"Read alcoholics don't have cravings" says AA frie

Hi All,
Tried to post this before--something happened. My friend in AA who is 15 months sober after drinking two bottles of gin a day for many years tells me that "real alcoholics don't have cravings. They laugh at that idea." But why do they relapse sometimes and go back to drinking, I asked. She said it is because their emotional pain gets the better of them and then they know that alcohol is handy to make it all go away for the moment. As long as you keep yourself emotionally stable you are ok. It's not about cravings, she said. She says she has none. I would love Dr. Garcia and JB to comment on this as well as all the others. This surprised me to say the least.

:rolleyes
Ok Let's try turning this one around... if there was no such thing as cravings in this world... would there be alcoholics?

Judie,

Mind? Not at all! I have to keep reminding myself that we are all, really, free.

Ned

You are a true Sage, Jude. I bow to you.

Luv Hug, Chrysa

Judy,

I totally agree. That's why I was so surprised. I mean, don't people drink when they're celebrating as well as when they're miserable? Any excuse, right? That's addiction as I understand it and it starts with craving, that little voice that says, hey, let's have a nice drinkie. But she insists and claims that all the alcoholics she knows in AA say that it's not cravings. So go figure!

Ned

What is that joke ..."How do you tell who is lying at an AA meeting?" Ans: "Whoever has their mouth open!."

Jude --Is it OK if I call you Jude or not.? Tell the truf now! I just love that name -- you know --- "Hey Jude" ..back in my day..my favorite song..oh-oh told my age -but but...so ..so...so what...you'd be surprised

Hi Ivy,

I can see your friends point, although I've never heard that before. For me the physical cravings absolutely did subside after the initial withdrawal period. But you'd really have to define "craving" to get into the rest of it. I still have a desire to drink at times, and if you call desire a "craving" then yes, I still have cravings that are emotionally centered - we call them triggers around here I think. I'm not surprised that she has no physical cravings now that she's not drinking. That's the nature of our bodies (if not our minds) - we don't crave what we don't ingest.

Also, is your friend talking about sober alcoholics in AA, or "active" alcoholics? Who are the "real alcoholics" anyway? Only the people that don't have cravings? That will be good news to a lot of people here! I know for sure I had full on cravings everyday when I was dependent on alcohol - physical & emotional. But I don't mind at all not being a "real alcoholic"! ol

There are other reasons why people relapse too, not only to escape emotional pain. I've read that a common reason in early sobriety is to find out if you can drink normally, to double check your alcoholic status I guess. Once you gain a sense of well being after a period of abstinence, apparently it's common to forget the reasons why you quit in the first place, so some people have to make sure they have a drinking problem before they continue with getting better.

Anyway, this seems like it may just be about semantics - craving, schmaving, right? We're all looking for a way to live well, with or without alcohol. AA doesn't have all the answers for everyone, they're just the most dominant voice out there right now. You don't have to agree with them. The important thing is to find what makes sense for you.

Peace,
Deirdre

Beautifully stated Deirdre.
Thanks, Miss Layla

Deirdre, I'd have to say, yep YEP, YEP! Pretty much says what I would've liked to, just not as patient ....thank you! :b
I'm a firm believer in people having their own opinion... but I do have a hard time with someone stating "yes/no... black/white:... craving/ no craving... alcoholic/not alcoholic... AA/ not AA, ..... And speaking in terms of absolutes... or for the whole group, sorry, I don't buy it. I have been(and still attend AA), from time to time, and I don't appreciate being told what "I feel or don't". I would say "nothin personal", but I guess it really kinda is...:rolleyes

"In dealing with other people remember the three C's: You didn't cause it, you can't control it, and you can't cure it."
Lorna P.

Today, I will allow others the dignity of living as they wish to live.

kinda appropriate quotations for my daily meditaions book! May 27 .... Peace & hugs, Judie

Oh yeh, Ivy I do drink when I'm happy, sad, anxious, nervous, delighted, bummed out, definately after a hard night @ work.... Go figur!!! Maybe someday, We'll get it straight!!
It's always good to question... rather than just wonder where else "I might have more booze hidden" (like the "olden dayz"), only 5 months ago! seems like a lifetime though!:b

Hi All,

I am not sure about "real alcoholics" and cravings, and Deirdre I think you are right, it depends on your definition of a craving. Yesterday I very easily could have drank after nine weeks of not drinking. I was upset true, so the the emotional aspect was most definitely present. However even though I have not had a drink in nine weeks I could swear there was more than an emotional component to what I was feeling.

But I agree, in the end, what does it really matter. It is all about finding what works best for you and what you can be happy living with, because at the end of the day, the only one looking you back in the mirror is YOU!

Donna