My Dance with the Craving Monster

For decades, my drinking followed a brutal arithmetic:

• 1 beer = A whisper for one more.
• 2 beers = A shout for two more.
• 4 beers = A demand for four more.
• 8 beers = The floor.

And it wasn’t just the alcohol—it was the phenomenon of vanishing willpower. After that second beer, every bad idea sounded brilliant. “Let’s go!” became my mantra, whether it was another round, a reckless decision, or a party favor I’d regret by sunrise. It didn’t matter if it was light beer or whiskey—the psychological pull was the same.

Sound familiar? Maybe for you it was:

• The second glass of wine that erased your “no.”
• The third margarita that convinced you to stay out till 3 AM.
• The second shot of tequila that made “I’ll quit tomorrow” feel plausible.

The Science Behind the Spiral

I didn’t realize this was alcoholic tendency—not normal drinking—until rehab spelled it out:

1. Craving escalates: Each drink fuels the desire for more, not less.
2. Inhibitions decay: Willpower drops linearly with every sip.
3. Withdrawal looms: Eventually, you’re not drinking to feel good—you’re drinking to avoid feeling terrible.

Ladies, you know this too. Two drinks in, and the “fun” begins—because your filters are down just like mine were. It’s why we loved alcohol in high school, college, and those reckless years before responsibility hit. But for some of us, that “fun” becomes a hellish cycle:

• Craving more while drinking.
• Craving again the next morning (hello, Bloody Mary’s and “hair of the dog”).
• Craving on days you’re sober, until the itch demands scratching.

Drawing Boundaries: My Truce with Craving

Here’s how I’ve negotiated peace after 12 years of trial and error:

• Never back-to-back drinking days (breaks the cycle).
• Never more than 9 beers (yes, that’s moderate for my size—judge away).
• Nothing past 9:00 PM (nothing good happens after, Gen Z—you’ll learn).

These rules aren’t for everyone. But they’re my tools—part of a sober toolkit that lets me live moderately, with Jesus as my sponsor instead of a daily AA meeting.

Your Turn

• What’s your craving pattern? “One more” after whiskey? Wine? Weed?
• What boundaries have you tried (or failed at)? Share below—no judgment.

This isn’t about abstinence vs. moderation. It’s about recognizing the craving monster—and building a truce that lets you win.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

P.S. If this resonates, share it with someone drowning in the “all or nothing” lie. And if you’re new here, subscribe—we’re just getting started.