Managing Alcohol Cravings After Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Successfully completing a treatment program after maintaining sobriety for an entire stint in rehab can be one of the most rewarding things in life for a recovering addict or alcoholic. Getting sober is no walk in the park, which is probably the reason why the vast majority of addicts and alcoholics don’t choose this path even if they know they have a problem.

For those who do, however, it can lead to a profoundly fulfilling life brimming with the kind of freedom only an addict in recovery understands. Nevertheless, it’s more than likely that we’ll continue to have cravings from time to time, even after treatment. The trick is learning how to go about managing alcohol cravings after treatment. 

Managing Alcohol Cravings After Treatment Effectively

Struggling with alcohol dependence is not an easy journey. Even when you finish treatment for alcohol abuse, you can still experience cravings that can lead to relapse. As such, it’s important to find ways to reduce cravings so that you can eventually stop drinking alcohol. 

Understand Your Triggers

We all have different sets of circumstances, groups of friends, or actual places that can trigger us to want to pick up. These are almost always based on past experiences. In treatment, your counsellors should guide you through a process that involves identifying your triggers. This is a very important step.

While you may think you know yourself, your addictive mind is usually pretty active in the background, so arm yourself with the tools to combat this. Know your triggers inside and out, and use the tools you were given in rehab to avoid or control your triggers to the best of your ability. This will be one of the first big steps toward maintaining your sobriety. 

Avoid Risky Situations

Your sobriety is particularly precious in early recovery, so treat it as such. If there’s a party, event, place, or other engagement where you think you might be tempted to drink or use, the best thing is to avoid it. You won’t always have to do this, so don’t feel like you’re going to be opting out of social gatherings for the rest of your life.

Once again, just be aware of your triggers and don’t put yourself in vulnerable situations. Over time, it will get much easier to actively participate in all aspects of life, regardless of whether or not drugs and alcohol are present. But, until you feel like you’ve got a solid handle on your recovery, nurture it. 

Attend Recovery Meetings and Stay Connected to a Sober Community

Addicts and alcoholics who work a recovery program after the standard 28 days in treatment have a much higher chance of staying sober than those with no continued support. The great thing about programs, support groups like AA, NA, or other community-based abstinence models, is that they’re generally free, and they provide you with a design for living that works.

If you were a cancer patient or a diabetic, you probably wouldn’t stop taking your medicine, right? Think of recovery programs as your medication, only they don’t come with the hefty price tag. They do, however, come with a built-in support community, and they keep a lot of people sober, particularly those who remain consistent. 

Know That Cravings Will Pass

While having a set of tools is going to give you the absolute best shot at maintaining your sobriety, you may still encounter situations where cravings arise. One of the most important things to remember is that this is normal and you’re not a bad person if you have the urge to drink or use. Also, the craving will pass. Think of it like a feeling—a feeling which, of course, isn’t a fact. Your feelings come and go, just like your cravings. 

Build a Good Support System

That said, if you’re struggling to cope with your urges, call for backup. Try to get one of your rehab counsellors on the line and speak with them. Or, if you’re in a twelve-step programme and you have a sponsor, give him or her a call and tell them how you’re feeling. If you don’t have these people in your life or you can’t reach them, call someone else in recovery and talk to them instead. 

Connection is one of the most powerful tools we have once we get sober, and luckily for us, there’s a huge global community of people in recovery. So, unless you went to rehab alone or you’re staying sober in your bedroom, you likely have people you can call—people who will understand exactly what you’re going through. Lean on them. 

Explore New Passions

Sometimes, cravings arise because you’re not preoccupied with healthy passions that keep you busy. Working out, reading, art, and other hobbies all keep you busy and shift your mind from substance use. Exploring these new interests can be incredibly beneficial since it reduces idle time and can even lead to new social connections with like-minded individuals.

If finding new hobbies on your own seems too overwhelming, you can try to bring a friend with you. This will make you feel more comfortable participating in these activities. It’s also a way to strengthen your relationships and bond with your friends and other loved ones. 

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Options to Stop Drinking

Fortunately, there are different alcohol addiction treatments to stop drinking. A combination of these treatments is a good way to help you overcome addiction and the effects of alcohol use disorder. 

Rehab

The most effective treatment to help you drink less and overcome the symptoms of alcohol addiction is rehab. Rehab will be customised to fit your needs and goals for better results. It can also be inpatient or outpatient. The former is when you live in a rehab facility 24/7 and receive round-the-clock support, while the latter is when you live at home and attend scheduled therapy sessions in a rehab centre. 

Medication Assisted Treatment

Professionals can also prescribe medication during treatment to treat alcohol use disorder. Two medications that can help with heavy drinking are naltrexone and acamprosate. Naltrexone blocks the parts of your brain that “feel” pleasure when you drink, while acamprosate can help reduce the unpleasant physical and emotional feelings that can occur when someone stops drinking alcohol.

Treatment and Therapies

During your addiction treatment, different evidence-based therapies will be used to help people with alcohol use disorder. One of the most common treatments used for addiction includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where you can identify the underlying causes of addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome them. 

In addition, holistic therapies can complement evidence-based therapies for a more well-rounded recovery. Activities like yoga, massage therapy, and meditation can help you find a sense of inner peace and improve your overall well-being. 

Aftercare

An aftercare program is also important when it comes to overcoming substance abuse. Remember that dealing with addiction is a lifelong journey, and you need strong support systems. For instance, relapse prevention plans are invaluable to your recovery journey. These plans connect you with support groups, continued therapy, and other essential resources to help you maintain your progress from treatment. 

Overcome Your Urge to Drink with Kembali

If you or someone you love is struggling to get sober or stay clean, Kembali can help. It’s never an easy journey to get through this problem. However, our team has extensive experience in providing professional addiction treatment so that you can achieve sobriety. 

Contact us today to learn more about our rehab and treatment programs. You don’t have to do this alone.