Reducing Alcohol Cravings: Medications, Foods, Natural Supplements Leave a comment

This treatment works differently because it helps reduce the amount the drinker ingests. So, it works to prevent the person from drinking too much rather than reducing the desire to drink. Do you get that irresistible urge to drink alcohol every day? Is that the reason you inevitably find yourself drinking again?

• Alcohol dependence can also develop from low self-esteem or a desire to be socially accepted.
• You can also reach out to other sober people who understand what you’re going through.
• Alcoholism affects your health, social life, and your loved ones negatively; it drowns you in low self-esteem and completely incapacitates the victim.
• Having a long-term plan for managing alcohol cravings can help prevent and overcome them when they do occur.
• Treatment success depends on examining the way alcohol abuse has impacted you and developing a new way of living.

Active indulgences heighten cravings as people give in to the need to keep their blood alcohol at a high level, where they can easily escape from withdrawal symptoms. Though alcohol consumption can vary among people, alcohol addiction is characterized by drinking large amounts of alcohol over long periods. For some people, this might look like consuming several drinks in a short period, a few days a week. For others, it may mean drinking a few drinks every night for extended periods. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session.

Cutting back vs. quitting alcohol altogether

By blocking the pleasure the person receives from alcohol and the reward feedback loop in the brain, naltrexone eventually reduces cravings. People who have become alcohol dependent often experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings when they try to stop drinking, and these cravings can pose problems for those trying to quit. The following activity offers suggestions to support you in your decision to cut back or quit drinking. It can be used with counseling or therapy and is not meant as a substitute for professional help. If you choose to try it on your own and at any point feel you need more help, then seek support (see Help Links).

• Even a little self-indulgence, like a massage or quiet time, can work wonders.
• Drink a cup of soothing tea or a tall glass of water before you imbibe—once your thirst is quenched, you may not feel the need for as much—or any—alcohol.
• Sometimes you can’t avoid triggers which may be feelings you have or a physical condition that comes on from time to time.
• These may include changes in brain chemistry, triggers, and habit formation.
• This medication was created to help people with opioid cravings, but experts realized that it helps with alcohol cravings too.
• Recovering from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking is not a quick and easy process.

Most people who experience cravings find it difficult to control on their own. So here is the problem with giving in to alcohol cravings every day, because maybe we weren’t actually tired or stressed or anxious at all. The feeling we get when we begin craving alcohol is usually a mild agitation. This form of withdrawal typically happens within the first week after you stop drinking.

Get Help for Alcohol Cravings With Zinnia Health Today

Becoming more aware of your alcohol triggers and reasons for drinking can help you plan ways to help manage the urge to drink. Say get rid of alcohol cravings you don’t have any cravings when you go without drinking. All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks.

Both of these drugs are FDA-approved, and neither works by making you ill when you drink. Trying to ignore alcohol cravings is not the best way to manage them. It is better to accept them as normal and actively treat them through a variety of methods, including possibly taking medication. There is some scientific evidence suggesting acupuncture provided by a qualified practitioner can help cut alcohol consumption and lessen alcohol withdrawal symptoms (11). Prescription medications can be a useful tool in treating alcohol cravings.

Craving for more alcohol can be different for everybody

By the second week, alcohol cravings and urges may become more frequent and severe. The sudden and unpleasant urge to drink may continue to arise into the first four weeks of recovery. These cravings may be coupled with other post-acute withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and irritability, which can exacerbate cravings.

It’s important to have sober friends who will support your recovery. Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering, or attending events in your community. Lean on close friends and family – Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to couples counseling or family therapy.

Treatment doesn’t have to be limited to doctors and psychologists. Many clergy members, social workers, and counselors also offer addiction treatment services. Distance yourself from people who don’t support your efforts to stop drinking or respect the limits you’ve set.