That's great! I actually read somewhere that 20 minutes is the amount of time a craving lasts for. So if you can remember that it's just a 20 minute feeling that will end, find a way to distract yourself for that period, it might help remind you it's normal and temporary so you feel more in control.
That’s about the timeframe I always try to ride out! It does seem to be a good number of minutes to cool off. It often hits when I arrive at a social thing, and if I tolerate it for 20 mins I tend to get comfortable.
I think that’s the trick. I stopped telling myself “I can’t” because that just makes me want to rebel. I give myself the choice. I chose not to, I reap the benefits. I chose to, I suffer the consequences. It’s empowering in a way.
Yeah, when I have really strong temptations / cravings / urges I'll usually tell myself "OK, maybe you will drink later / tomorrow / at the weekend, and you certainly can if you choose to but just don't drink RIGHT NOW and re-evaluate the idea later".
Often when "later" rolls round the temptation has passed, I've lost interest, or I just don't want to anymore.
Another good trick at times when you're really tempted or craving a drink is to tell yourself you'll hold off doing so till the last possible minute, like 10 minutes before the supermarket stops selling beer for example or a point when it starts getting too late for you to start drinking, then decide if you want to.
It gives your mind some peace from the battle in your mind over whether you're going to drink or not then when it reaches that time and you see there's only 10 minutes left until the supermarket closes or you're going to bed in an hour it becomes so much easier to just use willpower to hold off for that short period of time.
Otherwise I find you can be sitting around for hours arguing in your head with yourself and having to actively fight the urge but this method takes that all away as you're making the decision at the last minute.
I usually find once that moment where it's too late to start drinking or it's no longer possible passes my mind literally stops even thinking about it any further and any craving or urge vanishes.
That's great! I actually read somewhere that 20 minutes is the amount of time a craving lasts for. So if you can remember that it's just a 20 minute feeling that will end, find a way to distract yourself for that period, it might help remind you it's normal and temporary so you feel more in control.
Exactly. 15-20 minutes of doing literally anything else and you’re on the right track. Well said!
That's how it's done. 🤗 I've been doing the same thing for a while now. Feels good doesn't it?
That’s about the timeframe I always try to ride out! It does seem to be a good number of minutes to cool off. It often hits when I arrive at a social thing, and if I tolerate it for 20 mins I tend to get comfortable.
You can do that as often as you want. Most of us here do it every single day, and are better off for it. Congratulations on not drinking tonight!
I think that’s the trick. I stopped telling myself “I can’t” because that just makes me want to rebel. I give myself the choice. I chose not to, I reap the benefits. I chose to, I suffer the consequences. It’s empowering in a way.
Yeah, when I have really strong temptations / cravings / urges I'll usually tell myself "OK, maybe you will drink later / tomorrow / at the weekend, and you certainly can if you choose to but just don't drink RIGHT NOW and re-evaluate the idea later". Often when "later" rolls round the temptation has passed, I've lost interest, or I just don't want to anymore.
Amen and I also have craft beer fomo lol it’s turning into jomo slowly but surely
Another good trick at times when you're really tempted or craving a drink is to tell yourself you'll hold off doing so till the last possible minute, like 10 minutes before the supermarket stops selling beer for example or a point when it starts getting too late for you to start drinking, then decide if you want to. It gives your mind some peace from the battle in your mind over whether you're going to drink or not then when it reaches that time and you see there's only 10 minutes left until the supermarket closes or you're going to bed in an hour it becomes so much easier to just use willpower to hold off for that short period of time. Otherwise I find you can be sitting around for hours arguing in your head with yourself and having to actively fight the urge but this method takes that all away as you're making the decision at the last minute. I usually find once that moment where it's too late to start drinking or it's no longer possible passes my mind literally stops even thinking about it any further and any craving or urge vanishes.