To everyone struggling with cravings

Life in Recovery
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U have to tell on ur cravings let ur sober community know ur going though don’t be shy it helps trust me

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So true. How are you doing @Dustin1 ?

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Thanks for the reminder, Dustin.

In the spirit of that wisdom, I will share. I have been mildly craving a few different types of alcoholic beverages lately. The cravings are easy to overcome so far, but I don’t like it that those thoughts have popped up for me lately.

Thus far, I have curbed the cravings by using a few tactics.

  1. Recommitting to visiting Sober Talk frequently for inspiration, perspective, and community.
  2. Recommitting to posting on ST more frequently, because my natural tendency is to lurk. Participating reinforces accountability, and social interaction is healthy even though I’m often too shy to seek it out.
  3. Playing the tape forward. I imagine the first drink with a clear and honest mind. I would probably enjoy it for a moment, but the moment would be incredibly short lived. So, I would either feel unfulfilled AND disappointed (to put it lightly) for breaking my string of sober successes (5 months!), or I would spend the rest of the night trying to stack those brief moments of enjoyment, have way too much to drink, still lose my streak, feel tired for days, feel depressed for weeks, and possibly trigger a much longer lasting slide/bender. If I messed up my longest streak ever, which it has taken me years of stops and starts to achieve, it could be years or never before I am truly and fully back on the wagon again. NOT. F***ING. WORTH. IT.

These tactics have all helped me overcome cravings without ever really feeling like I am truly at the edge of relapse. More like pervasive thoughts that I wave away like mosquitos. The fact that I am having the thoughts at all is troubling, though. I don’t currently see a therapist or attend meetings with any sobriety support groups. If these pervasive thoughts persist or become worse, I will attend a meeting AND seek counseling before doing something stupid.

Thanks again for the great reminder, Dustin. I hope you are holding up alright in your own recovery.

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