How to Achieve Sobriety Without AA: 8 Powerful Strategies by John Makohen

I’ve seen what it does to their bodies, families, and livelihoods. I experienced it myself over years of painful accidents, depression, and near-death alcohol withdrawal. This gives you a quick and easy explanation for why you aren’t getting sober without aa drinking. It also gives you a sense of purpose that can help you stay focused. It has given me the tools that will keep me sober and improve my life. The accommodations, food and amenities are better than even the best hotel.

• Outpatient rehab lets you continue living at home and attend treatment for several hours per day.
• Physical training is known to stimulate essential elements such as endorphins.
• This keeps reminding them of how the world can be amazing without alcohol.
• Even if you choose not to do AA, that doesn’t mean you have to fight your addiction alone.
• This city is rich with a million fun sober things to do for people of all walks of life, and it’s the greatest city in the world to get sober in.
• Because they are able to prescribe medication, psychiatrists can be particularly helpful if you believe you have underlying anxiety or depression you are managing with alcohol.

What is behind your drinking?

Speaking of Coney Island, why not spend a day at one of America’s oldest continually operating theme parks? Sample famous treats like Nathan’s hot dogs, ride a few roller coasters, and play some carnival games. For a more seafaring adventure, the west side piers host dozens of boat tours that allow you to explore Manhattan from the waterfront.

• Hollywood has always been a place of extremes and excesses, but for many celebrities, a quieter, calmer life of sobriety is getting them high these days.
• If you’ve been curious about how to stop drinking alcohol and get sober, you might be wondering where to start.
• Rehabilitation centers, also known as rehab centers, are facilities that provide treatment for individuals with substance use disorder.
• You can also try talking to a therapist or a trusted friend about your emotions.
• If you are taking the process one day at a time and are doing the best you can with the tools you have, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
• Many more modern “sobriety programs” exist that are suitable solutions for people seeking sobriety with others without the issues mentioned above, such as SMART Recovery.

Top 9 Red Flags that your drinking is a problem

People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money. If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people that you used with or obtained drugs from.

How to Stay Sober

Engaging in sober activities fills your time and helps you discover new aspects of yourself. It provides a sense of achievement and fulfillment, fostering a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Many people in recovery find a lot of free time and need to fill it with healthy and fulfilling pursuits. Explore hobbies and interests that ignite your passion and sense of purpose.

Finding Treatment for Alcoholism

That way you can be aware of your responses to these triggers. In some cases, there may be medication that can help with a drug or alcohol problem. In fact, the FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. If you don’t think AA is the right choice for you, don’t worry. ‘All I can say to anyone thinking about [going sober] is it’s a wonderful way of living your life.

Benefits of Support Groups for Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Such symptoms are often related to mood and may include irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fatigue. 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. Another draw of AA for many is that it can put the meaning back in life, helping you find a power greater than yourself, and getting you involved in service with others in your community who need help.

Why You Might Benefit From an AA Alternative

In fact, as of 2019, over 2 million people worldwide went to AA. Deciding to quit isn’t easy, but it’s a brave and commendable first step toward becoming sober. You may not be completely ready to stop drinking or know exactly how to get sober from alcohol, but even just having the thought that you want to stop and need help is a good place to start. Triggers for using drugs and alcohol typically are people, places, and things that remind you of your addictive behavior or encourage the use of substances you’re avoiding.

Health and wellness for your recovery

WFS provides a gender-specific support system for encouragement and growth for women in recovery. 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. My own company, Workit Health, hosts online recovery groups for our members. Groups meet virtually throughout the week and focus on a wide range of topics. If you’re a Workit Health member, you can self-enroll in groups through the Community tab in our app. Even if you choose not to do AA, that doesn’t mean you have to fight your addiction alone.

Maybe you’ve tried to quit before, or maybe this is the first time that you feel like enough is enough—either way, you want to give sobriety your best shot. This can include toxic relationships in which you feel unheard, misunderstood, unsupported, demeaned, unsafe, and/or attacked. To begin, it can take several hours to sober up from alcohol. Then, the first few weeks of sobriety are when relapse risk is highest. Detox can occur in a hospital setting or as the first part of inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery.

Surrounding yourself with a solid and understanding support system is crucial for successful sobriety. They will address your specific needs and equip you with the skills to cope with cravings, triggers, and emotional struggles. Getting sober is a remarkable achievement that can improve your life. While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a valuable resource for many, it may not be the right fit for everyone. All of these and more are legitimate reasons to look for an AA alternative. And fortunately, there are many other effective choices out there.