4 years sober + 4 tips for sobriety without AA Matt Hunt

Those who have a hard time with thinking of themselves as “sick” or “diseased” may prefer using the tools taught in SMART Recovery as a method of beating drug addiction. With that said, we also have another movement that is global as well. These numbers reflect successful members that remain sober. My family and my friends who have known me for 20 years recognize that I’m an alcoholic—they knew long before I did. It’s taken a lot of humiliation, soul-searching and grim self-evaluation for me to admit I am an alcoholic—first to myself, then to my inner circle, then to the world at large.

Wired reports that it does and I believe that it does. Wired also reports that group talk therapy like the sharing that occurs in AA helps people recovering from cancer and pathogen-driven diseases like tuberculosis. My takeaway is that it benefits people suffering from a hardship to congregate with other people suffering from the same hardship to talk about their experiences.

Getting Sober Without AA—What Are Your Options?

If you are tapering off alcohol or pursuing moderation, it helps to give yourself objective data. Use a drink-tracking app, a notebook, or a breathalyzer to record how much you are actually drinking every day. This will keep you honest sober without aa with yourself and your support system, and help you stick to your goals. LifeRing is another alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous. It is abstinence-focused, and designed to be compatible with a variety of other treatment resources.

• Even though AA hasn’t been the route I’ve taken, I agree that it works if you work it.
• You can attend AA meetings for as long as you want to.
• Following that, you get back in the real world, where your life of sobriety is just beginning.
• Members will also have the opportunity to share their personal experiences with alcohol use and recovery, and share any struggles that they are having.
• When you stop drinking, it is time to make new friends.

If you prefer not to attend AA, look for other ways to access this kind of community—whether that’s through other groups, a supportive social circle, or through a recovery coach or counselor. Once you are past the initial detox phase, rehabilitation programs (or rehab) are one way to go. Residential treatment can last days, and gives you a chance for a full reset. Outpatient rehab lets you continue living at home and attend treatment for several hours per day. Online rehab is the least disruptive, letting you talk to doctors and coaches from home via your phone. Before going further, we should recognize that Alcoholics Anonymous does work for some people—and there’s nothing wrong with choosing that path if it’s a good fit.

What Happens if I Relapse?

Being that I was an “Old School ” heroin addict and the dope was uncut, I have watched the heroin being stepped on and replaced with Fentanyl as an SUD Counselor now working in treatment. I also see the synthetic prescription opiates like Oxy, Norcos and Vicodin that are becoming major gateways to long term addiction. That wrath is addiction and it is not a California thing or a New York thing, it’s not even a United States thing or a North America thing…it is a GLOBAL THING. Addiction is internationally known and it affects us globally here on this planet we call Earth. After their first splash of surprise (or lack thereof), I had to accustom myself to my peers viewing me through the distorting lens of alcoholism.

The SMART in SMART Recovery stands for Self Management and Recovery Training. It’s a worldwide support network and arguably the leading alternative to AA. It espouses a four-point program based on abstinence, the ultimate goal of which is to help followers to lead more balanced lives.

What to Expect from an AA Meeting

As VP of Business Development, McCarthy leads a team of over 20 business development professionals nationwide. She manages client acquisition, coordinates in-service trainings with various referents and hospitals, and presents at conferences on addiction and mental health disorder treatment. I became an AA member because I thought it was the default.

So, if you’re trying to get and stay sober, consider engaging with the things you love again. The more you spend your time doing this, the less you’ll spend drinking. We do not receive any compensation or commission for https://ecosoberhouse.com/halfway-house/ referrals to other treatment facilities. CBT is one of the best ways to treat drug or alcohol abuse. This scientifically proven treatment teaches you how to regulate your emotions and end self-destructive cycles.

Stay Financially Stable

Fortunately, if AA doesn’t work for you, there are other choices. Different support groups exist to help you quit drinking without AA, some with a more secular approach. Mark’s natural leadership skills as well as his creative thought process to generate new revenue strategies make him one of the most sought-after professionals in healthcare. Mark has a track record of leading organizations to outstanding ROI on overall portfolio performance. In addition, his expertise includes workforce planning, growth revenue, high client and investor satisfaction.

• Just because I have been addicted to alcohol, it doesn’t mean my life after alcohol is necessarily just an empty series of dire cravings and desperate injections of pleasure.
• Extraordinary magic comes with being in the company of people that are in the process of growing beyond what they knew they could ever be capable of.
• This can help you move forward more quickly, and makes it easier to focus on behavior change or establishing new habits.
• If you’re using THC in any form for pain, anxiety, insomnia or what have you, you can forget it.
• Committing to long-term sobriety also involves continually looking for ways to improve your life.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a list of online recovery resources. You can explore different types of support groups that might help you in your long-term sobriety. 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.

How to Stay Sober: Tips for Getting and Staying Sober

My experience has taught me that most people—even intelligent, worldly people—have bad data about alcoholism. When others learn you’re an alcoholic, you immediately become a victim of the information shrapnel they’ve passively absorbed about the disease. They don’t see you, a specific, unique person burdened with a wily, tenacious affliction.

• AA gives out chips for varying periods of sobriety, for example, thirty days, six months, a year and so on.
• You may actually find that if you take it a bit easier that you will be work effective at what you are doing.
• Every single path to recovery, even those that require the assistance of others, is deeply personal.
• As mentioned elsewhere in this article, maintaining relationships is integral to sobriety.

Many, many people have achieved sobriety through them, myself included. I just think that for some of us, AA functions as a step in the whole process rather than the whole process itself. Maintaining employment that nourishes your spirit will go a long way in your sober life. Many people find that a job that involves helping people helps them stay sober. You don’t have to work completely in the service of others – you can make a meaningful impact on the world. Doctors sometimes use medications in alcohol addiction treatment.

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. These programs can be a big help for alcoholics who are looking for a comprehensive and holistic approach to addiction recovery.