User blog comment:L0CKED334/The First 24 Hours/@comment-25052433-20190211073850

Stay strong! I know first hand just how damned deep our vices can dig in, and just how hard it can be to shake them off. I could throw out the classic platitudes here about how recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, or taking it one day at a time, but I'm sure you've heard them already.

The best advice I can offer is to keep your vice out of reach at all times. Don't have alcohol in your home and try to avoid social gatherings where drinking is taking place. Right now you could probably watch your friends down pitchers in front of you and not bat an eye, but urges and cravings can pop up out of nowhere and that is when you'll have to gather your will power and rely on those who support you to get you through until those cravings pass.

But remember, they will pass. Find physical coping methods if you need them. It's not all about mental will power, a lot of it is just giving your body something. I've known people who used non-alcoholic beer to get through the tough times, because your still allowing yourself the drink and taste, just without the negative effects of intoxication. I've been told that working out when you're in the depths of craving can also create similar chemical "pleasure" reactions in the brain that will satisfy the psychological craving.

There is not cookie-cutter advice or method that will work for everyone, so I'd say try whatever it takes until you find what healthy methods work best. And of course if you ever need to talk, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Best of luck to you. You have our support all the way!