Mitigating the Cravings Post-Addiction

Ask anyone who’s successfully overcome an addiction; do you ever occasionally still crave “it”?

Well, first, I think it matters what “it” is. If “it” is an exclusively nefarious substance (such as, cigarettes), that’s one thing; but if “it” is a more ambiguously-natured substance, for example, food, then it’s another matter. We cannot live without food; thus, the overeater has a particularly challenging addiction to overcome, because he cannot abandon the substance; he must learn to make peace with it and not abuse it. Much the same could be said for “sex addicts” – sex, when enacted in a healthy way with a loving partner, is a fulfilling aspect of life; when abused, via pornography, exploitation, and/or anonymity, it is very harmful to all parties involved.

Since I was a teenager, I’ve battled the seduction of alcohol and cigarettes. I believe these two substances are particularly nefarious, because both are legally sanctioned by our culture. (While cigarette smoking is certainly admonished in the U.S., it is still perfectly legal and easily obtainable.) Alcohol is even more infiltrated into our culture; it’s a wonder there are not more raging alcoholics. In my life, I have achieved a measure of victory over these substances; I have not smoked a cigarette since January 1, 2009, and I have not had a drink since August 13, 2008. I still go “one day a time.”

Sometimes I wonder about the pull of cravings; fortunately, for me, cravings have yet to seduce me to the point of indulgence. My primary coping strategy is Spiritual. Alcohol and cigarettes are poisonous to my body, and thus are poisonous to my life. (I know there are some people who are able to drink in moderation, and some studies have even proven that moderate intake of alcohol can yield health benefits. Given my personality and tendencies, though, I cannot drink moderately. The ol' AA saying "For an alcoholic, one drink is too many and a thousand is not enough" rings true for me.) I live with the knowledge that any indulgence in these poisonous substances is an action that will alienate me from God. In essence, it is sinful for me. (Everyone has their own definition of “sin.”) In other words, I live with a measured and present knowledge of the impact of the dreaded “morning after” feeling. I know, deeply in my soul, how much I will regret any such indulgence, and this knowledge puts a vivid damper on any kind of craving I might experience. Life is a series of choices and, for the faithful, a practice of listening to discern God’s will. From a very Spiritual standpoint, I know that poisoning my body is an act of alienation from God.

This all being said, I confess that I occasionally ponder the delight of a pint of room-temperature Guiness with a thick head. Fortunately, since I’d indulged in a number of these throughout my life, the mere ponderance of such an indulgence will suffice.