Drifter

Sobertown Podcast

Drifter

  • EP 345: Early Days-Cravings

EP 345: Early Days-Cravings

Monday 22nd January 2024

Michal Charles offers practical strategies and personal stories to help manage cravings in early sobriety in this episode of 'Early Days'.
Explicit
17 minutes
Empowering
Informative
Supportive
Inspiring
Hopeful

About this podcast

Sobertown Podcast
Author:
Drifter
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Empowering Recovery Journeys
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Conquering Cravings: Michal Charles on Surviving Early Sobriety

Episode Overview

  • Cravings in early sobriety can feel all-consuming and are triggered by various emotions and societal conditioning.
  • Developing coping mechanisms and resisting instant gratification are crucial in navigating cravings.
  • Practical strategies such as distraction, cognitive behavioural therapy, and seeking support from the sober community can aid in resisting cravings.
  • Formulating plans before entering environments with alcohol and recognising the temporary nature of cravings are empowering tactics.
  • Building resilience in early sobriety is akin to strengthening a 'sober muscle', resulting in increased ease over time.
The more you start to do that, the more you flex that sober muscle and the easier it becomes. It's like starting at a gym, right? The first time you lift weights, you're going to have to start small and build up steadily. But the more you do it, the stronger you get and the easier all of this becomes.
Cravings can feel like an insurmountable challenge in the early days of sobriety, but Michal Charles, also known as MMC13, is here to shed light on how to manage these intense urges. In this episode of 'Early Days', Michal dives into what cravings are, why they happen, and most importantly, how to resist them. Drawing from his own decade-long journey of sobriety, Michal shares personal anecdotes that highlight the emotional turmoil and habitual responses that often accompany cravings.
He opens up about the internal battles and the cognitive dissonance that can make resisting the urge to drink so difficult. But there's hope. Michal offers practical advice, advocating for distraction techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy, and the importance of seeking support from the sober community. He emphasizes the need for a solid plan before entering environments where alcohol is present, helping listeners prepare for those vulnerable moments.
Through his relatable stories and insightful strategies, Michal empowers listeners to face cravings head-on, reminding them that these urges are temporary and can be managed with the right tools. He concludes with an encouraging message: building resilience is like strengthening a 'sober muscle', and with time, it gets easier.