I made it thru my daughter's graduation - cravings

[jillian6]

Well, I made it without drugs for my daughter's college graduation.  I'm glad because she got another surprise - her boyfriend proposed to her with a ring the night she graduated.  I am so happy I was straight.

Now I'm home - do cravings always come and go?  Some days go by and I don't really think about using pills again and others come when I obsess about getting some - I don't get them but I seriously consider it.  It's been 40 days or something like that, since I've had any but it almost seems harder to "foget" about them than when I first quit.

I still have not found an aa or na group - I know I need to make myself do that and since my energy is returning, I'm going to try to make my goal to find a meeting by next week.  Any other suggestions for obsessing over using or having cravings ?  tks Donna

[gizzy32]

That did not sound dumb. To me changing thought patterns means staying away from my old addictive, destructive thoughts. If i was going out I would find that to be a good reason to use, if i was feeling down in the dumps that would be a good reason to use, i always rationalized a reason to use. By learning some tools i learned how to shift my thought patterns into something more positive and find reasons not to use. As Lesa said finding a hobby can do wonders. I just got back from the golf course, something i love and always been my passion, but during my days of drugs i could care less about that stuff, only dope. It felt so good to be out there and i feel high right now, lol. I said feel, not am, ha. I don't know if i explained this right, but my cravings and thoughts about using were so intense for awhile i knew i had to change my thought patterns when it came to drugs. I am an addict and accept there will never be a reason to use.

[10356]

Oh Yes and Congratulations on over 40 days !!

[10356]

I'm also glad you made it through her graduation and to be straight and being able to express true joy at the proposal is Wonderful.. Congrats on gaining a Son :) Dealing with craving and what to do was a problem for me.. thanks to burrpatch I picked up a hobby.. photography it takes me to a whole different place mentally and soon the craving is gone. after over 6mo. I do not crave as often but still active in my hobby :)  lesa

[jillian6]

This may sound dumb, but how do you change your thought patterns?

[gizzy32]

Glad you made it through, sounds like it was a special night:). For me cravings happened everyday that first month or so, but over time they became more gradual and less intense. I realized by limiting my triggers, I didnt' crave as much and i also learned how to not let them grow, otherwise i would be obsessing about using and it would be harder. For me the best thing i can do is talk about it, get support when a craving starts, if i hide it then i get in trouble. Staying busy and changing those thought patterns will help so much. Congrats on over 40 days, your doing great!