Cravings

[Nursey7]

I understand you can have these cravings for awhile but do they ever go away? I mean after years maybe or are they always gonna be there? It's only been nine days so I kinda get why I am having them. But people are saying they still have them  after numerous months!  They are so intense plus not having used for 9 days I know it would feel good. I am not gonna do anything stupid just askin.....,.

[conhall]

I think You Both Hit it perfect
Cravings are worse and anxiety if you know you have a pill source like maybe you have a refill waiting that could possibly get refilled.
We are ADDICTS one pill is never enough we  take 1+1+2+1+2+1+1..........
Then the cycle starts again well I messed up so tomorrow I will start again and we go on a Binge ,
Then Tomorrow comes and well I messed up so I will just take a few Today to get me over the GUILT and ANXIETY I have because I relapsed and I should of gotten rid of my pill source and the 3 days or week I have gone through is gone now so Maybe I will just finish this last refill and in a day or two or three I Will cancel the next refill. And so it begins again its never going to end until The PILL SOURCE is GONE!
Cravings are part of the mental WD just like the Physical WD as time goes by we get over it and yes the cravings and anxiety are always there but as each day goes by it gets easier to deal with. Especially if we have taken the steps to guard our Sobriety AFTERCARE , NO PILL SOURCE.

[Brightfutureahead]

Hi Nursey7! Tonight I went to dinner with my husband's family to celebrate a birthday.felt anxious all day about it knowing this would be my first family dinner without that stuff. I went for a walk/jog earlier to try to get my brain to make some endorphins in preparation. I actually felt great after that little bit of exercise. On the drive to dinner I was still a little anxious, (and sweaty - eww- I know it's tmi but the sweaty thing is really gross to me- but still better than where I was at last week) Anyway...I digress...So I went to dinner, sat down, and I was FINE! I'm not saying I'm so perfect and cured by any means...but really it was a great dinner...I was so clear and present. I laughed, enjoyed the children, gossiped...just felt very normal and clear. It was nice. I bet you will have some of those experiences in SanFran ;)  

Hi Kyle - I must say you do give great advice. Your comment about turning down those pills was very motivating I'm sure you're feeling perty good today :)

[Fireby29]

Kyle hit this perfect, as usual.  All I will add is by following the plan Kyle set, which is what I have done, I feel less craving because I know I cannot get any.  If that makes sense?  I think if I could still get some via docs, pharmacies, etc, I would be much more anxious about it.  Cutting ALL sources, has given me a calmness about it at this stage.  Sure it was crazy hard to begin with.......oh no, I will never get narcs again, etc.  But now, I am so at peace instead of thinking about wisdom teeth and getting high.

Bryan

[kyle505]

If you don't use you will be fine for the reunion. In fact, this may be a perfect opportunity to make great memories without pills. You'll be distracted and time will slip by. You need to enjoy yourself naturally.

[Nursey7]

I am trying to keep busy. I had planned to go to the peaches and pigs BBQ festival today but then my husband had to go into work. I couldn't get anyone else to go and I don't do crowds by myself. I am doing my work on the computer for this past week cuz it has to get done but just so boring. Home alone so it's more time to think. Anyway I just wanna get through this week cuz Friday we leave out for San Francisco for a week for a reunion. I just don't wanna be thinking like this when I am meeting a lot of his family for the first time.  

[kyle505]

In my experience, the cravings never go away. BUT - and it's a big one - the longer you are clean, and the truer you are to working your recovery, the easier it is to manage the cravings. That's why we talk about cutting all sources, a family support system (no secrets) and after care. And this week I discovered that I was able to decide not to get pills even though I easily could have. But I did tell my wife about the source, just in case I was weak the following day. So in that one instance the non-addict side of my brain won.
And you bet - you would feel great if you took a couple of pills. For a couple of hours. Then all the crap would come flooding back, with a scoop of relapse guilt added. Keep busy. Keep your mind occupied. And stay clean.