cravings

Nurses Recovery

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Im still waiting for my contract.. what do you do when you are having cravings? Meetings and counseling can not take them away . Im struggling.....

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I tell everyone im ok.... but im not.

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For me it was about knowing that the cravings weren't in control, and then slowly finding something else that I enjoyed more in life....

Where are you, through withdrawals? 1 week out?

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start out with one hour/minute at a time until you can get to one day at a time. Try not to stress about the future as this could only make things worse. Pick up the phone and call someone or go to a meeting. You need to get a reliable supper system set up and stay strong!!!!

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Where are you, through withdrawals? 1 week out?

I haven't had opiates since Dec 11. Funny thing is I crave IV benadryl more often than the other junk. But i miss that too. It comes and goes. I would have thought I'd be done with this crap by now! :sour:

Maybe it's because I have such horrible insomnia.. I take ambien and klonopin. .. doesn't do a thing.

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Hang on. This too shall pass. 6 weeks out...Oooohhhh you're in a real delicate place. Eat sweets to satisfy that little pleasure spot in the brain....u can loose the weight latr. Hang out with program people. IV Benadryl will take you back immediately to the bad stuff. I only know the baffling and powerful pull of alcohol; your journey is unique and yours. ...but you are SO WORTHY. Think ahead. 1 year two years...u will be working, healthy, strong. Post here often...praying just for u....... ((((((hugs))))))

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Hello, I have a horrible time with insomnia but understand we can take abusable medication like benzos. There's not much option on things to take for this in Texas. Good luck and hang in there !

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Im still waiting for my contract.. what do you do when you are having cravings? Meetings and counseling can not take them away . Im struggling.....

Do you have a sponsor and are you talking to them daily? Where are You located we can talk by text if you need to I will figure out a way to get info to you - can you PM here? I know you need to have been a member for sometime.

Hppy

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Pick up the phone! Call someone who will remind you why you're in recovery and how to stay clean!

Other ideas, some of which I liked to do when I would get cravings:

1) Go for a walk. Especially easy when you have a dog--he/she will love you for it!

2) Take a shower. Get in the hot tub. Do your nails. Find a way to indulge yourself without using.

3) Start cleaning. I know it sounds silly, but cleaning always calms me when I get antsy or anxious--it gives me something to do and I get a sense of accomplishment from organizing, scrubbing, and polishing.

4) Find or put on a movie. Get on Facebook. Surf the Internet. Watch cat videos on YouTube. Anything to entertain and distract yourself!

5) Again, call somebody! Two heads really are better than one.

Just some ideas. Research tells us the average craving spell lasts about 20 minutes--if you can get past that point, you're winning!

Hang in there!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I don't have a drug problem, but I am an alcoholic who's been sober for 24 years and I still get cravings every now and again. But instead of trying to distract myself, I allow myself to experience the craving and try to figure out where it's coming from. Usually it happens when I'm feeling sorry for myself---"stinkin' thinkin'" as it's often called. Once I've worked through the reasons for it, the craving goes away. After all, thoughts are not actions, and I remind myself that I don't have to violate abstinence just because I'm having a bad day, bad week, bad month, bad year.

This approach may not work for everyone, but it might be worth a try. Best of luck to you as you work to stay clean and get your life back.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Not sleeping is awful. There is a book recommended called " falling into sleep". There are CBT therapists that specialize in sleep. And there are other medications than ambien and klonapin. Try to practice sleep hygiene. Best wishes.

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Cravings suck and they never really go away......it's all about figuring out how to heal with them.

Have you tried Eft or tapping therapy. That can help with cravings.

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