Pep Talk for When You’re Craving a Drink
You found this post for a reason🖤
Maybe you’re sitting in your kitchen or in your car, staring at a bottle.
Maybe you told yourself you wouldn’t drink tonight… and now you’re this close to giving in.
Part of you wants relief.
The other part wants your promise to matter.
Before you do anything else, take a breath.
And stay here with me for a few minutes.
Let’s ride this craving together.
Let’s get you to tomorrow feeling proud, not defeated.
If you still want to drink after reading this, it’s your choice.
But give yourself a chance. Stay with me until the end.
Here’s the thing to know: this craving isn’t a sign of failure.
It’s a sign your brain has learned one pattern:
When I’m overwhelmed, I drink.
Not because alcohol fixes anything…but because you’ve trained your brain to expect it.
You’re not craving alcohol.
You’re craving relief.
But here’s the truth your craving won’t tell you:
→ The “relief” alcohol gives you only lasts 20–30 minutes.
That buzz? The numbness? The melt?
It’s not relaxation.
It’s anesthesia.
And your body immediately starts working against it because alcohol is a toxin.
And as soon as that buzz starts fading, your brain dumps stress chemicals - cortisol and adrenaline - trying to keep you functioning.
You end up more anxious, more overwhelmed, and more unhappy… even if you keep drinking.
Alcohol isn’t helping. It’s hijacking.
It stops your brain from making dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals that help you:
feel joy
feel calm
feel satisfied
sleep deeply
experience pride
Over time, alcohol demands to be the source of those feelings.
So when you crave a drink, your brain isn’t saying:
You need alcohol.
It’s saying:
Where do I get relief now?
That question is uncomfortable, but it’s powerful.
It means you’re ready to learn a new way.
So what do you do instead?
Anything that interrupts the pattern.
Anything that gives your brain a new pathway.
Here are options - pick one. Just one:
Go for a walk (yes, even 5 minutes)
Take a bath
Journal your stress
Cry if you need to
Stretch or breathe deeply
Eat something with protein
Watch something funny on YouTube
Play with your kids… actually play. Without your phone.
Cuddle your pet
Listen to music
Scroll sober Instagram
Text a friend
Pray
Clean something small
Look up a quote that reminds you who you want to be
And yes… go for a walk. I’m saying it twice because it deserves to be said twice. Never underestimate what movement and fresh air can do for your outlook.
Remember this:
Cravings feel huge because what you’re doing is new, not because you’re weak.
If you give in, you don’t get a break from life.
You get a break from feeling proud of yourself.
You already know what happens if you drink.
It never goes differently. Alcohol never changes.
If you want tomorrow to feel different, you have to choose differently today.
Your future self is watching.
Think about waking up tomorrow morning.
Which version of you do you want to meet?
The one who feels:
clear
proud
relieved
strong
… or the one who’s starting over again… again.
You deserve the version that feels free♡
One more thing…
If you keep starting over, maybe it’s not because you “can’t do it.”
Maybe you just weren’t meant to do it alone.
Support doesn’t make you weak.
It helps you become who you’re trying to be.
There are communities, mentors, and women who get it.
You don’t have to fight cravings with willpower; you can learn tools that make them easier.
If you need that kind of support, you’re in the right place. You can step into a community in minutes. Learn more here.
You deserve the kind of support that helps you realize the problem has never been you -it’s always been alcohol.
You deserve a life you don’t need to numb. And you can start creating it right now!
I’m cheering you on.
Stay steady. You’re doing something brave!🖤
xx -
Shannon