Our alcohol craving symptoms can be like those little-tiny shoulder taps making you veer your head and quickly turn around. Only to find a perfectly poured cocktail on the bar with the light shining down like a halo.
You are PUMPED (because YUM), but also confused as to how you got to bar in the first place...
In a really simplified metaphor, that is the power of alcohol over our body and mind. Tiny-tiny cues slowly lead us to a drink... But, what are those cues and how do they manifest?
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Man, I have been there too many times to count. I've allowed alcohol run my decisions, and before I knew it, I was waking up with a headache. So, then I started to learn what sent me running to the brewery? How did my body feel? Just in general, what is going on here?!
So, I compiled these so you can learn the alcohol craving symptoms, and alcohol craving causes, so you can catch these cravings in their tracks and make your own decisions (not the alcohol's).
These are mostly researched-based symptoms with a few from personal experience.
This post is all about alcohol craving symptoms.
Alcohol Craving Symptoms
What is an alcohol cue?
I talk a lot of an "alcohol cue", especially when relating to the research I found. An alcohol cue is any stimulus to drinking (like smelling, seeing, sound, or even an emotion) that someone has subconsciously associated with drinking.
These alcohol cues, then, trigger an alcohol craving... Each alcohol cues intensity on someone relates to the severity of the alcohol dependency.
Obviously, everyone's triggers will be different since we have all had our own experience with alcohol. You may experience some of these alcohol craving symptoms, all of them, or none of them.
A bit of a disclaimer here, if you are struggling with addiction and/or alcohol use disorder, please seek professional help. This is not medical advice.
Body & Mind Craving Symptoms
1. A racing heart
So, a racing heart can be signified in a few different ways. One, it's almost like an adrenaline surge. A racing heart can signify your bodies ready-response to alcohol.
Of course, this is subject to individual circumstances. But, if you are drinking in a way that fuels adrenaline your heart is more likely to start racing when given alcohol cues.
For example, when I was in college, the idea of drinking made my heart race. Only because I knew that drinking meant going out to parties, meeting new people, new experiences, etc. all of which got me excited.
It's as simple as an anticipation for your brain's arousal on alcohol.
Secondly, a study was done that shows high social stress (like a job interview, public speaking, or being judged) combined with alcohol cues, strongly triggered the body's alcohol cravings and desire to drink.
High stress, like a job interview, can manifest as an increased heart rate (I'm sure you have experienced!). Therefore, if you were to be exposed to alcohol cues during a time of high social stress you are far more likely to drink.
2. Salivation
Salivation might be an obvious alcohol craving symptom! Very similar to when you are thinking about that creamy pint of ice cream... You will salivate if that is what you are craving.
A study shows that increased salivation, when given alcohol cues, is far greater in alcohol dependent people, but even mild drinkers will experience some form of this. Much like a racing heart can signify to your body's response, salivation is the same idea!
3. Butterflies
While this is not backed by research, I wanted to add this from personal experience. In my heavy-drinking days I would experience butterflies and a "pull" from my stomach.
I know that sounds weird.
It was as though my body was gearing up for action. My body knew what drinking did to me, and a combination of drinking cues led my nervous system to activate in a way that was a bit unnerving (literally).
If you are getting butterflies in your stomach before drinking or with the thought of drinking. Ask yourself, why? What about the experience is setting your nerves astray?
4. Sweaty palms
For those who are more than mild drinkers, or know of anyone who is a heavy drinker, a studied bodily response is sweaty palms. It is referred to in the research as the electrical charge that goes to your palms, which ultimately, makes them sweaty.
A symptom that can occur after seeing alcohol cues.
This alcohol craving symptom will be more severe with the more you drink. Which is crazy to think about... as though your body is sending electricity to your palms to almost reach for a drink?!
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5. Increased blood pressure
An alcohol craving symptom that is mostly for heavy drinkers is increased blood pressure. In a study where an alcohol-dependent group and a social drinkers group were given alcohol-related cues, the dependent group showed a significant increase in blood pressure compared to the other group.
Which makes sense, if you are a social drinker you are mostly drinking for fun and not in response to stress.
It can be a great idea to reflect on your drinking patterns and behaviors. Are you a social drinker or stress-drinker?
So, not only that, increased blood pressure can become an issue if it is not taken care of. In the long term, high blood pressure can lead to cognitive decline and dementia (as shown in this study).
I'm sure you don't want that...
6. Pupil dilation
Have you ever had a cat? Or know a cat? The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about people getting dilated pupils is when a cat gets REALLY excited (and I mean really excited) and their eyes become black holes.
Their pupils dilate to the max right before they attack you or jump off the wall and run in circles. Do you know what I'm talking about?! Look up some cat videos and you'll be put up to speed real quick!
Studies show that when alcohol-recovering individuals were exposed to stimuli related to drinking their pupils dilated. The more their pupils dilated the greater chance they had of relapsing.
So, a little life hack is seeing how dependent you are on alcohol through pupil dilation. If you are exposed to videos and photos of partying, drinking, etc... How dilated do your pupils get?!
Environmental: Alcohol Craving Causes
7. Stress
Exposure to stressful situations can lead to someone going out and drinking. I think about this all the time, and this is my main alcohol craving symptom. When I get stressed, overwhelmed, overworked, etc I can NOT wait for the drink I get to pour at 5pm.
Though, on less stressful days this incident is not as typical. Stress is a common theme in these alcohol craving symptoms, and for a valid reason.
This specific study shows that stress imagery actually increased alcohol cravings in dependent AND social drinkers. So, even if you are just a social drinker, being exposed to high-stress makes you more prone to crave alcohol.
8. Scrolling!
Have you ever went on social media and saw videos of college parties going wild, a TikTok cocktail recipe that looks to-die-for, or seeing stories of friends out drinking? I'm assuming so!
Believe it or not, consuming this content leads us to have attentional bias towards alcohol cues... Basically, this means that if you consume that content you are more likely to go about your day seeking cues to go drink. Studies show this, I'm not making this up!
I know this one sounds a but nuanced, but bear with me. Eye-tracking studies show, also, that social drinkers fixate more and longer on alcohol related content (ie photos, videos, etc).
Thus, making scrolling even worse! If you are scrolling and consuming alcohol-related content, most likely you will for a long while AND have greater motivation to go drink afterwards...
9. Social media
A study was done that exposed social drinkers to either an image of beer/drinks or an image of food. Then, each person was asked to do a certain task and at the end of the task they would receive a drink.
The people who were shown beer images worked harder to earn their drinks, and actually earned more drinks, than those who were only shown food images.
What does this mean? Basically, if a friend or someone were to send you photos of drinking or of you going out together. Then asked if you wanted to go grab a drink, you are more likely to say yes...
10. Routine & habit
Maybe you have a glass of wine every night after work, or before dinner, while cooking, watching TV, etc. So, it is important to know how that affects your alcohol cravings!
Once you create a habit and routine your mind will connect the two instances as one. So, when you are off work all the sudden you are craving a cocktail, even if you don't want one. Much like Pavlov's Experiment!
If you want to change your alcohol craving symptoms, then figure out where and when you are getting these cravings. If they are associated with a routine then simply change that routine!
I have veered away from routine and habit drinking because I found myself drinking even in moments I didn't want a drink... But, since it was a habit I just did it anyway. Now, I drink wine on a nice date night or special evening.