You can look for alternative groups with perspectives closer to your own. There are also non-group-based options, such as medication-assisted treatment, traditional rehab centers, and online alcohol programs. You can even try quitting on your own if you expect only minor withdrawal symptoms. If you don’t want to quit alcohol completely, or have had too much trouble staying 100% sober in the past, harm reduction might be the right approach. Alcoholics Anonymous, and many older treatment programs, emphasize total abstinence from drinking as the only solution.

If you are committed to finding the addiction treatment, therapies, or plans that work best for you, you will have a better chance at success. Now at 4 years and almost 4 months sober, I am in the latter group. I put a date on my sobriety a month before August 1st, 2015.

Can You Get Sober Without AA?

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). The common effects of alcohol on the body are well documented, but what about the seemingly more…

HAMS stands for Harm Reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support. As the name suggests, the organization doesn’t dictate either abstinence or moderation, it simply encourages people to be safe and responsible in their attitudes to alcohol. It does this through a book, online community resources, live meetings, and its “17 elements”—recommendations that can be completed in any order, none of which is compulsory.

Get Naltrexone Online to Stop Drinking

Other unexpected life events can cause a relapse, which might make recovery seem impossible. When you detox, you deal with ridding https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your body of dependency on drugs or alcohol. Whether you are starting your sober life, take things one day at a time.

Even the treatment centers insisted on attendance at some form of AA or NA meeting, so there was no getting away from the dominant 12-step culture. Women for Sobriety (WFS) is a program that is specifically engineered to focus on women’s treatment needs and what will best support their recovery. The groups are led by moderators, and serve to promote emotional and spiritual growth free from the bounds of alcohol abuse and addiction. One of the most popular forms of alcohol addiction management and recovery support is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a 12-Step program. AA has more than 2 million members worldwide in over 100,000 locally supported groups. Medications can reduce these cravings by rebalancing your brain chemistry, and even blocking some of the effects of alcohol.

Support Children’s Health

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 the first step of relapse and that I may never get the how to stay sober without aa opportunity to find recovery again. Because one of the underlying premises of recovery is hope, seeing people who have made the journey into long-term recovery inspires others who are beginning their own journey to recovery.

how to stay sober without aa

Working too hard or overexerting yourself in other ways can be detrimental to your mental health. You may actually find that if you take it a bit easier that you will be work effective at what you are doing. It’s worth remembering that burnout can be a genuine relapse trigger. RehabAdviser.com is a tool for individuals seeking to find a Drug and/or Alcohol Rehab. We provide a list of treatment centers located within the United States that are JHACO or CARF accredited. Individuals can call the centers directly or call our Toll Free number for further assistance.

Alternatives to the AA Approach

Start a group in your area or on a social networking site like Facebook, and watch it grow. Following an exercise program can help reduce stress and restore a sense of balance in your life. It is vital to learn from these past mistakes, don’t harbor the feelings, and speak to your loved ones and anyone else you believe you have hurt. This will help you move past these toxic thinking patterns.

how to stay sober without aa

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better habits. The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful. In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help.