Many people who recognize that they have a drinking problem aren’t aware that there are alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous. This article, for example, outlines the CORE process, which stands for Commit, Objectify, Respond, Enjoy. By employing these simple techniques, you can beat the bottle quietly — and for free — in the dignity of your own home. Effective communication, building strong support systems, and embracing self-help approaches such as regular workouts and journaling can also aid in maintaining abstinence. According to AA, about 26% of individuals maintain sobriety for over a year within the program.
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This may include connecting with friends and family, joining a sober living community, or attending support groups that align with your personal values and beliefs. Researchers followed up at six months then 12 months, measuring involvement in the groups and various substance use outcomes, including abstinence from drinking and alcohol-related problems. A new study has found, however, that AA, the original 12-step program, and others like it don’t have to be the only answer for people seeking out mutual help groups to deal getting sober without aa with alcohol addiction. Recovery from alcohol addiction is challenging, and not one that should be pursued alone. But if AA or recovery groups in general aren’t for you, consider meeting with a counselor to help you create healthy coping mechanisms and beneficial means of dealing with unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Maybe peer support groups are not your thing, and you desire an alternative to support groups not because of the spiritual aspect, but because you want to focus on recovery in a more individual manner.
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Through strategies like motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior therapy, individuals can learn to recognize their destructive tendencies and gain a sense of control over their thoughts and behaviors. Learn that you have choices and that you can maintain control. If any area of your life is out of control, it will not help you maintain lasting sobriety. Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake.
Building a Strong Support System
Whatever the reason may be, it is important to remember that there are many paths to Recovery and Sobriety. Additionally, some people may find AA’s group dynamics or principles too rigid or dogmatic. Whatever the reason, it is important to know that there are many other options available that can provide the necessary support and guidance to achieve and maintain Sobriety. There are many alternatives to AA that can help individuals overcome addiction and maintain long-term Sobriety. Here’s how I navigated being a sober person in an environment where the booze was always flowing.
If you are trying to find a way to stay sober without AA, consider placing words of wisdom and positivity in your home, workplace, and on your social media pages. Words may help you and provide light and positivity to your loved ones as well. Ria Health has already supported thousands of people to lasting recovery—without having to attend AA meetings.
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- CBT can also help individuals develop healthy coping mechanisms and improve their overall mental health.
- Don Fertman woke up one morning 40 years ago and poured himself a drink, as usual.
- Today, my life is full of people whose lives don’t revolve around consuming booze.
- And since it’s only one study, it’s possible that the results were biased in some other way.
AA If you like the accountability and community of regular meetings, SMART Recovery may be a good option for you. Aside from support groups, there are many other ways to get help for your alcohol use. But if you don’t want to put your life on pause, there are also outpatient centers and telehealth https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-addiction-recovery/ programs that can fit within your schedule. And for those who don’t want to quit completely (as AA requires), harm-reduction and moderation-based approaches might be a good fit. After intensive treatment, you may need some support to help you integrate back into your daily routine.
- Granted, it was our first night in the country, and I was probably experiencing jet lag in addition to the effects of the booze.
- Similarly, if you’d like to be sober but aren’t sure if you can do it 100%, you are already on the right path.
- And others have the goal to quit drinking, but don’t find other aspects of AA to align with their values.
- Moderation Management (MM) is very different than many other recovery and support groups in that it doesn’t require complete abstinence to be a member.
The Badger State’s capital placed high in the sobriety infrastructure category due to its robust number of Narcotics Anonymous meetings and SAMSHA-listed health treatment centers. It also shined in the community category, with an abundance of parks and opportunities to volunteer. One of the best parts of the 12-step program was that I felt welcomed into a community of people like me. I met people who knew the devastation of hardcore drinking, as well as the joys of living alcohol-free. I may not go to meetings anymore, but I still keep in touch with these kinds of people.
- Whether you find support online, in person, or through other means, the most important thing is that you are taking steps to stay sober and live a healthy, fulfilling life.
- Remember that everyone’s path to sobriety is unique and it’s important to find what works best for you.
- Besides physical activities, another effective self-help strategy is journaling.
- They can help you decide what treatment methods are right for you.
- Counseling can help individuals identify and manage triggers that may lead to substance use.
- Having peers who are going through or have dealt with the struggles of alcoholism provides much-needed emotional support.
- For more on the research into AA and the 12 steps, read Vox’s explainer.
- Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater.
- While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a valuable resource for many, it may not be the right fit for everyone.
Numerous other support groups, including SMART Recovery groups, LifeRing groups and SOS Alcoholism Program. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction. Financial troubles and problems finding and keeping employment are major triggers for relapse, but it is possible to take baby steps and get your finances in order. Just keep in mind that your improvements won’t happen overnight.
Find a Treatment Program That’s Right for You
I learned to love myself for the first time…I’m going to start a new chapter in my life because of Silver Ridge. A gratitude journal is an excellent way to shift your mindset from one of negativity to one of positivity. It will help you focus on the small wins instead of the failures, and will give you something to look back on when you feel yourself struggling. If you start focusing even on the smallest things you are grateful for, you will begin experiencing a shift in your overall thinking which, in turn, can greatly benefit your mental health and recovery. Celebrate each day spent sober and acknowledge those victories in a way that is special to you.