Hi there
I am new to this app and looking for some advice. I am 10 days aware from my one year of sobriety to alcohol and the last week I’ve had horrible cravings. I haven’t caved and I won’t, but its truly effecting my mental health now. Is this normal close to the 1 year? What am i doing wrong? 
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Hi, I am new here too, close to 2 years sober (had a previous 10 years)
Are you craving alcohol or are you craving what you think alcohol will do for you?
One of my biggest break throughs was figuring that out. I used to have the thought ‘god I need a drink’ but really, I wanted what I thought that drink would do for me. Instead of ‘I need a drink’ what was really behind that was ’ I really don’t want to feel this way any more’, or 'I really don’t want to feel this stressed anymore ’ for example.
When I managed to pause and really look behind that initial thought of wanting or needing a drink, I could then look at alternatives, actual solutions to fix how I was feeling.
Feeling stressed… Look for a solution to that, like exercise, or meditation or something that relaxes you.
Feeling isolated… Reach out to someone to talk to
My brain was hard wired to just serve up ’ I need a drink ’ as the solution when really, that is never the solution.
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To get rid of the mental compulsion you have to have a spiritual change
Try the AA steps, worked for me - I don’t need, want or desire a drink and haven’t for over 5 years
Don’t know how - it just works 
I am sorry you are struggling, @Ceci92 
Working up to and the period around a milestone can be tricky, I know from personal experience and I have heard so from many others on here. No real idea why, it just seems to be the case.
Hang in there please, safe in the knowledge that it does get better again on the other side of the hump!
There are several times in early sobriety when the thought of drinking alcohol looms large. These times are usually around 30 & 90 days, 6 months, and a year. As long as we acknowledged the threat, take steps to pass it by, it will disappear.
Talking to a sponsor or another person who is secure in their sobriety will definitely ease us through these periods.
Hi Alexandra 
welcome to the forum! As already mentioned, milestones can be a cause for those urges to drink/use. I got pretty strong cravings and emotionally was pretty heightened during my 1 year especially. Im coming up to 3 years on Feb 13, 2025 and i do still get urges to use drugs but those urges are not very strong and can be easily dealt with. They are more like fleeting thoughts. Nothing major. Idk if they will ever truly go away.
Im excited for ur 1 year and hope u pop on to celebrate with all of us! Way to go!!
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