Alcohol care team: Coping with craving

Techniques that can help

• Talk to someone. If you keep your feelings to yourself they’ll probably just churn around inside you- getting worse all the time. Find someone who’s understanding and supportive and let them know how you feel. “ a trouble shared …”

• Keep occupied. The worst thing you can do is sit around doing nothing, getting bored, feeling restless, etc. Find something to do. Read a magazine. Watch some television. Play a computer game. Do the washing up. Weed the garden. If it takes your mind off drinking for 15 minutes then do it

• Think about the positive things that may happen if you stop drinking. You will probably feel healthier and happier. Your family relationships will improve. You will have more money to spend. You will be able to work better. Remember that all these things can start to improve quite quickly if you can stop drinking.

• Think about why you are trying to stop drinking. Think about the bad things that would happen if you were to carry on drinking. What would the effects be on your health?  Your family? Your financial state? Your Job? If you think it might help, create a list and read it when you feel you’ve really got to have a drink.

• Avoid situations that may you feel like drinking. Pubs, Off-licences, and parties are usually the trickiest situations. Sometimes drink displays in supermarkets can also prove difficult.

• Avoid people whom you know are heavy drinkers. Not everyone appreciates it when you try to stop drinking- and they may put you under pressure to drink. Even if no one says anything the social pressure to conform can still be quite intense – be honest about the fact you are not drinking.

• Spoil yourself. Splash out on a couple of magazines, a book, music, or a computer game. Have a soak in the bath. Go to the cinema. Watch a game of footy. If you feel you are denying yourself the enjoyment of drinking spoil yourself in another way.

• Drink lots of fluids. Milk, fruit juice, cordial but don’t overdo the tea or coffee as these may make the cravings worse.

• Eat something. If you’re feeling hungry, the cravings can get worse. Have a snack (though not a salty food – as it makes you thirsty) Have a piece of cake, order a pizza, get an Indian takeaway – or a bag of chips. Feeling full will reduce the cravings.

• Take time out. If you do decide to have a drink, agree with yourself that you will not do anything for at least 30 minutes. After half an hour you may find the craving has subsided and you no longer feel you need to have a drink.

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For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302