Help... I need to know why

[brandiroars386]

I need to know why I have been craving alcohol.  It is NOT my drug of choice.  It's like I can taste it, I am ashamed to admit that.  I have thought about it for the past couple of days, and it's not even noon and I am thinking about it now.  Why would that happen?  I did like to drink and I would drink when I chewed my pills, but I have never felt like I HAD to have it, ya know?  I have not had anything in my system for 136 days, not even alcohol.  This just seems so strange to me.  Any comments/advise would be greatly appreciated.

[vicki595]

Is it a particular type?  Beer, wine, WHISKEY?   Sometimes its the carb component...carbohydrate or carbon dioxide...Does eating satisfy it or a can of coke?  Have you tried?

[motye51]

OMG...this sounds so familiar except it only took 30 days for me to start craving alcohol. And I was NOT a drinker! They say its pretty normal to try and reason that b/c we took drugs, alcohol must somehow be different. It's not. It's a drug just like all others. It's a craving and hopefully, it will pass, soon! Whatever u do, DON'T drink! You will be right back where u started and u have awesome clean time. I'm very.jealous! Keep posting.

[brandiroars386]

I crave vodka and Bacardi....I don't want to blow it, it is on my mind like crazy. This is scaring the s**t out of me.  It would be too easy, not like getting pills ya know.  The urge is so strong, and I know it would lead me back.  I don't know what to do!  I have tried to read, play wit my kids, even called my sponsor.  This has been going on since Tuesday, I can't make it stop....WTF is going on???????  I HATE THIS!

[vicki595]

Well...don't let this get out of control. I want you to look up GABA and read...I think a supplement might help you. Once you read about it you'll understand but I just can't explain it right now because my head is hurting...lol.   Are you craving the taste or the buzz or do you know?

[IBKleen]

It could be a sugar craving in disguise but my guess it is your disease calling and trying to trick you. It sure is sneaky. What did your sponsor say? Have you been to any meetings to talk about it?

[brandiroars386]

I think I am craving the buzz, not like to get drunk I don't think, just a couple..IDK.  But I can taste it.  My sponsor first off asked if I had a plan to drink, which I didn't.  She also said I need to remember it is a drug, and what it could lead to.  And I know that.  I went to a meeting last night and then out for coffee with some girls.  Talked about it with them too.  They said I need to surround myself with clean people and do stuff.  I said I have NO fuc*in idea what we could do because I have never attempted to go do anything without drinking at all.  I like to go dance but I shouldn't go to a club..... would love to go to the comedy club...can't drink there... I am so frustrated right now.

[jugglin]

I'm glad you posted this because I went through the same thing. I had always been a drinker to a point but when I quit narcotics I went bat$hit crazy wanting vodka.  I drank it and realized I wanted/craved more.  I recognized, for me, I was wanting ANYTHING to replace the numbing of the vicodin.  This lasted a few weeks and then I just kicked alcohol out of my house because I knew I was using it as a replacement.  I am not clean nearly as long as you are though.  IBK is absolutely right, talk about it in a meeting or with a sponsor.  Wishing you the best!

[ROSYouralright]

How about going to the mall and walking around?? Taking the kiddos to the zoo or a museum? Have a girl/spa day? Hit the gym? Just something to redirect your thoughts...

[brandiroars386]

My God, when is the ******** ever gonna stop?  I am trying to throw myself into things, and it works for a period of time, and then it just comes back.  I can see myself at the bar with a drink and that is scary.

[brandiroars386]

I am feeling a little defeated or something, like I am being dragged through the mud all over again.  Don't get me wrong I have days when I want my Oxy, but damn this is crazy

[vicki595]

UGH!  I feel badly for you...What's your day like today?  How can you switch focus?  I know ric jumps in to a cold shower when he feels this way...I used to drink a glass of icy water and then vacuum...sometimes just going outside changes focus...oh and brushing your teeth...

[jugglin]

I really do feel for you...I usually start watching the clock around 3pm wanting a drink. I guess a replacement for watching the clock to take a pill.  As time passes for me, the clock watching becomes less and less.  I was reading some great threads regarding PAW's and am guessing these feelings fall in there somewhere.  Keep fighting the urge.  Don't let the devil creep up on you and sneak thru a back door.  Use your tools you learned months back - music, exercise, dance around the house, go to a meeting. Sending prayers for strength your way!

[clean_in_ks]

Brandi....do you go to NA meetings or AA meetings?  

[Pat1956100]

Try chocolate.  I found it really helped with my cravings.  Don't let yourself get too hungry either.  It's hard to drink on a full stomach.

[brandiroars386]

I go to NA meetings.  Alcohol is not my DOC.  Thanks for all of this wonderful advise.  I don't understand why all of a sudden this is hittin me.

[dominosarah]

Are you having stress in your life right now?  Gotta get to the bottom of what is driving you to crave alcohol so bad.  There is usually an underlying issue.  Back in the day when people were having coffee in the morning i was having whiskey and that continued all day long, for years.......The man i lived with for years during that time was buried on my birthday.  That is the reality with alcohol.  I have a jar of Grandma's Molasses in the cupboard, it is just mine and when i get the urge to drink i grab a spoon, dip and lick!  The smell takes me back to better times at my grandmas house and i always feel better~

[brandiroars386]

Sara..... the only stress I have had out of the ordinary is a small tiff with my hubby.  I got a new tattoo this weekend which he didn't know about until I got home.  But that wasn't a big deal.  Other than that I really have no idea.

[dominosarah]

I want another tattoo just havent found the right one!!

[brandiroars386]

its on my wrist... infinity sign that says strength

[clean_in_ks]

Just a few things come to mind:  

As Sara said, STRESS is a HUGE trigger of cravings...everyone's brain chemistry varies....but the "naked" opiate receptors just SCREAM for relief and they don't care what "substance" provides that relief at thisi point in your recovery.

Blood sugar levels are HUGE.....they affect us more than we know....when they dip.....we feel lousy in a number of ways.  Eating things to increase your dopamine levels will help....chocolate is one of those foods, but you have to watch for eating it on an empty stomach and the blood sugar boost followed by a blood sugar crash....that's why you feel so differently after eating a turkey sandwich....versus chips and soda pop.  We have an article in our Health Pages about foods that increase dopamine.

Here's another link I found really helpful that has some ideas in it:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5919457_natural-receptors-lost-opiate-addiction.html

Protein is a HUGE healer for us addicts.  It accentuates the healing process and gives us much needed fuel for our brains.  If we skip meals and just snack at irregular times....it affects how we feel.  When I was using, I didn't eat regular or correctly.  Getting some protein in me a regular intervals has helped me a lot....I eat peppered turkey, swiss cheese, hard boiled eggs, tuna, pnut butter toast and yogurt, and I really like string cheese with apples, too.

The reason I asked about NA or AA....is cause going to an AA meeting might also help you at this juncture in your recovery.  You will hear and absorb good coping skills which ever meeting place you choose....but just sitting in an AA meeting you will hear some things that might just counter this incessant drive/craving for alcohol.

Hope that helps.......if you are craving alcohol.....and give in to that.....it holds the potential for leading you back to your DOC.

Keep ROARIN girl.....rootin for you~

[brandiroars386]

Thanks clean..... do you think this means I am an alcoholic?

[jugglin]

Thank you KS (as I sit here with an open bag of Lays).  I need to get better with the protein as I have been craving (or, CRAVING) carbs lately.  However, I was drinking so many protein shakes that between quitting opiates and alcohol and upping my AD awhile back, I think I overdid the protein and upped my serotonin too much and was getting the heart palpitations, rls, etc and believe serotonin syndrome was kicking in so I cut out the protein shakes and lowered my AD to the original dose.  Any idea what a good amount of protein/day would be? (sorry for the run-on sentence)

[brandiroars386]

I did start protein shakes in place of breakfast.  They have 30g protein and 160 calories.  I have started to get fit again.

[kyle505]

I drank before I found pills. After pills nothing else was appealing, for a while. However, there were times when I didn't have Norco that I thought about using booze to get "that feeling". But, it was all a trick, just like IB said - you're thinking about drinking, rationalizing that it's NOT pills, it's NOT your DOC, but you know deep down that the moment you had a drink or two, you'd relax, and then you know what would probably happen. And I think that yes, you are an alcoholic - like me, you will use whatever in order to get the buzz, but you'll always come back to your DOC.
It may be a carb thing, or a sugar thing, but I am very suspicious when it comes to addiction, and so I think it's your head trying to get you in to a compromising situation. As Sarah says, keep your guard up.
K