So what else do you have to do to handle cravings after you leave drug rehab?

You need to create a positive self image and change your lifestyle to include, exercise, healthy diet, healthy relationships

Be Aware of Your Cravings

You need to become aware of your cravings, feel them and don’t try to react, just feel them and note when they occur
You need to try different methods of dealing with your cravings and find those that work for you
Take time to exercise or use meditation or reading or walking when you feel a craving
Get to learn your craving stimuli or cues: is it because you are feeling lonely, sad, anxious, bored, angry, hungry? Then take action to change that state of being and manage that emotion

Remember the Common Faulty Belief Patterns That Lead To Giving In To
Cravings

Over sensitivity to your unpleasant feelings or emotions, that is low tolerance for normal mood fluctuations.

Highly value instant satisfaction.

Inadequate techniques and skill for controlling behavior and solving problems
A pattern of automatically yielding to impulses.

Low tolerance for frustration often linked to erroneous or faulty beliefs.

Focus on the here and now without goals or structure for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.

How many of these describe you?

Cravings can be handled in a safe and sane manner. Cravings are a normal part of dealing with drug addiction, and are a part of life after leaving a rehab program. With practice and a good plan for other activities, cravings do not have to lead to a renewed drug or alcohol use and a relapse.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 30th, 2005 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Drug Addiction, Drug Rehab. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.