Well, usually when I get home from work, I can get that craving feeling too. Usually, it means I am hungry, not that I am working a bad program! I gulp a glass of water or juice, have a few crackers, and get down to making some dinner. If it has to go in the over or something, I take a quick walk - even if just around the block. I don't head over to a restaurant, where they serve alcohol, right after work with co-workers, that's for sure!

Thank you Anna.I have real problems not drinking when i get off work

I like to refer to 5:00 as my witching hour. If I can make it to 7:00 without taking a drink, I'm good for the rest of the night. The trouble is that I give into the temptations more often than not. My husband and my son do not get home from work and daycare until approximately 6:15. I am home by 5:00. As an alcoholic, naturally the first thing I want to do with my free time is drink. My best advice is to avoid the liquor store on the way home. If you get home to a house with no alcohol in it, you are less likely (or at least I am) to get off my lazy butt and head out to the store. As a sidenote, it's great to be an alcoholic living in Pennsylvania. The state stores and beer depots are few and far between and have very limited hours; they are closed on Sundays. Buying alcohol turns into more effort than it's worth.

When I was drinking it was at 5 o'clock sharp right when I got home. Then I started to find I wasn't doing much else other than drinking, watching tv and maybe going to bed early. It was not very much fun.
Now that drinking is not the option I want, I usually go to a yoga class right after work. That has worked out really well because it takes those hours out between 5 and 7 which also seemed to be a problem with drinking or even overeating. I think it is getting over all of the work anxiety out and getting comfortable being at home and at ease is the trick.

Even after 6 weeks or so of being sober, my body would still declare happy hour at 4pm or so every day. Increased heart rate, incessant drink thoughts, anxiety. Even though I wasn't having the mental desire, my body was start a party without me. I'd make sure to distract myself somehow though on some days it was a struggle. I was on Campral to help with the physical cravings which was a tremendous help!

wow....so much talk about getting home from work....my time of the day was noon. I had heard somewhere that I now know as a myth that if you drink after noon you are not an alcoholic....so I said F it anjd slept till noon towards the end even if I went to bed at 9 pm. I had no interest in nothing except for my blackberry brandy fresh out of the ice cold freezer and having enough cigarrettes....begged borrowed or stole....glad I am on longer a beggar or theif

I know this will sound weird but I find it helps me to eat when I get the mental craving. In my deranged mind I know it will be too hard to catch a buzz on a full stomach. luckily the mental craving is around dinner time.

The first thing I do when I get off work is one of 2 things if I feel the craving.#1.I come home and run 4 miles.The high from running is fantastic and lasts for hours.#2.Since I work the graveyard shift,when I get home at 8am.I stay up till 2pm.So instead of going to bed at 2pm,I will go to bed as soon as I get home(havent done this yet but want to)This way,when I get up.I have to work in 7 hours and wont drink because of that.

I focus on what I want to do the *next* day like bikram, run, work with a clear head, take my kids to the park, etc. I also distract myself with ice tea, non alcoholic beer (one with dinner), hot chocolate, movies after dinner.
Its all about distractions for me!!!

All great responses....

OH, I'm so with you on that one. The hardest is absolutely after work. The cravings only last a short while if you can just stay busy to keep your mind off it you wil be fine. Best Wishes!!!

Hi all. Recently relapsed, and going to store tomorrow to get my pellegrino. They have flavored ones like blood orange and grapefruit. I call it my cocktail, then I think about what to make for dinner, search recipes, play on internet. Glad to be a part of all these discussions.