Phenomenon of Craving

Phenomenon of Craving

How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober? This RAW Recovery Podcast episode centres on the Big Book’s “Doctor’s Opinion” and what it calls the “phenomenon of craving” – that switch that flips after the first drink, making stopping feel almost impossible.

Dion keeps things relaxed and chatty, joking about early mornings, family parties and even magnets on his headphones, but he keeps coming back to a serious core message: for some drinkers, the real problem starts *after* the first sip. He reads and unpacks lines like, “They cannot start drinking without developing the phenomena of craving,” and explains how this craving can override work, relationships and even self-preservation.

You’ll hear him talk about doctors’ limits, why “something more than a human power” seems necessary, and why well-meaning resolutions fall flat without a real decision and proper tools. He’s clear that no sponsor or helper can get someone sober and keep them sober – “this person needs skin in the game” – but they can share tools, experience and support.

Along the way, Dion challenges the old idea that alcoholism is just about weak will, touches on different “types” of alcoholics described by Dr Silkworth, and jokes about being “always on the wagon for keeps” without ever truly deciding. He also connects the Big Book ideas with lived realities like depression, PTSD, anxiety and the need for outside help beyond meetings.

If you’ve ever wondered why “just one drink” keeps turning into many, or why bright, capable people relapse again and again, this conversation offers a raw, honest look at the physical and mental hooks of addiction – with enough humour to keep things from getting too heavy. What tools are you leaning on to stay away from that first drink?