Finally, treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) isn’t limited to the 12 steps. Other approaches like harm-reduction, medication-assisted treatment, and moderation-based programs may https://ecosoberhouse.com/ help you succeed if AA isn’t a good match for you. For those struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, AA and its sister groups are some of the most popular programs for getting sober.
- There are also non-group-based options, such as medication-assisted treatment, traditional rehab centers, and online alcohol programs.
- One benefit of staying sober without AA is the ability to customize your own recovery plan.
- Then I started realizing that when friends would bring up drinking and doing drugs casually, I felt an enormous lump in my throat — both a craving and a fear.
This may give them the courage to make it through their days without drinking. Others place encouraging words on their phones, desks, and around their workspaces. They do this to provide constant reminders of how wonderful the world can be without alcohol.
What Does It Take To Stay Sober Long Term?
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. That said, there are many options to consider if you want to quit drinking without Alcoholic Anonymous.
- If you have a milder drinking problem, you might be able to go it alone.
- People new to recovery can find themselves approaching their new diet, exercise program, job, and even participation in support groups with a compulsion that echoes addiction.
Below are ways you can quit drinking without this mutual fellowship. Fill your life with love and support, including a professional counselor. Identify your triggers and create an actionable plan to overcome them. This means that just under 50% of those who recover do so in a self-managed way, without the help of meetings or medications. These may include holistic pathways, clinical interventions, or support groups alternative to AA. Some individuals have no formal recovery support at all and still successfully resolve an alcohol or drug problem.
Avoid Old Routines and Habits
If you have a drug or alcohol problem but don’t want to go to AA, keep reading. There are still plenty of ways to get the treatment you need and start the healthy lifestyle you deserve. MM holds that problem drinking is not always the same thing as addiction, and in less severe instances, individuals may be able to moderate their drinking instead of abstaining completely. Moderation may not stay sober without aa be the best strategy for everyone, MM acknowledges, but it may work well for some. For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs.
Words may help you and provide light and positivity to your loved ones as well. The alcohol prompts them to hide behind their stress and fear instead of coping with it. It requires dedication, commitment, and a willingness to seek out alternative methods of support.
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