It’s also a great support system during difficult times, as the group routinely attends meetings that focus on personal growth and relapse prevention. AA is a safe place where members can share their experiences and learn from one another. Recovery is about much more than living a drug or alcohol-free life. Addiction recovery is about learning how to live life on life’s terms.
Can I ever control my drinking?
For some people, drinking in moderation can be effective at curbing addictive behaviors to alcohol. 1 Research tells us that controlled drinking is not only possible for many individuals, but it is quite common among people who used to drink heavily.
Practically every person in recovery has people, places, and experiences that bring up the urge to drink. Part of the art of staying sober (or moderate) long-term is knowing what these triggers are, and how to manage them. Make a list of the things you find challenging, practice how you will respond in advance, and give yourself credit when you succeed. Finally, if you find all of these options too time consuming, expensive, or fussy, you can always go it alone.
Ways I Stay Sober Without AA
This is probably due to permanent changes in their brains that occurred as a result of long-term exposure to powerful opioids. If you’re using THC in any form for pain, anxiety, insomnia or what have you, you can forget it. It starts out with Step One, where you must admit that your life has become unmanageable because of your alcohol or drug use. This part is acceptable because if you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, this is almost certainly a fact. Next, you must appeal to your higher power to help you get sober.
One of the challenges of getting sober with AA is about willpower. 12 step philosophy emphasizes surrendering control to higher power. Nevertheless, many people in the rooms end up “white-knucking” their way through sobriety, especially in the early stages. Strong cravings can make it feel like a battle of wills between you and alcohol. Either way, if you find yourself avoiding AA because you don’t want to quit drinking completely, this is a good solution to look into—and there are many ways to access it. Once you are past the initial detox phase, rehabilitation programs (or rehab) are one way to go.
How to Quit Drinking Without Going to AA
Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse. Other definitions, however, often focus on the process of recovery and developing coping mechanisms and habits that support health and wellness over the long term. Total abstinence may be the goal, but the reality is that setbacks are common. We do not receive any compensation or commission for referrals to other treatment facilities.
Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again. If you’re in recovery from a substance use disorder, you already know how much work it took to achieve sobriety, and you’ll want to do everything possible to avoid having a relapse. It may seem that relapse is the last thing that could happen to you, but the truth is they are very common for people new to recovery.
How to Stay Sober
Ultimately, my realizations led me to leave 12-step fellowships. That was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my recovery. I was conditioned to believe that this was https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/is-it-possible-to-get-sober-without-aa/ the first step of relapse and that I may never get the opportunity to find recovery again. There is no tried-and-true way to determine whether moderation works for you.
For people with severe alcohol use disorder, or who expect intense withdrawal symptoms, some form of medical detox may be necessary. Sudden withdrawal from heavy drinking can be dangerous or even fatal, so it’s best to have a doctor’s supervision. If you have a milder drinking problem, you might be able to go it alone.
Is AA the only solution?
Yes, we can share in their joy and be proud of their path, but remember that there is no only way to do this. Every single path to recovery, even those that require the assistance of others, is deeply personal. There is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself for what you have done and are doing now. Being open and honest about sobriety also takes a measure of self-awareness, bravery, integrity, and dignity that many people will not understand unless they’ve struggled. That said, here are 4 things I have learned that are useful in getting sober from alcohol without AA. If none of these options sound good to you, you can build the recovery community you feel is lacking in the world.
How many types of AA are there?
There are two kinds of AA Meetings. Open Meetings and Closed Meetings.
This requires turning over control of your life to your higher power, although you are allowed to define the term higher power any way you wish. It could be Jesus Christ, Allah, Buddah, Ra the sun god, a pineapple or the neighbor’s Abbysinian cat. Rehab programs are the right choice for some people, but they can be too expensive for others. Also, with the exception of online rehab, these programs can be very disruptive to work and family life. Finally, many residential and outpatient programs are based on 12 step philosophy.
Are you struggling with an addiction?
I also think that, if possible, it is a great idea to make amends with the people and things that make you feel regret. I know these things are true because I have sat in rooms around the world and listened, for hundreds of hours, to the experiences others have had with alcohol. I’ve seen what it does to their bodies, families, and livelihoods. I experienced it myself over years of painful accidents, depression, and near-death alcohol withdrawal. 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.
Some support groups, like SMART Recovery, do not use the 12-Step model. “SMART” stands for “Self-Management and Recovery Training.” SMART Recovery focuses more on building coping skills for everyday life and does not focus on a higher power. Finding a sober community is essential to feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie in your shared struggles to overcome addiction. Each stage of recovery brings you closer to your goal of long-term sobriety. When you advance to a new phase, tell your loved ones and share your success with them.
Treatment & Services
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. Depending on where you live or where the meetings are, AA groups might lean heavily toward one age, cultural background or gender. He is a board member of Ahavas Chaim, a non-profit that offers at-risk teenagers crisis intervention and mental health support.
- —have all been bestsellers and his latest Kindle Single, Bachelor Number One, is currently #9 on the Kindle Single list.
- Recovery is about much more than living a drug or alcohol-free life.
- This part is acceptable because if you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, this is almost certainly a fact.
- Typically, the leader will open the meeting, and give new attendees the chance to introduce themselves.