Day 21 - Cravings again?

[leaveinsilence]

I've made it to day 21 AF much to my own amazement, I have never gone this long in my life with out some AL before even if it was the odd glass of wine when I was pregnant, it was still there in some form..

Anyway since yesterday I've been experiencing cravings for AL again, not the Oh go on have one thoughts I've been having the last few days I've been dealing with those, but those I need a drink ones.

AL is now constantly on my mind again.. last week I was barely thinking about it apart from the odd occassion and the days were shooting by but now time has slowed again... and bam out of the blue, now I keep thinking of it, my headaches are back and well I guess you know all the other feelings, I've upped my L glut and Kudzu slightly and trying hard to keep distracted just wondering if there is anything else anyone can suggest....

[startingover]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

Hiya, I think if I remember rightly I went through something similar at about 3 weeks, and then again at about 6 months or so. I think its fairly common too.
Good idea to up the lglut and kudzu. At that point in my recovery I was reading just about every book on addiction I could lay my hands on to keep me on the straight and narrow. There are some great biographies out there. Also, I watched the Rain in my Heart Documentary when things got very tough. Its amazing how that would improve my resolve instantly!
It will pass though, even if you do nothing. Its just a phase and a time when your body and mind is going through many changes.
Hang in there.

[Lavande]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

The drinking thoughts will come & go for a while.........
Have you had any drinking dreams yet? Yikes - they scared me to death!!!

Just keep yourself busy & your eye on the goal

[Doggygirl]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

Leave, hang in there - what you are going through is normal, unfortunately. Quitting drinking is not easy - if it were, I doubt so many of us would be here.

I like what Starty said about reading relevant books and watching relevant films. Whatever works for you to be REMINDED why you want to quit AL, and the truth about the worst of your own experiences. If I don't actively remind myself about these things, AL can creep into my thoughts in a more glamorous way. Then I might actually believe those lies about "I can have just one.." "I can just quit again tomorrow..." etc. (been there, done that.)

Stick to your guns. One of the benefits to that is you will NOT have to go through the most painful early days/weeks/months ever again. For me, when I relapsed, it was just that much harder to get back on the wagon.

Hang in there! You can do it!

DG

[Meech]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

First of all 21 Days AF - You are a true inspiration.

I read your posts and think Wow you are so strong I hope I can be as strong as Leave.

I've just conquered AF7 to my absolute amazement too. I had a crushing headache out of nowhere (I don't get them much even when drinking!) last night and it's back again today. I thought I would cave for sure last night but having 6 days invested into this I really didn't want to reset to 0.

You don't want to go back. I can't remember which person said (I think maybe Like JC, DG or Stitealeal) you are NEVER going to wake up tomorrow and say yah I got in 21 AF days but I'm so glad and proud of myself for drinking last night to get back to the beginning. You will probably regret it more now then relapsing after a AF2 or 3 days.

Don't do it. You are giving me hope and confidence. I can't wait until I'm AF21. For now I'll take an AF8 tomorrow morning. You have come so far keep moving forward!

This is a phase and it will pass, Kick that AL in the ass! Wow I just rhymed, lol.

You can do it!!!! :good:

[JimBeam911]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

If this helps, yesterday was day 21 for me, and like you, I found visions of scotch dancing through my head frequently. However, I thought long and hard about how I've felt in the past every time I've given in after a significant AF run. I also thought of all the wasted hours I've spent drinking, the hangovers, the depression, withdrawal, lack of motivation to do anything but isolate myself and drink. I also signed into Chat twice and took my mind off things by talking to people. I can't say my cravings completely disappeared, but I was able to form a clear picture in my mind as to why I quit drinking in the first place. Today is now day 22, and I feel happy about my decision.

21 days is a huge achievement- congrats! Take it from someone who threw away his own 'longest ever' AF run a few years ago for short-term alcohol cravings; it's not worth the feeling of guilt that will inevitably arise the next day. Just think, if you've made it 21 days, some of which passed without significant cravings, you're strong enough to make it another day. Cravings are temporary, fleeting, and vary in strength. Stay strong and keep pushing along; it can only get better.

[leaveinsilence]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

Thanks I kept busy, I upped my L glut (which I didn't really want to do yet as I wanted to keep that for a big London trip next week, but better do it now and worry about that next week) and lost myself in an assignment thats due in this week.....

I read back through some notes about how I felt the first few of days of doing this which helped a lot (I'm so glad I decided to write those feelings down).. and managed to ignore my h/b's wine, although it didn't help to grab at what I thought was my ginger ale and find that he'd decanted some of his wine into it for some reason Luckily I realised before I opened it

JB I've been following you around for the last 3 weeks seeing what you deal with kind of forewarns me what to expect:l well done on your 22 AF and we'll be celebrating you breaking your record soon:l

Meech well done on your AF days honey... I had a headache for the first week or so, it'll pass it's just your body adjusting to the changes going on...

Lav no dreams yet about drinking, but plenty about forgetting things like I'm doing in real life at the moment...

[Meech]

Day 21 - Cravings again?

Good Job LeaveIS

I found that I too had to look back through old posts. Some of the first I did and then more recently. Also looking at other people that have been AF the same amount as I, and other people that have been AF longer (like you for inspiration).

After hockey tonight I came home. I knew there were ALOT of my favorite kind of ice cold beer in the cooler...in the garage. I had a really weak moment and wondered if I should. But AF8 tomorrow...I just can't blow it.

It feels like this is such hard work. Almost exhausting at times to keep having to resist.
It almost feels easier (at the moment) to just give in at the end of the day. But I know that I'll feel crushed tomorrow morning if I do.

So I took some L-glutes, sparkling peach drink, ate, and had a bath. :bath2:

Phew. We both made it through (and many more people on this site) for another AF Day.

I look forward to not feeling like I'm in the middle of a raging battle with my Alcohol self soon. I'm proud but feeling worn out over it all too.

:goodjob:

I'll check in tomorrow. Nighty nite for now!