Welcome to the home of CLUB SODA’S COURSES TO CHANGE YOUR DRINKING

Understanding cravings

As you begin to take breaks from drinking, it’s important to know that you might experience cravings. Cravings arise because you’ve diligently trained your body to expect alcohol in certain circumstances. In the short term, cravings can be uncomfortable, unpleasant and even overwhelming. But they do pass.

Cravings are largely physical experiences. They start with a sensation in the body: maybe a knot in the stomach, a dry mouth, a feeling of being flushed. Those physical sensations are real.

Our busy minds take those physical sensations and make mental associations. Our brains interpret physical discomfort as emotional discomfort, as we associate the bodily feelings of cravings with a feeling of needing a drink. That can prompt us into action, relieving our cravings by having a drink.

The challenge we have is to notice cravings for what they are (uncomfortable physical sensations) rather than ascribe meaning to them. Cravings are not an instruction to drink. Cravings are a sign that your body is learning something new.

Cravings vs withdrawal symptoms

As you change your drinking, you may experience a lot of physical sensations. So let’s clarify the difference between cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Critically, cravings pass. They get better by themselves. Withdrawal symptoms – whether headaches, sweats, shakes or anxiety – tend to get worse. If you experience any physical sensation related to stopping drinking that does not improve, remember to seek medical advice.