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Physical discomfort, unfortunately, is just the tip of the iceberg. The real challenge is the anxiety that results from quitting those damaging chemicals. After the first seven to ten days, the withdrawal sickness becomes bearable. In fact, you’ll soon start to feel better, especially in a proper drug detox program. However, this is also when your brain starts to crave your drug of choice badly. Drug cravings will begin to rule your thoughts, and you must have a plan on in mind to help you work through the intensity without caving in.
During recovery, you’ll repeatedly hear the saying “One day at a time.” Some might deter you and claim that’s too short of a goal. In fact, they might tell you that you should be setting longer-term goals to help work through your drug cravings. Let me assure you that they are incorrect!
In those very early days of recovery, you must focus on your wellness and keep from becoming overwhelmed. Your brain is chemically addicted and is unable to process input correctly. When you take on too much or allow enormous levels of stress into your life, you will become mentally overwhelmed. Your brain will kick into high-gear and amplify cravings for drugs or alcohol.
Here are some of the craving scenarios that you could experience.
Because these happen when you’re sleeping, dreams about using are particularly challenging. Additionally, we can’t control our unconscious brain and how it’s processing during sleep. Be proactive and keep vigilant if you experience this drug craving scenario.
Some things that can help you avoid this are listed below.
One difficulty is cutting out all that you’ve done, seen, and experience when you were using. This means that even mundane things can trigger drug cravings—something you see or hear, for example. Find new experiences as you learn to live life as your best, sober self and learn to appreciate the world around you.
It’s inevitable that you’ll come across something to remind you about your days of abusing drugs or alcohol. You’ll also occasionally look back at the fun you had when you were high or drunk. It’s urgent that you find a way to keep those memories in perspective every time that they try to intrude on your sobriety.
Every day you should strive to avoid negative thoughts that can derail you.
A big part of drug cravings are the associations we build between the dopamine and seratonin releases we know we can achieve through substance abuse. However, the best way to combat addiction and our triggers is to forge new associations with these chemicals, by finding new ways to give ourselves dopamine and seratonin.
As you recover, you must focus on living day by day. Know the things that are within your immediate control and avoid those which will overwhelm you. Set daily goals that will enable you to feel ownership of the day. Carry those victories with you to start off the following day. Such a structure will help you set yourself up for a successful recovery.
A life of addiction is a long, hard road. Even as you recover, you’ll fight to find yourself again and learn to cherish the freedom from your addiction. However, you will get that taste of recovery and see firsthand how fulfilling your life can be when you have learned to live without cravings. Think through your alcohol or drug cravings from start to finish. Understand completely the consequences of what you’ll lose if you give in to those thoughts and who you’ll hurt the most if you decide to use again.
We want to believe that we can use safely again one day, but that’s not going to happen. There is no safe way that an addict can use any drugs or alcohol, ever. Even shifting from alcohol to drugs, or vice versa leads to a catastrophic relapse.
Have a plan for handling cravings, surround yourself with a support system of people who are clean and sober, attend groups, find something else to focus on, and get through your cravings one day at a time.
Most of all, do not give up. You’ll soon see that you’re almost to the finish line.
Charles F. has been an active part of the Florida recovery community for over 5 years. He began as a behavioral health technician at an addiction treatment facility in Ocala, Florida and has since begun training as a Licensed Addiction and Chemical Dependency counselor in Boca Raton. Charles’ passion involves the promotion of recovery and helping spread the hope of recovery to as many readers as possible!
