Simple Things to Do to Curb Alcohol Cravings

Living in Recovery After Alcohol Rehab

Making the decision to commit to alcohol rehab is, without question, one of the most important decisions that you will ever make in your life. Every day, there are countless people not only around the country but throughout the world that struggle with a dependence on alcohol. In order to truly overcome your alcohol addiction, you will need to partner with an experienced substance abuse team who can help you to address the different aspects of your life that may have led to your binge drinking and overall dependence on alcohol. 

Before you can take this step, however, it’s possible that you may need to commit to alcohol detox. Alcohol detox provides you with the safe and sober environment that you need to manage your alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are unpredictable and can be potentially dangerous to your health. Regardless of whether you needed brief interventions to get you to the point of understanding you need help or you reached out on your own, a top-notch treatment facility will almost always recommend that work through an alcohol detox program so that you can make the most out of your time in substance abuse treatment. Depending on the severity of your addiction, it’s possible that you may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms within mere hours of the time that you quit drinking. These symptoms may vary and cause you to crave alcohol, feel nauseous, or cause something more severe like a seizure. Due to the unpredictability of withdrawal symptoms, it’s never recommended that you attempt to go through detox on your own. Instead, you should always turn to an alcohol addiction treatment center for the care and support that you need when you’re ready to withdraw from alcohol. 

The next important decision that you will need to make after you withdraw from alcohol is to decide the treatment program that you would like to commit to afterward. In many cases, your treatment team will recommend that you commit to an inpatient treatment program so that you can stop drinking alcohol once and for all. There is a common misconception that just because a person has gone through the alcohol withdrawal process, they are cured of their alcohol addiction. However, the reality is that there is a physical and psychological aspect to alcohol and drug addiction that can only be addressed through a comprehensive treatment program. During inpatient treatment, you will have the opportunity to live in a sober environment throughout the course of your recovery and you will also learn more about what you can do to curb your alcohol cravings. 

If inpatient treatment is not an option, you can always opt to commit to an outpatient program. An outpatient program is a great option for a person that may be working or going to school full time or even part-time. There is much more flexibility in an outpatient program which is part of what makes them so appealing for a person that may not be completely comfortable with the premise of addiction treatment or may have other important responsibilities in their life. An outpatient program also gives you the opportunity to attend more Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and put some of the tools that you’re learning throughout the course of your treatment to the test. If you experience any issues or problems during your treatment or your treatment program needs to be modified in any way, simply speak with your treatment team so that you can continue to make the most out of your time in your respective recovery program. 

Once you complete your treatment program, you can then focus on what you can do to curb alcohol cravings that you will undeniably feel off and on throughout the rest of your life. There are several small yet effective steps that you can take in order to keep yourself focused on your overall goal. 

Track Sober Days

There is nothing wrong with celebrating the accomplishments that you have been able to achieve. In order to continue to grow a sense of pride in yourself as you continue to grow in your health and your sobriety, you should track your sober days. Although these days may start off slow and you may experience certain challenges, during these days, downloading an app or keeping a calendar of all of the days that you have sober can help to keep you motivated as you continue on in your recovery journey. 

Think about The Risks Of Relapsing

When you’re in recovery, you will have the opportunity to explore the aspects of your life that may have contributed to your addiction. You will also develop a better understanding of what you should do in order to avoid any potential risks of relapse. For instance, it’s possible that there may be certain people in your life that may have negatively impacted your sobriety. If you complete your addiction treatment and go back to your old habits of being close with a person who is struggling with their own form of addiction, it’s possible that this could lead you back down the road of your own addiction. 

The places that you frequent can also have an impact on your sobriety. For example, for a period of time, it may be better for you to avoid going to restaurants that serve alcohol. If your friends want to meet up at a bar, it’s often better for you that you avoid going to a venue like this as this could cause you to feel tempted to give in to your addiction once again. The people, places, and things that you surround yourself with all have an impact on your overall health and well-being as you take steps toward living a sober life. 

Explore Healthy Foods

Keeping not only a healthy mind but a healthy body is key when it comes to maintaining your sobriety and not giving in to the temptation of alcohol cravings. It’s always encouraged that you modify your diet to include more healthy options. During the time that you were in active addiction, it’s likely that you did not maintain the best eating habits. Healthy food habits are typically something that falls by the wayside when you’re focused on your addiction. However, when you’re in treatment you will learn more about the benefits of adding healthy foods to your life. You can take the opportunity to shop for these healthy foods by taking the time to go to farmers’ markets where you may meet other people that are focused on their overall well-being. You will be able to learn more about the benefits of healthy eating and you may be able to develop your system of support by taking this step. 

Finding Relapse Prevention Resources

During the time that you’re in alcohol addiction treatment, it’s imperative that you focus on steps that you can take to learn more about relapse prevention. Although it’s important that you commit to an alcohol addiction treatment program, it’s critical to understand that your substance abuse can impact your life again unless you set yourself up for success. 

Something that is strongly recommended and can help when it comes to preventing relapse is to work with a treatment facility that offers aftercare or a sober living program. Sober living and aftercare can help you to transition into a normal rotation of life now that you are done with your alcohol and drug treatment program. Aftercare can help you to stay in touch with your treatment team and others that have completed their own alcoholic dependence treatment programs whereas sober living can provide you with the sober environment that you need as you begin to transition into a life where you will face temptations, therefore, you still look to the additional help and support from your recovery team. 

One of the best things that you can do both during the time that you’re in treatment and for the rest of your life is to locate and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. You will quickly notice that Alcoholics Anonymous AA meetings closely resemble the premise of a group therapy session. One of the best things about an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is the fact that they take place in nearly every town in various parts throughout the day. If you can’t make it to an Alcoholics Anonymous AA meeting in person, there are also virtual options that you can take advantage of. 

Get Help For Alcohol Cravings at Resurgence

If you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, the treatment team at Resurgence Behavioral Health is here to provide you with the help and the care that you need to tackle this serious disease. We offer a multitude of addiction treatments that will help you to address your substance abuse. If you find yourself struggling to quit drinking or you need help with alcohol cravings that you may be experiencing, we encourage you to get in touch with our alcohol counseling specialists today at (855) 458-0050.

Learn what simple things you can do to help curb alcohol cravings! #curbalcoholcravings #alcoholcravings #resurgencehttps://t.co/x9mT7YhTvf

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) February 16, 2022

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

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