Alcohol Cravings in Recovery: Duration and Strategies for Coping

Hangovers or withdrawal from alcohol can worsen anxiety symptoms, especially among people who drink heavily or those with alcohol use disorder. Anxiety occurs in addition to the typical health risks, which range from risky behaviors to weight gain, liver damage, and other physical effects. When quitting alcohol, it’s key to rebalance your body and brain, Beste stresses.

Alcohol cravings: What they are and how to manage them

That said, permanently changing your relationship with alcohol may require a more in-depth approach. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some medications to help treat AUD. Doctors prescribe these medications to people who have an AUD diagnosis. Breaking this habit loop can be useful in overcoming alcohol cravings. One way to do this is to identify this loop and curb alcohol cravings then build new routines to break the cycle. Once a person identifies the activities and situations that can cue their cravings, they can work to avoid some of them.

Alcohol withdrawal can have dangerous effects

One of the active ingredients in milk thistle extract is silymarin, which may improve liver function in people with alcohol use disorder. Dairy products in general are good sources of calcium, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals that you’ll need to replenish to stay healthy and fight cravings. The fiber-rich, complex carbohydrates in whole-grain breads and foods like brown rice, quinoa, barley, and farro are digested more slowly, which help keep blood sugar levels steady.

• Recognizing the signs of alcohol cravings is a crucial part of managing them.
• Without it, the brain makes chemical demands and requests for alcohol.
• Combining medication with therapy and other interventions can prove even more helpful than medication alone.
• You may need further support if you experience them regularly or find they are disrupting your work and social life.
• Your brain learns that behavior, and begins to crave alcohol whenever you are feeling depressed or anxious.
• Most times, alcohol cravings are a psychological response to certain situations or from exposure to a trigger.

Practice Coping Skills

Treatment options vary from counseling and what is Oxford House therapy to medication-assisted treatments. For those looking for comprehensive care, considering a drug rehab program can be a significant step. Such programs offer structured treatment environments that address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Tips to Cut Down on How Much You Drink

One way or another, if you can change your response to the urge, you can then change your response to the negative feelings. This signal is telling you to have a drink, but it’s not controlling you. With practice, the urge can become a signal to use an urge coping strategy. Treatment specialists are highly trained to approach this subject in a caring manner. A healthcare provider aims to collect only the essential information they need to begin the admissions process.

When taking disulfiram, drinking even a small amount of alcohol can produce effects such as flushing, headache, and nausea. If certain environments, scenarios and places tempt you to drink, the simplest and most effective approach may be to avoid them, at least temporarily. Think about these ebbs and flows as though they were waves in the ocean.

• When quitting alcohol, it’s key to rebalance your body and brain, Beste stresses.
• If you ever find yourself wondering, “why am I craving alcohol,” there are probably several reasons.
• Some people experience anxiety or panic attacks along with their hangovers the day after consuming too much alcohol.
• Triggers can be as simple as being around others who are drinking, feeling bored, or having a memory about alcohol use.

More Articles To Read About Alcohol Recovery

Studies have shown that hydration can play a key role in treating alcohol withdrawal and cravings. For instance, research published in 2017 showed that increasing water intake after stopping alcohol use led to significantly fewer reports of cravings from patients. Therefore, simply drinking more water during alcohol detox can help a lot. The NIAAA offers a printable urge tracker and a worksheet for handling triggers.