Cocaine Addiction: How to Beat Cravings?
Cravings are a normal part of cocaine addiction recovery. Regardless of whether you haven’t touched it in months or you just stopped using this week, you’re likely to experience an intense urge to use it at some point.
How do cravings work? They are unyielding, often finding you at your weakest state of mind and trying to convince you that you don’t actually want to change what you've worked so hard to accomplish.
Most likely, you are thinking “hah, like it’s that easy”- we are not trying to convince you that this article will immediately put your life on track, or it will be the reason why you stopped using cocaine, but it’s a potential lead to the right direction. Beating cravings is easier said than done for many; however, that doesn’t mean it is impossible.
Fill up Your Time
It goes without saying that the idle time only brings back those cravings you've been trying so hard to get rid of. How to deal with a situation like this? It’s simple. Fill up your schedule. Make use of your free time and learn to appreciate every moment.
For instance, finding a new hobby is a great way to spend your free time and unwind from your daily routine- regardless of that is learning a new skill, doing something outdoors, reading or doing something musical and artistic. Filling up your time with purposeful activities can help you avoid those cravings and improve your mental health and wellbeing. Numerous researches have shown that people who dedicate much of their time to hobbies are less likely to face stress, low mood, and depression. That being said, the busier you get with enjoyable activities, the happier and relaxed you will be.
Not only that you will feel more relaxed while doing it but having a hobby can help you regain your sense of control. In time, addiction tricks you into believing that life is full of stuff we have no control over. This can be truly frustrating and intimidating. But a hobby is yours alone, as you can choose how to spend your time when you want to work on it and make it all about you.
Enrol in counselling sessions
As a prolongation of quitting Cocaine through detox, one-on-one counselling can help you understand and analyse triggers and factors that may have driven you to keep using Cocaine. Through counselling sessions, you’ll be able to break down your thinking patterns revolving around your cravings, as for example, (Cocaine can solve my problems).
An addiction counsellor can undertake a comprehensive and confidential assessment of your Cocaine binging allowing you to face your deepest fears and break this habit once and for all.
Identify and Avoid Triggers
Triggers can be environmental, social, or emotional situations that remind those in the recovery of their drug or alcohol use. These cues can bring back cravings that may lead to a relapse, and even though they do not force someone to use drugs, they may increase the likelihood of drug use.
Long-term cocaine use creates an association in the brain between drug experiences and daily routines. For instance, when exposed to certain cues, individuals may suffer from uncontrollable drug or alcohol use. Triggers can be:
External Triggers
External triggers can be everything around you from the activities you were used to, places, people and objects that stir thoughts or cravings associated with cocaine use. Those in recovery can avoid these external triggers by working on action plans to avoid triggers that remind them of their past drug abuse.
A recent study by NIDA showed that cocaine-related images subconsciously stimulated the emotional centres of the brains.
The study maintained that subconscious triggers could be dangerous as they can strengthen your desire to restart using Cocaine without even being aware of it. Researchers have stressed the importance of avoiding triggers like people, places and anything that remind you of your former lifestyle.
People
Usually, people close to you may set off your cravings that eventually lead to relapse. Being around a substance-using friend can be detrimental for your recovery. Even those who try to refrain from the illicit use of alcohol or drugs can be dangerous for your progress. Try to avoid former drug dealers, co-workers, employers, friends or family members who might trigger your cravings.
Places
Different places are likely to remind you of the times you engaged in substance abuse. Driving or walking through places you used to consume Cocaine can spark a memory connected to that time. At least for a time, try to avoid bars and clubs, hotels, a friend’s home, certain neighbourhoods, or concerts.
Situations
Those at risk to relapse should try as much as possible to refrain from a situation that is likely to trigger their cocaine cravings. While for other people holidays are a time of celebration, they can be truly challenging for someone trying to refrain from using cocaine or alcohol.
Internal Trigger
Unlike external triggers, internal ones are even more challenging to manage. They bring feelings and emotion, often associated with substance abuse. Oftentimes, internal triggers can lead to uncertain behaviour that hinders your recovery progress. In time, exposure to these cues may cause an individual to crave and cease under tension.
Manage Your Stressors
If you are stressed by nature, try to avoid excessive use of caffeine and nicotine as they may increase your susceptibility to cocaine cravings. Poor stress management is, without any doubt, a huge trigger. To avoid that, make sure you engage as much as possible in stress-relieving activities such as meditation, exercises, regular rest periods and yoga.
Avoiding cravings is not easy, but it can be manageable. With a proper routine, where you immerse yourself in physical activities and keep a healthy routine, cocaine cravings will slowly disappear from your life. Make sure you maintain a regular schedule for sleeping at night and waking up in the morning and eat accordingly portioned meals at least three times a day.
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