Overcoming Alcohol Addiction

About a couple of months after your last drink, you may suddenly experience withdrawal-like symptoms. This is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome , or protracted withdrawal. For most alcoholics, the acute withdrawal phase lasts between five and seven days. (This is roughly the duration of most detox programs, as well.) If you are more heavily dependent on alcohol, expect a longer acute withdrawal period. Trying to quit alcohol when you have alegitimate addictionwill bring on one of the most difficult forms of withdrawal that you could experience when quitting any substance. And even when you make it a few months into alcohol detox and recovery, alcohol is hard to put completely out of sight and out of mind. The cravings will reprise periodically, and alcohol is virtually everywhere once you step outside of your house.

Additionally, the calcium found in dairy serves a dual purpose. When these chemicals skyrocket, individuals will experience enhanced feelings of pleasure. how to reduce alcohol cravings Now that you have quit drinking alcohol, you have all this time on your hands. You may even be surprised at how much time alcohol took up in your day.

Find new meaning in life

Sometimes you can’t avoid internal triggers which may be feelings you have or a physical sensation that comes on from time to time. Once you begin to crave alcohol, distract yourself with something that takes your attention. Maybe that would be watching an interesting documentary, doing a cleaning chore, or lifting weights. Check back in with yourself in 30 – 45 minutes and see if the urges intensity has changed. And if the first distraction isn’t helpful, try another. Program specifically designed to help you track and confront your alcohol cravings.

In our app we ask people to keep track of the date, time, intensity (1–10), and duration of their alcohol cravings. Taking note of everything allows you to realize that urges increase and decrease in intensity over time. And keeping track over time gives you the chance to see if your efforts to reduce your urges and cravings are working. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve within five days. But in some alcoholics, withdrawal is not just unpleasant—it can be life threatening.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

They may have been drinking for so long that they have forgotten, or started drinking when they were so young that they didn’t develop any hobbies. If you don’t know what activities you like, try as many as possible. You’ll be sure to find something you can get stuck into. Engaging in one of your hobbies is a great way to keep alcohol cravings at bay.