So I’ve been sober for 44 days after almost 10 years of drinking pretty much every day. I’ve been told it should be getting easier, but I still have a strong desire to drink, more so to relax. Is this normal? Also, I’ve ALWAYS hated sweets and sugar, until I stopped drinking! Is it normal to have sugar cravings? What other things did you discover after stopping drinking? I feel I have way more to put, but I’m curious what other people are going through!
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I was never much of a drinker honestly, but had used drugs for 22 years. The cravings were super strong the 1st week. They come and go. Definitely cravings for sweets and sugar and carbs. My eating honestly has not been great. I find I am turning to food as emotional eating now that I am no longer using drugs. I am 77 days today and the cravings for drugs for me have gotten less. They are not as intense and dont happen as often but they do still happen. My healthy coping skills have helped ALOT to cut back those cravings. Congratulations on ur sobriety by the way!!! Huge work you’ve put in so far!
I even changed my avatar to Cookiemonster 
Of course. What we learned ourselves for a decade isn’t gone easily.
But yes, it dies get easier.
Are you working a program ?
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I am not. Kind of just went cold turkey and figuring it out as I do with everything in life. Probably not the best choice honestly. I appreciate your feedback!
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That’s amazing you’ve gone 77 days!! I hope to learn some healthy coping skills too, as what I’m doing now isn’t the greatest. I’m glad to have other humans to talk with about this!
That’s a great start, I did it the same way 
A program can help us dealing with the reasons we’re wanting to use though, so you may want to look into a 12 step program.
I also drank almost every day for 10 years. Highly functioning alcoholic and nobody would have guessed that almost every night I would drink to the point of pretty much passing out on the couch. I’m on day 32 AF. I still have cravings for sure. They don’t last as long as in the beginning as I’ve discovered more of my triggers and ways to deal with them such as making sure that I eat regularly and sleep well. l really needed to learn other ways to relax. I think it was more about giving myself permission to relax. Before, I felt guilty if I wasn’t doing something so I would drink to try to keep going and then after drinking enough I could almost let go of the guilt and just sit down and do nothing or pass out which really was such a waste of time. Now, I make sure I listen to my body when exhaustion sets in. I’ve been doing a lot more meditation and listening to music a lot more and also getting out for walks twice a day. I used to focus more on high intensity exercise but I find I do need ways to relax and calm myself so walking more slowly in nature is really important for me now. The sugar cravings are completely normal. I definitely am trying to make the healthiest food choices possible but also I am trying to be more lenient in other areas of my life because quitting alcohol is the most important thing for me right now.
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Hi @Elletse 
Great you’re keeping sober 
Well, when you have these cravings for alcohol what exactly are you thinking about? What is the feeling alcohol should bring you which you desire?
- Are you sure you can’t find this feeling, this satisfaction in something else? Maybe some activity?
- Are you sure that alcohol will help you to satisfy your cravings for the feeling in long term? Or is it just short term of feeling good? How are you going to feel later on that road? Would you feel happy about your decision to go back to drink, or is it something you’re no longer finding helpful?
I hope you’ll find your answers and they’ll help you to make your decision easier when you’re craving alcohol. Remember that you are not giving anything up. You are putting alcohol aside, so you can gain
In regards to sweets; yes, it’s normal eating more sugar after you stopped drinking. Alcohol contains lots of sugar and you suddenly cut it off, so your body is looking for different sources of it. Don’t beat yourself up and allow yourself to have some of it. It’s better than booze 
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Firstly, congrats on 44 days, that’s HUGE! I too had gotten to the point of drinking almost everyday and like you just stopped cold turkey so I totally understand how you feel. I am sure if I went back to a post around that day 44 mark I was probably saying the same. I am 7.5 months now, and it has definitely gotten easier with the cravings for alcohol. I mostly don’t even think about it or crave it anymore even when I’m around others who are doing it. I did have a bit of a craving yesterday which was odd for me at this point, but it was a VERY stressful work day (more than usual). I was just feeling like I wanted to hit the chill switch and started getting this feeling that would help. Thankfully, I worked through the urge and distracted myself with other things. But one of those things was stress eating banana pudding . I guess better banana pudding than booze. The sugar cravings are a real thing though because booze is so stinking high in sugar, so your body looks to replace that. They say it takes on average 14-16 months for an addict’s brain to recalibrate serotonin levels to that of an atypical brain. I am looking forward to the next milestone of 14 months and hoping I feel 100% recalibrated by then. A friend of mine stopped cold turkey about 3 years ago and he enjoys that side of life now. He is a regular at neighborhood parties and has no issue saying no to booze when offered, and it no longer even phases him. I am confident we will all get to that point as well even though it might feel impossible sometimes. Keep up the good work in living a sober life. 
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I’ve never looked into one! How does one go about doing that?
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Wow! Congrats on the thirty two days! Thank you for sharing your story! I found a lot of it very helpful and similar to things I need to be working on as well!
@Jana1988 Those are super helpful questions to think about, I’ve honestly never put it into perspective like that. Thank you for reaching out!!
@determinedworkingmom- Ahh It feels so nice to have someone to talk to with similar experiences as me! Congrats on the 7.5 months! That’s amazing! I cant wait to not fight my brain as much about it or for the recalibration period, I had no clue about that! I am currently stuck on ice cream every night, in which I justify it as its better than booze, but I’m starting to realize I probably need to find a healthier option soon lol Maybe banana pudding Thank you for reaching out!!
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I’m at 112 days today and found the cravings started to decrease in the 70s days. I found that a square of 85% dark chocolate and a cup of black coffee really got me through.
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By going to meetings
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Thank you for your help
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I’d say just introducing yourself here was a pretty great start. Welcome! 
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Yes. Both are normal. First, over 10 years drinking becomes a ritual. I drank for 22 years and had a strong ritual. Humans love their rituals, which is why we have so many of them. End a ritual and restlessness and anxiety result. The best thing to do is replace your former ritual with a new, healthy and sober one. Maybe you walk and listen to a new favorite podcast. Maybe you try a new recipe for dinner every night. Maybe you take a yoga class. Doesn’t matter what, as long as it’s something you enjoy and can look forward to.
Craving sweets or carbs is very common. Alcohol breaks down into sugar when being processed. Remove the alcohol and your body craves the sugar. Plus, sweets and carb rich foods are comforting. Your anxious ritual and sugar-deprived mind and body is looking for a replacement. It will pass with time. I ate bags and bags of tater tots during my first few months of sobriety.
Well I am back again after a pretty big chunk of time 
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