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Coping with Cravings

If you have been chemically dependent on alcohol, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. These may include being nervous, edgy, or tense. For example, you may be shaky, sweaty, have trouble sleeping, experience vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms usually pass in the first week and the first 48 hours are the worst.

However, if you experience symptoms such as insomnia, hallucinations, nightmares, hyperactivity, heart palpitations (irregular beating), or seizures, please seek medical help immediately by calling your doctor/nurse or 911. Depending on your level of drinking, alcohol withdrawal can be very serious and potentially dangerous.

Combating Withdrawal Symptoms

If you do experience negative withdrawal symptoms you may wish to try some of the following methods to deal with them:

• Try to cut back on the amount of coffee you drink. Caffeine will just add to your nervousness and trouble sleeping.
• Aim to reduce your stress; take a walk, or a bath, or try some of the relaxation exercises we gave you in Learning to Relax.
• If you are having trouble sleeping, do not worry. It is better to miss out on a little steep than to start drinking again. Do not take sleeping aids. Let your body return to its natural sleep rhythms, which takes about a month. Try drinking a glass of warm milk before bed or staying up a little later.
• Try to eat on a regular schedule, even if you are not hungry. Usually while drinking, you are not eating right. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you plan meals on a regular schedule and try to include lots of fruits and vegetables you can improve your nutritional health.

Continue reading: Refusal Skills

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