At Bayview Recovery, we offer medication assisted detox and substance abuse treatment programs that include strategies on dealing with cravings. You can enjoy the results of winning back sobriety and learn to deal with drug cravings without relapse at our facility in Tacoma, WA.
Importance of Dealing with Cravings
During your recovery, you may continue to experience signs of withdrawal. We use a number of programs to teach you how to counter drug cravings during your time at Bayview Recovery — and our aftercare program for substance abuse disorders continues to provide support when you return home.
Here are eight ways that help our clients say no to relentless urges.
Self-Talk
Drug cravings focus your entire world down to the decision to use — or not. It’s a battle you may have to fight over and over. How can you expand your point of view to prevent a relapse? Use internal dialogue to look outside the moment to what’s really at stake. When you feel strong, create a list of all the reasons you’ve chosen a sober, productive life. Then, always keep it with you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In our cognitive-behavioral therapy program, you learn a number of techniques to send drug cravings packing. These include distraction, redirection, and visualization.
When you feel a craving come on, you can redirect your attention or distract yourself with productive activities. Visualization techniques help you mentally remove yourself from a stressful situation to avoid reverting to drug use.
CBT techniques help you expose and counter negative thinking. During drug cravings, you may wonder, “Am I going to be able to do this?” or think “I am too weak. I may as well give in now.” CBT techniques help you see the situation clearly so that you can defuse catastrophic thinking.
Get a Hobby
Use hobbies to create and achieve goals. Hobbies make great distractions for drug cravings. Common hobbies include running, cooking, hiking, crafts, and video games.
Acknowledge the Urge
As part of our dialectical behavioral therapy program, you can learn to accept your thoughts and feelings without acting on them. Surf through drug cravings, acknowledging them for what they are without harshly judging yourself for having them.
Consider writing your thoughts down or saying them out loud. For example, you might say, “I want to use drugs,” or “My head hurts so bad and I feel nauseous.” Continue to describe your feelings until the craving passes.
Self Care
Eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep help you keep up your energy and deflect drug cravings.
Know Your Triggers
During your stay at Bayview Recovery, you will explore possible triggers. You and your therapist strategize how to avoid cravings or work through them with strong coping skills.
Ask for Help
Outside of recovery, it’s important to establish a support network. If you don’t have a sponsor, find one. Groups such as AA and NA provide great resources for group therapy. If possible, you should continue to see a therapist for individual therapy as well.
Remove Bad Memories
Many therapists provide memory consolidation sessions. These sessions concentrate on dissolving associations that stir up internal or external triggers.
Drug Addiction Rehab in Tacoma, Washington
Drug cravings provide a major challenge to your long-term recovery. Fortunately, you can gain skills that help you work your way through cravings and avoid relapse. Some other programs we offer include:
- Cognitive Restructuring Therapy
- Recreational Therapy Program
- Experiential Therapy Program
- Nutrition Therapy Program
Contact Bayview Recovery in Tacoma, WA, today at 855.478.3650 for more information on how to step out of the darkness and fear of addiction into the light of a brighter tomorrow.
