If you are someone who struggles with substance use, you understand how substance use disorders are serious medical conditions that can cause intense cravings. One of the most reliable methods to overcome these cravings is by seeking professional treatment along with support from friends and family.
The Connection Between Cravings and Withdrawal Symptoms
Continued substance use produces withdrawal symptoms as part of the cravings. The withdrawal symptoms make it even more challenging to resist the cravings. The symptoms of withdrawal from substances vary depending on the type of substance, how long you have been using it, and your particular body chemistry. The two most common types of withdrawal symptoms from substances are physical symptoms and psychological symptoms. Some common withdrawal symptoms include:
Trouble concentrating
Intense mental and physiological cravings
Insomnia
Sweats, nausea, or tremors
Aches and pains
Unusual behaviors such as increased irritability, mood swings, or aggressiveness
Withdrawal symptoms, especially in the form of cravings, can continue far into one's sobriety. The key to maintaining long-term recovery lies in developing tools to resist cravings and avoid triggering situations for substances.
Triggers Can Set Off Drug Cravings
Substance use affects the brain’s reward system, which controls feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. When someone uses a substance, it triggers a flood of dopamine in the brain. According to the Surgeon General Report, this flood of dopamine promotes dependence on the substance and prompts cravings for more. Besides the brain's reward system, cravings are also triggered by other factors, such as environmental cues (people or places) or one's emotional/mental state. Examples of such triggers include the following:
Overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, or resentments
Anniversaries of trigger events, such as a death or divorce
Going through a psychologically traumatic event in the present
Mental illnesses like depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, etc.
Though the list of triggers may look complex, you can find many tools to assist you with preventing these triggers from taking over your sobriety.
Coping With Drug Cravings
If you are having a difficult time resisting cravings, developing a plan of action can help. With the assistance of your recovery network, build a toolkit of coping skills that will help you resist unwanted triggers. For starters, you can develop a daily routine that supports a healthy mind and body. That routine can include daily exercise, a healthy diet, and regularly socializing with friends and family who keep you on track.
The Surgeon General Report also lists some tools to assist with your recovery, such as:
Practicing Acceptance
When cravings strike, it's natural to feel you're the only one. However, everyone who has ever had a strong recovery has experienced cravings. Accepting them will make it easier to keep moving forward on your journey.
Taking a Walk
Research has shown that exercise can be a doubly effective way of dealing with cravings. Not only does it provide an excellent distraction, but it also reduces anxiety and improves mood. Even something as simple as walking can help.
Distracting Yourself
Cravings don’t last forever. Many times, cravings only last around 10-15 minutes. Find a distraction to prevent yourself from dwelling upon the craving even further. You can try journaling, watching a favorite movie, listening to music, or calling a recovered friend.
Saying Yes to Hobbies
Hobbies can be a great way to work through the urge to use again. Try using hobbies as an alternative method to express yourself and explore your creativity. Try drumming, dancing, or taking an art class.
Attacking the Trigger
If you're struggling with cravings, it's important to know that your environment can have a major impact. If certain bars, restaurants, or people trigger your cravings for alcohol, try socializing in an alternative setting. A change of setting might solve your problem with cravings and certain triggers.
Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the act of being aware and focused. You can apply it to your treatment, especially in the form of meditation, to focus your mind away from the craving.
Preparing for emotional days or events
To prevent relapse into old habits, it's important to understand that anniversaries can often be challenging. Find strategies to deal with your emotions on those days. You may find yourself struggling to resist cravings during these high levels of stress, sadness, or anger.
Establishing faith
Your faith or spiritual path can provide a great support system during difficult times.
This is not an exhaustive list of tools, but they can help you continue your journey of recovery.
Professional SUD Treatment Can Help
The proper rehab provides the tools and medical treatment to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can promote long-term recovery from addiction when combined with behavioral therapies. MAT involves using specific medications to reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms for opioids and alcohol.
At Monte Cristo, we can assist with medical detoxification to help your body manage these cravings for substances and ease withdrawal symptoms. Our doctors provide the proper medication that makes this possible. We hope to help you along this journey towards long-term sobriety.
When you are feeling stressed, sad, or angry, it can be difficult to ignore the cravings for drugs or alcohol. That's where triggers come into play. Triggers are the people, places, emotions, or events that incite the craving for the use of substances or alcohol. Additionally, mental health can play role in triggering cravings. Environmental factors, like socializing with people using substances or witnessing use at a venue, can also have an impact. The triggers that cause cravings differ from person to person. It depends on the substance used, the length of use, and your person's current situation. If you’re ready to minimize the impact of your triggers, manage the drug cravings, and create a plan of action, we can help you. At Monte Cristo Recovery, we can provide medically-assisted detoxification to help release the substances from your system, reduce your cravings, and help you manage triggers. For more information, call us today at (714) 824-9896.