Use a drink-tracking app, a notebook, or a breathalyzer to record how much you are actually drinking every day. This will keep you honest with yourself and your support system, and help you stick to your goals. It is abstinence-focused, and designed to be compatible with a variety of other treatment resources. The program’s philosophy emphasizes positivity, practicality, and staying focused on the present. Group participants share understanding, advice, and encouragement. Before going further, we should recognize that Alcoholics Anonymous does work for some people—and there’s nothing wrong with choosing that path if it’s a good fit.
In fact, less than eight percent of those addicted to alcohol get help each year. There are now several evidence-based solutions for alcohol addiction—and one of them is bound to work for you. If you find it difficult to make new, sober friends, try joining a support group.
Ways to Get Sober Without AA
The helpline at RehabAdviser.com is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Ark Behavioral Health, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Ohio. In some cases, there may be medication that can help with a drug or alcohol problem. In fact, the FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. With all of the above established, what can you actually do to help a loved one who is struggling with alcohol use disorder? The answer is complicated, and depends on that person’s individual relationship to alcohol.
- The further you stray from who you used to be, the more you feel that you can’t relate to others (or that they can’t relate to you).
- AA has more than 2 million members worldwide in over 100,000 locally supported groups.
- Codependency and controlling and passive-aggressive behavior are at the root of many addictions.
- But if you don’t want to put your life on pause, there are also outpatient centers and telehealth programs that can fit within your schedule.
- The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
- Exercising can produce endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine.
Anger is a normal and natural emotion, but how you deal with it will make a difference in maintaining your recovery. Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better habits. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). All of these and more are legitimate reasons to look for an AA alternative. And fortunately, there are many other effective choices out there.
Get Support
These might be more in line with your personal beliefs or goals. Even if you choose not to do AA, that doesn’t mean you have to fight your addiction alone. A counselor can address your personal issues and hold you accountable for your addiction. If you don’t think AA is the right choice for you, don’t worry. If you have a loved one who struggles with alcohol, the best way to help them may not always seem obvious.
Using meditation, you can discover the triggers behind your addiction. That way you can be aware of your https://ecosoberhouse.com/ responses to these triggers. Studies show that certain brain chemicals play a role in addiction.
How to Stay Sober
This isn’t talked about in 12-step much but it’s a life-saver. Check out why person in long-term recovery and counselor, Chrissy Taylor, encourages exercise in early sobriety. Exercise will get your endorphins pumping, reduce cravings, and make you feel better. There are also online treatment programs to help you quit drinking without AA. My company, Workit Health, has offers online, science-backed courses to help you beat alcohol use disorder from your computer or phone. For people with severe alcohol use disorder, or who expect intense withdrawal symptoms, some form of medical detox may be necessary.
Instead, individuals are encouraged to take on their own weaknesses, learn to accept them, and move forward in recovery. SOS-supported groups are nonprofessional and offer a healthy network of individuals with the similar goal of sobriety. Peer support is a big part of LifeRing recovery programs, as individuals share advice with other members, and offer support and encouragement in recovery. SMART Recovery programs offer both local in-person meetings and online support through a 24/7 chat board and daily online meetings. SMART Recovery programs avoid labels, such as “alcoholic,” and shy away from the disease model of addiction.
Women for Sobriety
Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater. To avoid relapse and remain sober, it’s important to develop healthy relationships. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/is-it-possible-to-get-sober-without-aa/ It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous most effective path to alcohol abstinence – Stanford Medical Center Report
Alcoholics Anonymous most effective path to alcohol abstinence.
Posted: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Overall, recovering from alcoholism is about giving yourself time, caring for yourself, finding a healthy support system, and remaining persistent. It’s normal for the readjustment period to take time, and for people to encounter speed bumps along the way. Assume that for several months to a year (or more) you will need to focus on this process, and continue to problem solve as you go along.