Can You Get Sober Without AA? Alcohol Addiction Treatment

This may mean that you don’t spend time with someone you used to use drugs with or go somewhere you used to drink. You might take a new way home from work, for example, to keep from going past your favorite old hangout. I looked at availability in my area and what resonated with me the most. But, in the insanity of my early recovery, I tried to embrace the idea of God. I even went to church and wholeheartedly tried to like the idea of having a universal support and He knew what was best for me. However, as I awakened and gained a sense of sanity, some uncomfortable feelings bubbled to the surface.

It was the exact kind of feeling that, prior to sobriety, I’d have drunk more to get rid of… I remind myself that there are lots of good reasons not to drink.

What Does It Take To Stay Sober Long Term?

Have some sober friends you can invite as your plus-one to a social event like a party or wedding. And stay in touch with your sponsor and call them if you’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable. Located in Portland, OR, Olivia Pennelle is an experienced writer, journalist, and coach. She is the founder of the popular site Liv’s Recovery Kitchen, a site dedicated to helping people flourish in their recovery.

Soon thereafter, nearing a decade ago, I woke up one morning and just stopped. After years of trying to moderate, after leaving Atlanta because I was drinking too much, just one day I quit. Not only does rehab not always work, but it is also expensive. In many cases, you have to cut yourself off from your family and friends to get your life back on track. Get away from unhealthy environments that tempt you to drink. Stopping off at your favorite bar after work isn’t a good idea if you are trying to get out of your old routines. The yucky way alcohol makes me feel is reason enough not to drink.

Getting Sober: 17 Ways You Probably Didn’t Know About (#8 is Controversial)

However, before showing up in a church basement, it is a better idea to rule out a possible medical get sober without aa issue that may set off cravings. Then, explore the possibility of a psychiatric diagnosis.

Still, it’s decidedly weird to have taken a shot when you’re over eight years sober, especially after having been indoctrinated by AA. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Granted, it was our first night in the country, and I was probably experiencing jet lag in addition to the effects of the booze.

What Is Sobriety?

The first step of an inpatient program is detoxification. Then behavioral therapy and other services are introduced. These programs typically last 30, 60, or 90 days, sometimes longer. Attending a relapse prevention program may help stop you from relapsing during your addiction recovery journey. This is why it often requires professional addiction treatment. People who get professional help are more likely to remain sober than those who try to recover independently. Being around alcohol when trying to abstain from drinking will only make your road to recovery harder.

• Being happy with a sober life means replacing your unhealthy drug or alcohol addiction with meaningful, fulfilling activities.
• If you’ve never participated on Reddit, then you might not know just how close-knit and supportive the people you meet online its thousands of “subreddits” can be.
• There is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself for what you have done and are doing now.
• She’s written extensively on her own experience through addiction into long-term recovery.
• It helps you find a power greater than yourself, and gets you involved in service with others in your community who need help.

Another difference between SMART Recovery and NA is that SMART Recovery doesn’t base its philosophy on the idea of addiction as a disease. 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. The editorial staff of DrugAbuse.com is comprised of addiction content experts from American Addiction Centers . Our editors and medical reviewers have over a decade of cumulative experience in medical content editing and have reviewed thousands of pages for accuracy and relevance.

SMART Recovery

Service was the missing component that let me fail so many times. Get out of yourself and help others, that’s the key. It can be done, I just have to make sure I’m holding myself accountable for things and maintain a lifestyle that encourages sobriety. I’ve created a life where drinking no longer benefits me at all. I was already ten years sober when I went to my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I went with a friend, to support him in his shaky early sobriety, but I was also there for myself. While I’ve never been a 12-stepper, that doesn’t mean I got sober for fun.

Today, my life is full of people whose lives don’t revolve around consuming booze. Red flags, to me, are thoughts that romanticize drinking. Sometimes, for example, I’ll find myself liking the way alcohol smells or tastes on my partner’s mouth. Or I’ll feel left out when I’m at a dinner party and everyone else is drinking. I’ll sometimes find myself wishing I had a wine glass, too.

Online Support Groups

I got myself sober and I alone am ultimately responsible for keeping myself sober. I feel good about my sobriety but I don’t necessarily feel pride about it. As my parents pointed out to me when I was a little kid, you don’t get extra points just because, for once, you did what you were supposed to do. This online-only community is worldwide, which makes it easy to connect with like-minded women who are friendly, non-judgmental, and helping each other kick the booze and stay sober. Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most popular rehab programs in the world, and has helped millions of people in their recovery journey. AA can be used for achieving sobriety or maintaining sobriety, and it’s designed to help participants live a sober lifestyle, one step at a time.

• If you are looking for a rehab program that will offer the most intensive and long-term treatment possible, inpatient treatment is the best option for you.
• Forever35 is a podcast between two best friends that has sprouted many Facebook groups—but none quite as moving as the Forever35 Sober group.
• You can increase the odds of staying sober by finding support and asober livingcommunity.
• Most addiction support groups are peer-run without the guidance of a professional.
• Thailand’s Thamkrabok Monastery has been called “the toughest drug rehabilitation regime in the world.” It doesn’t accept re-entry—one strike and you’re out.