How do you overcome cravings?

[DroneLore]

I like opiates, and I had a brief stint with H. I injected it once, but mostly smoked/sniffed. It's been 8 months since I did any opiates, excluding a few times with 1 mg or less of bupe (which fucks me up for 8 hrs, the blessing of a low tolerance I guess). And now I'm in a mindset where I'm like, "Well....as long as it's not H I'll be good" and I know that's bullshit but I can't talk myself out of it. I've been dreaming about scoring pills and shit...

any advice?

edit: I don't know why I made this thread, it just made me feel kind of guilty. I have a feeling I'm going to wind up chipping regardless of the input, but it can't hurt to ask..right? Oh yea and I've done kratom a couple times if you count that.

 

[Sepher]

You have a habit before Dronelore, or were you mostly just chipping? Think it makes a difference as far as craving goes, and whether you'll be able to continue to chip without putting recovery at risk, if that applies here. If you've previously had a habit it takes a lot less time to re-establish physical dependence, and it's more important that you keep your use to odd days once in a while. If you've not had a habit you can probably use a bit more and more frequently without coming too close to a proper habit. That's not a recommendation you do that btw. My advice would always be to walk away from opiates while you still have the chance.

As far as craving goes the only way to deal with them really is to just dismiss them. Ignore them till they go away. Take it one day at a time, resolved that you're not going to give in and use today no matter what. Have you noticed whether there are any obvious triggers for them? Are they common to certain environments, certain times, certain moods for example? If you can spot a pattern it will make it easier for you to avoid the triggers, or at least be more prepared for the cravings when they come. You should find the longer you go without using the less you'll suffer from them, but that can take some time. Chipping even infrequently can be enough to establish a pattern of use and a psychological need, and the cravings will linger on until that pattern of use is broken.

 

[max_]

You can never know when you go from occasional use to actual addiction. The change is so gradual and rationalized that you just can't tell. Once a week is already too much, that you can be sure of. I know they're awesome but life is better (I guess?)