173. Alcohol Cravings Don't Last As Long As You Think (And 4 Steps To Take When One Hits)

Send me a message 🤗You're walking home after a long day. You round the corner, your favourite pub comes into view — and suddenly, every cell in your body wants to walk through that door. We’ve all been there. But what if that pull isn't actually about the drink at all?Alcohol cravings are one of the most misunderstood parts of changing the way you drink. They're not a sign of a problem, and they're not a sign of weakness — but they can feel overwhelmingly powerful in the moment. What most people don't know is that the craving itself rarely lasts as long as it feels like it does. Armed with that knowledge and a few practical strategies, you have far more control than you might think. I walk you through a four-step approach to acknowledging, understanding, riding out, and replacing the urge — without relying on willpower alone or beating yourself up for feeling it in the first place. 0:00 Take a walk with me3:39 Is a 'craving' a sign of a 'problem'?4:33 What are you really craving?7:29 I still get cravings 5 years in8:42 How long do cravings last10:40 Four Steps To Handle Urges11:36 Think. about what you really want12:53 Ride it out13:37 Simple replacements in the moment15:12 The underrated connection between movement & cravings19:56 Three things definitely NOT to do21:26 It's ok to find this hard23:05 Download your Surf the Urge Vault toolBest episode to listen to next: 111: Drinking on Autopilot: How Daily Stress Fuels Your Evening Habits - https://www.mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/2229527/episodes/17853665 ===🌱 Ready for real change in the way you drink? - https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset===🗝️ Become a Vault member to get access to the moderation tools that actually help - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault===✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/===❓ Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.