Craving Happens, But You Choose Your Response
From Page 148 of “Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions,” by Dr. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP The occurrence of craving itself is beyond your control. There is no single act that can with certainty eradicate all future craving. There are steps that can influence its occurrence… but ultimately craving will show […]
3 Facts About Urges You Really Need to Know
Urges (cravings) are a normal and expected part of quitting an addictive substance or behavior. These 3 facts can help you deal with urges when they strike.
Craving Is Not Dangerous
Chapter 9 of Dr. Horvath’s book: Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions helps readers understand craving. We’ve included here the section, “Craving Is Not Dangerous.”
Coping With Craving: The Timer Technique
While this technique might also be considered a distraction technique, active distraction is not used. You can use the timer technique for a craving of any strength.
Summer Vacations: Dealing with Triggers to Drink or Use
Memorial Day weekend is here! For many of us, that means vacation time is just around the corner! And with vacation comes the possibility of a trigger we don’t face on a regular basis. The following tips will help you navigate the summer travel season with success and still have fun! If you are feeling […]
The Fatigue Principle
Adapted from Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions by Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP In his workbook, Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate, Dr. Horvath includes an entire chapter on craving (Chapter 9). Of particular interest in this post is what Dr. Horvath calls the fatigue principle. As Dr. Horvath notes, “unless you […]
Staying Friends with Using Buddies
In early recovery, many people face a choice: whether to continue friendships with people who may still be using or to end those friendships in order to protect their own sobriety.
5 Tips for Getting Used to Normal Life
Early recovery can be a major transition. Devon Berkheiser, Psy.D. offers 5 tips to help make adjusting to normal life easier.
Advanced Strategies for Coping with Urges
Adapted from the SMART Recovery Handbook, 3rd edition, pages 36-37 In Changing Habits: Learning to Cope, we covered the 14 basic strategies recommended by SMART Recovery for coping with urges. Here, we cover 4 advanced strategies for overcoming urges to drink/use/act out. 1. Move Beyond Avoidance Being exposed to triggers can help you strengthen your […]
Changing Habits: Learning to Cope with the Urges
Adapted from Pages 32 and 34 of the SMART Recovery Handbook, 3rd Edition With so many people on day two of their 2015 New Year’s resolutions, it seems appropriate to offer some basic strategies for coping with urges that tempt us to give into habits. Whether you’re trying to stop drinking, quit smoking, eat better, […]