Herding Monkeys

 

Each and every day all across the globe, people are moving about and progressing through their day, and most people are not even aware of what their minds are telling them. We all have cravings for one thing or another, and when the craving hits, we are faced with a choice of whether we should give in or not. For most people, these choices are a harmless and simple, yes or no. However, for an alcoholic/addict, these cravings come with life and death consequences.

Alcoholics/Addicts are forced to face their cravings head on in order to survive because for us, this is not a simple choice of should we or shouldn’t we. We have to constantly remind ourselves about what occurs when we give in. Alcoholic/Addict cravings start in the mind, but when the craving has time to set in a little, these cravings begin to affect the body in a way that most other people would not or could not understand. The monkey that we face each and every day is not a mere process of practicing “will power.” The monkey we face is embedded deep in our minds and is tied to the rest of our body. These cravings never go away, and they can even get stronger as time goes on. The great part is that we do not have to give into these cravings when they hit. We can learn how to spot them as they are occurring in order to prevent ourselves from giving in.

There are many ways that help deal with these intense cravings, but one of the most basic ways is simply learning to understand that there is no such thing as a minor craving. There are different levels of intensity, but they are all just as important as the next. When I first started to get sober, I didn’t realize that there was a need to recognize the less intense ones because I could easily fend them off. However, I found out that the less intense ones were just practice rounds for the ones that are more intense. Just as an athlete practices for a game, an alcoholic/addict must also practice for the landslide of craving and obsession that will eventually come and try to take them away. We have to work on getting the basics of recovery before we can even think about trying more advanced methods.

As time goes on, these cravings will begin to come along less frequently, but they seem to get a little more intense when they show back up. One thing that I have noticed is that my cravings will actually occur in ways that I wouldn’t have thought about, and so I have to stay focused and remember who I am in order to stay sober. The way that I was able to learn how to spot these off the wall cravings and deal with them was to start talking to other people. By talking with other recovering alcoholics/addicts, I am able to learn how other people are able to get through particular situations in which alcohol becomes a tempting choice. Talking to these other people also helps me to remain accountable to myself and another person so that I cannot hide within myself anymore.

Isolation is another major problem in which we must face in order to become strong enough to overcome the cravings when they show up. I am a great isolator, but today I realize that isolation is how my addiction grows strong enough to overtake me. When a person has a craving for a doughnut, the craving goes away and over time it fails to return. However, the craving for alcohol, by an alcoholic/addict, never goes away completely. Time is not on our side. The longer that an alcoholic/addict stays away from the drink, the more we have to do in order to remember who we are and how alcohol affects us.

So, remember that cravings are natural and do not mean that you are weak. Stay active in your recovery and learn new ways of herding the monkeys when they show up. I look forward to hearing how other people deal with their cravings. The more ideas that are presented, the more chance we have to help each other and another struggling person stay sober. What are some of the ways that help you deal with cravings in order to stay sober?