Hi Everyone,
Just wondering. What is the difference between a real craving for a pain pill or just thoughts about them? Or is it all one in the same?
Good question Beebah.......I'd like to know the answer to that myself!...
A craving is what you feel when you run out of pills and your body needs more. A desire is when your mind tells you you want one because you don't like what you're feeling/experiencing.
Edit: A thought is just that. A thought. It's what addicts early in recovery have all the time but it goes away if we don't act on it. If you are having thoughts of using go do something to take your mind off of it or better yet, ask your HP to take away the obsession.
Edit: A thought is just that. A thought. It's what addicts early in recovery have all the time but it goes away if we don't act on it. If you are having thoughts of using go do something to take your mind off of it or better yet, ask your HP to take away the obsession.
Exactly.Well said.
A physical craving is not only a mental obsession but a feeling that you will die if you don't get it.Physical cravings are usually around during the first two weeks of detox.It would be akin to being in the desert without water.You will do what you have to do to get it.
Mental obsession and psychological cravings can be just as bad.You start thinking about a particular drug and give that thought life.Instead of stopping the voices you do nothing and what happens is you usually forget all pain associated with the DOC.You romantcize the good times or feelings and before you know it you are scheming how to get it.
This can start out as a benign thought about drugs also.
This is why it becomes so important to start recognizing the first thought and addressing it then.You can stop the tape where you want to.I know for me I have to pick up the phone and call someone in my support group immediately.It's o.k. that you are thinking about drugs........you're a drug addict.That's what we do.Don't let shame and guilt prevent you from reaching out.
A physical craving is not only a mental obsession but a feeling that you will die if you don't get it.Physical cravings are usually around during the first two weeks of detox.It would be akin to being in the desert without water.You will do what you have to do to get it.
Mental obsession and psychological cravings can be just as bad.You start thinking about a particular drug and give that thought life.Instead of stopping the voices you do nothing and what happens is you usually forget all pain associated with the DOC.You romantcize the good times or feelings and before you know it you are scheming how to get it.
This can start out as a benign thought about drugs also.
This is why it becomes so important to start recognizing the first thought and addressing it then.You can stop the tape where you want to.I know for me I have to pick up the phone and call someone in my support group immediately.It's o.k. that you are thinking about drugs........you're a drug addict.That's what we do.Don't let shame and guilt prevent you from reaching out.