Keep Cravings In Check This Autumn

I have always loved autumn. I'd have told you it was the colours of the changing trees, the cold bite in the air, and the crunching ground underfoot... but in reality, this time of year meant daily trips to pubs after work with colleagues, where I'd sit surrounded by festive lights, sipping on bottomless glasses of wine. Or bars by the river, where we would snuggle under blankets and sip warm mulled wine until closing time. Everyone seemed to up their game when it came to drinking in October and November, in the lead-up to the holidays. Drinking was expected, accepted, encouraged even. Perfect for someone who drank too much and felt constantly guilty about that fact. Looking back, I can't remember a time when I didn't emerge into the new year sluggish, unhealthy, not able to remember certain things, embarrassed about my behaviour, having eaten too much, drank even more than usual, and feeling guilty. Every cosy evening in front of a fire was accompanied by wine, and too much of it. Christmas markets were more about drinking Gluhwein than the hand-carved nutcrackers on offer. Office work parties ended in me face- planting the curb or arguing with someone from accounts. It was a mess. It was far from festive... it was farcical.

During these autumn months, it's not uncommon to sense a creeping melancholy spread across the community. It's usually due to the lack of sunlight, the change in the weather, and the fact that these two things combined mean we spend more time indoors, often at home, which can feel boring, claustrophobic, and isolating. These 'winter blues' are nothing new, but they can affect our mood and lead to a spike in depression, fatigue, and anxiety, all of which are triggers when it comes to relapses. But before I scare you half to death about the upcoming months, let me reassure you that I gave up drinking during December, a week before Christmas, in fact, and not only survived, I thrived. So I thought I would share some of the things that really helped me keep cravings in check during the cold days and long nights. Staying busy has been key for me throughout the year, whether that's journaling, building a cute Book Nook for my shelves, or walking until the urge to drink passes. If I can't do any of those things, I have a long bath, and if all else fails, and I can't find anything to shift my unwanted mood, I go to bed. For me, it's been about breaking old associations. If you start to create new healthier associations with all things autumnal, you start to reprogram your mind. And as I approach two years sober, I'm already noticing the old alcohol associations are fading. Here are some of the things that got me through autumn and winter last year and kept me feeling connected to the sober community and the outside world.