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Many individuals with addiction issues find it helpful to have a plan when they experience cravings. After attending rehab and living an addiction-free lifestyle for a while, one does not want a craving to derail all their hard work.
There are many “tricks” to remain addiction free, but if you need to get help today, talk with a counselor or someone you trust. Here are 4 incredibly helpful ways to reduce the impulses of addiction.
1. Delay
This is the first in a series of helpful ways to help you ignore the impulse of your addiction. Your cravings will disappear after a short period of time if you do not give into them.
The thought here is that delayed fulfillment will help the desires go away. The time it takes to help a craving disappear is between 10 and 20 minutes. This may be longer in the beginning and a shorter period of time after you have practiced for a while.
2. Substitute
When you feel an urge to engage in your addiction, substitute the feelings with something else, something fun. The best way to do this is to get up and do something, like exercise or take a walk.
When you are busy, your mind will also be occupied and won’t be obsessing about the craving that hit you. You could choose a new hobby and do it when the urges are strong. Pick something that will keep your hands and mind busy like sewing, drawing, and painting, working out and meditation. When you meditate, have a “worry doll” or “worry stone” in hand to keep your hands busy.
You may want to keep a list of what you can do besides engage in your cravings. Keep the list with you at all times, and keep adding to the activity list.
3. Escape
This is a “run, don’t walk” style of getting away from your cravings. If you are in a situation that is uncomfortable, like where there is alcohol or drugs, leave. It is that simple. You don’t want to put yourself where the urges will be fed.
If the people you are with don’t understand, that’s okay. You need to protect yourself and the work you have invested in getting better. Do not let peer pressure undo the work you put into your sobriety.
Take a car service home if you came with someone else. Or go somewhere close for coffee and wait until your ride is ready to leave, especially if you are the designated driver.
4. Accept
You will need to accept that you are human and going to have urges if you are an addict. Even if you have successfully completed a rehabilitation program, the urges will come up throughout the rest of your life.
While you can fight the urges, it is important to know that these longings are part of your illness and won’t just go away.
Having a dedicated plan to combat urges and cravings will help you navigate the dangerous waters of your addiction.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provide in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.
