Make a list of your motivations and goals, and use those to craft a few statements to say to yourself in triggering situations. Explore your triggers in that time frame using the HALTB exercise (are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, or Bored?), then address them. For example, if your trigger is being bored, set out activities for yourself, such as a book you have been meaning to read https://ecosoberhouse.com/ but haven’t had time for. Before starting any complementary treatment, be sure to discuss it with a doctor to make sure it’s safe for you. Omega-3-rich fish like salmon and mackerel may also help improve focus and overall brain health. Acamprosate is believed to work by restoring balance to certain neurotransmitters in the brain that are disrupted by long-term alcohol overuse.
Brian Obinna Obodeze is a professional health-niche content developer for AlcoRehab.org with six years of experience as a research writer. He is an expert in medical content development, especially in the field of addictions, how to stop alcohol cravings general health, homeopathic medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Brian has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Benin and has worked as a Lab Scientist and as a public healthcare officer.
How Do I Stop the Urge to Drink Alcohol?
Much of the literature around food cravings supports the idea that they are a conditioned response. People can get used to eating a specific food in a certain context. Maybe having ice cream is how you relax after dinner, or maybe you refuel with a latte and a slice of cake in the afternoons. That pattern can release the reward hormone, dopamine, that makes us feels good and reinforces the habit.
It’s usually used in combination with other medicine or counselling. Naltrexone can be used to prevent a relapse or limit the amount of alcohol someone drinks. Acamprosate works by affecting levels of a chemical in the brain called gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA).
Understand and avoid your triggers
Remember, it is normal to experience cravings in recovery, and changing the way you react to them takes time. Knowing that you have options about how you respond to cravings is an essential part of maintaining your recovery goals—whether you’re cutting back or quitting completely. When you have a craving, write down the time, what is happening, and how you are feeling in order to identify common triggers.
