How to Stay Sober Without AA: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Recovery
She looks after her children, enjoys drinks with friends, and is a successful writer. But she recognizes her relationship with alcohol is different than that of the casual-drinking moms in her friend group. When she realizes sobriety is her only path forward, she keeps a diary of her road to recovery, from finding a sponsor to discovering a new social life not centered around alcohol. Wilhelmson’s story proves that alcoholism can take many forms. Michael Pond has treated people with addiction for years as a psychotherapist but finds himself homeless, broke and alone when he succumbs to his own battle with alcohol use disorder.
Staying Sober
Coping mechanisms can be anything from meditation to hobbies, such as painting or playing an instrument. Its program is based on the principles of Sobriety, personal responsibility, and self-improvement. SOS also offers face-to-face and online meetings, as well as a forum where members can connect and support each other. Ultimately, the decision to stay sober without AA is a personal one. It is important to explore all options and find what works best for you in your journey toward Recovery and Sobriety.
How To Quit Drinking Without AA
- For many years, the accepted options were to send folks to 30-day inpatient treatment or told them to go to AA.
- There is something out there that’s going to connect with their heart and their spirit, that’s going to provide what they need to stop drinking and start recovering.
- Have you thought about joining AA, but do not have transportation to travel to meetings?
- What most people don’t know is that there are a lot of alternatives to AA.
- It’s hard to say whether one option is healthier than the other for any single individual, says Cooper.
It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse. Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people that you used with or obtained drugs from. After all, you can’t hang around your drug dealer or old drinking buddies and expect to remain sober for very long.
- One of the biggest debates in the recovery world is about whether or not you can stay sober without AA.
- Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people that you used with or obtained drugs from.
- Support groups can include 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or non-12-step groups like SMART Recovery, which has a more secular approach.
- Practically every person in recovery has people, places, and experiences that bring up the urge to drink.
What Is Sobriety?
Below are fifteen incredible books by drinkers who battled alcohol addiction and lived to tell the tale. Tragic, inspiring, humorous and heart-wrenching—these true accounts of the struggle for sobriety will move you and maybe inspire you to see what the sober life is all about. In treatment, the counselor showed my group a picture of a shot of whiskey and asked the question “Who here thinks they are powerless over this little thing? Today, I know that my problem isn’t due to being a “weak” willed human being. My mind has a mental obsession and my body has an allergic reaction.
Why I Stopped Calling Myself an Alcoholic – TIME
Why I Stopped Calling Myself an Alcoholic.
Posted: Fri, 27 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]
We are here to answer your questions and alleviate any concerns.
- Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that.
- However, there are individuals who lack faith is this 12 step program which seeks to unite former alcoholics in the journey to recovery.
- Many alcoholics will become involved in church or civic activities to help them stay sober.
- Seeing a mental health professional can be a great asset, especially if you are diagnosed with a mental illness (or suspect that you might be).
- And fortunately, there are many other effective choices out there.
Avoiding Triggers and Temptations
Inpatient rehab programs can provide individuals with a supportive environment that can help them maintain Sobriety. They may have stopped drinking, but their life may be exactly the same, leading them to be jealous of others who are drinking or to struggle with emotional or mental health issues. If you don’t have a family or strong social circle to return to post formal treatment, a personalized plan may include interpersonal therapy, which can help you build a healthy social network.
The theories behind these types of groups, while similar to AA, do present different models for sustained recovery. When you walk through the doors of an AA meeting, the warm welcome everyone receives is because of this common bond. Even though you do not have to join any group or pay any dues, the common struggle of like-minded alcoholics is priceless. Remember, your path to sobriety is unique, and finding what works best for you is essential.
Finally, if you find all of these options too time consuming, expensive, or fussy, you can always go it alone. This can be a lot more difficult—and even dangerous if you have a severe enough addiction. That said, there have always been people who are able to quit drinking without a group or a program. Rehab programs are the right choice for some people, but they can be too expensive for others.
Emotional Distress
All of these and more are legitimate reasons to look for an AA alternative. And fortunately, there are many other effective choices out there. Do not allow COVID-19 to stop you from seeking the care you need.
Step 5: Choose the Appropriate Therapy
It will help you focus on the small wins instead of the failures, and will give you something to look back on when you feel yourself struggling. If you start focusing even on the smallest things you are grateful for, you will begin experiencing a shift in your overall thinking which, in turn, can greatly benefit your mental health and recovery. Celebrate each day spent sober and acknowledge those victories in a getting sober without aa way that is special to you. It’s important to set boundaries for yourself and stick to them. This can include avoiding places or people that trigger your urge to drink or setting a limit on how much alcohol you allow yourself to consume. To find a treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator.