A few days without drinking: do the evening cravings get quieter?
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RH
RecoveryHome team Team
asked 3 months ago
Many people tell us mornings feel manageable, but by early evening the urge to drink starts negotiating hard. What do the first couple of weeks usually look like, and does that evening voice ever get quieter?
RH
RecoveryHome team Team
answered 7 days ago · general information, not medical advice
For most people, yes, it gets quieter, especially when the evening gets a new routine. A few things that help:
- Know the wave. A craving usually builds, peaks, and fades within 15 to 30 minutes if you don't act on it. The goal is to outlast each one.
- Replace the ritual, not just the drink. If 6 p.m. meant a drink, give that time a job: a walk, a call to someone you trust, cooking, a meeting. A cold sparkling drink in a nice glass helps some people with the hand-to-mouth habit.
- Don't keep it secret. Telling one trusted person what you're doing makes the evening negotiation much less persuasive.
- Use support. AA meetings happen in the evening in most places, in person and online, and a doctor can talk with you about medications that reduce cravings.
Important: if you have shaking, heavy sweating, a racing heart, confusion, or you've had withdrawal symptoms before, call a doctor or go to an emergency room. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and shouldn't be handled alone.
Read more: Alcohol withdrawal: what to expect
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