SOS-supported groups are nonprofessional and offer a healthy network of individuals with the similar goal of sobriety. SMART Recovery concepts help individuals to recognize that alcohol abuse can be destructive, and it creates problems emotionally, physically, socially, and behaviorally. One of the most popular forms of alcohol addiction management and recovery support is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a 12-Step program.
Alcoholism is a disease for which there is no known cure.
- You don’t need to go through an organization or any other formal channels to find this type of community.
- That’s likely millions of people — and might very well include you.
As I stopped using, more people noticed me when I panhandled on the streets. People started to stop and talk to me, engage with me, and bring me books to read, clothes, and home-cooked food during the holidays. While ramping up my therapy sessions, I started to gamify how long I could go without shooting drugs. I’d get high once in a while when I had to cop for friends driving down to NYC from upstate. As recovery became my focus, I eventually introduced these guys to my connections.
Identify Your Personal Triggers
While its effectiveness and success is well documented, it is also clear that it does not work for everyone. A 2002 study with 279 people compared AA or similar 12-step programs with other forms of psychosocial treatment. Researchers found that 24% of AA or 12-step participants remained fully abstinent from alcohol after 12 months (2). Recovery from alcohol or drug addiction is a personal journey, and no two people’s paths will look similar.
Tips for Avoiding Relapse After Recovery
Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider. Workit Health providers can and do prescribe medication getting sober without aa (as appropriate) as part of treatment for alcohol use disorder. This pamphlet offers general information on Alcoholics Anonymous, covering topics such as symptoms of alcoholism, the Twelve Steps (A.A.’s program of recovery), the function of A.A. Has helped millions recover from alcoholism – to get sober and stay sober. You might be ready to face these triggers, or you might not feel comfortable yet.
- 💙 Indulge in self-kindness with (Self) Love Bombing, a mindfulness practice on the power of being kind to yourself and boosting confidence as you navigate sobriety.
- Feeling left out when you’re the only one not drinking can be challenging, but there are strategies that can help.
- “I have healthy relationships, a career that I can show up to every day, and a deep level of self-worth that I never imagined I’d ever have before I got sober,” Natasha says.
- The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
- Ideally, health professionals would be able to identify which AUD treatment is most effective for each person.
- It’s a worldwide support network and arguably the leading alternative to AA.
- While some controversial treatments or therapies exist, it’s important to consult with a medical professional before pursuing any unconventional methods.
- 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).
- I’m into multiple pathways to recovery, harm reduction, alternative health & personal growth — and loud, raw, noisy guitars.
Actions that focus on mindfulness will make it easier to work through cravings and moments of temptation. Routines also impart discipline and self-restraint which is a particularly valuable skill recovering addicts will need to relearn. That said, there are many options to consider if you want to quit drinking without Alcoholic Anonymous.
Is AA The Only Way To Stay Sober?
- There are many enjoyable non-alcoholic options that you can choose from at parties.
- Actions that focus on mindfulness will make it easier to work through cravings and moments of temptation.
- As mentioned above, there are many ways to become and stay sober from alcohol; it is not a numbers game.
- Celebrating your progress reminds you of your strength and determination to maintain sobriety.
- Recovery from alcohol and drug addiction can be full of ups and downs.
