaningful life with no place for drinking.
- Remove bad memories
- Indulge in self-care
- Love yourself
- Develop new activities and interests
- Opt for healthy ways to deal with stress
- Keep yourself busy
- Practice mindfulness and meditation
- Do simple diet changes to help lessen the alcohol cravings. Include fiber-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Drink fluids containing electrolytes
- Exercise more often as regular exercise can curb alcohol cravings.
- Take help of therapies like Cognitive Behavior therapy or group therapy
Epilogue:
When you are trying to quit drinking, one of the most challenging factors of withdrawal is cravings as it is the natural symptom of addiction. Cravings resemble a struggle between the parts of you that want to stop drinking and the parts that still desire the wonderful effects that alcohol has on you.
To avoid having to cope with cravings alone, it is essential to speak with a medical expert. If you are in an ongoing recovery with a luxury rehab center, talk with your therapist there and they will help you to reduce your cravings. Remember that quitting alcohol is not an impossible process, if you can overcome alcohol cravings, you are a winner!
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