26/01/2026
Not giving into a craving for alcohol, or whatever substance you're struggling with, can feel impossible. It feels like not eating when you're hungry, not drinking water when you're parched, or not sleeping when you're exhausted. It feels unbearable.
But did you know that most cravings only last for a short while? Here are 5 x tips from the expert clinicians at Ocean Hills to help you get through a trigger or craving.
1. Distract yourself physically – keep your hands busy, do something strenuous like weeding the garden, going for a walk or taking a shower. Sometimes eating a snack or drinking a large glass of water helps. Self care is critical in staying sober.
2. Contact another person in recovery or a supportive loved one or friend to share how you're feeling – this often alleviates the craving substantially.
3. Write down how you're feeling and reflect on why you don't want to act on the craving. Think about how awful you feel after using and survey the damage it's done in your life. Make a record of all the bad times your addiction has caused and look back on it regularly to keep the negative associations of drinking or using fresh in your mind.
5. Know that cravings pass and become less frequent and intense the longer you stay sober. If you sit with the craving and do some deep breathing, you might be surprised that it goes away pretty quickly.
If this information is useful, check out the Ocean Hills Addicted to Recovery podcast on Spotify for more expert information and recommendations on how to get sober and stay that way.
Ocean Hills is a private, premium rehab by the sea in Napier. We help people get sober and build a life they don't want to escape from. Call Elaine on 027 573 7744.
