Remember, it’s okay to feel your emotions, but it’s important to find healthy ways to cope with them. When you feel the urge to drink, try to distract yourself with something you enjoy doing. This can help you focus on something positive instead of turning to alcohol.
- Silver Ridge provided the deepest, most enriching and powerful experience I have ever encountered in my recovery journey.
- Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) programs are a conglomeration of recovery programs, both online and in-person, which provide an alternative to AA.
- It’s another strong option for those looking for secular alternatives to AA meetings.
- A strong support system can be the key to successful sobriety, and those in recovery can draw on family, friends or peers for emotional backing.
- MAT is often used in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as counseling and therapy.
- Regular exercise releases endorphins, serving as a natural mood booster and providing a healthier outlet for emotional release.
Resources of how people got sober:
This can include avoiding places or people that trigger your urge to drink or setting a limit on how much alcohol you allow yourself to consume. Regular exercise can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety. Additionally, practicing meditation or mindfulness can help individuals manage stress and reduce the likelihood of relapse. It’s important to find a treatment program that works for you and to have a strong support system to help you through the recovery process. Women for Sobriety also offers online meetings, phone support, and a forum where members can share their experiences and support each other. Others may have had negative experiences with AA in the past and are seeking alternative methods of support.
Do You Lose Weight When You Quit Drinking?
And what if in-person mutual support meetings (Refuge Recovery, LifeRing, SMART AA, NA) are not accessible to you? Well, these are not the only means to recover—there are a whole range of resources available to you. It is possible to get sober on your own and learn how to get sober at home.
How to Achieve Sobriety Without AA: 8 Powerful Strategies
I learned how to become mindful of my thoughts, feelings and behaviorsI became the owner of my reactions and used my patterns for spiritual growth.3. I learned new coping skills to deal with my thoughts and feelingsSelf-compassion, self-respect and self-forgiveness became my new way of being with myself.4. I learned how to create a self-nurturing practiceAs I learned to love myself, I formed a daily practice that would support myself and my recovery https://ecosoberhouse.com/ process.5. I learned how to change my thinkingI quickly new that my negative self-talk and judgments had to change so that I could sustain my recovery. Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation and even though there are a lot of people around the world who swear by Alcoholics Anonymous, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. Regular exercise is an excellent alternative therapy method that provides both physical benefits and stress-relief effects.
How common is relapse?
- According to research, these programs can be incredibly beneficial for long-term sobriety.
- This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking.
- People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money.
- Support groups can include 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or non-12-step groups like SMART Recovery, which has a more secular approach.
- WFS puts particular emphasis on positive reinforcement, cognitive strategies, self-care, and group support.
- Rehab centers can offer a range of treatment methods, including counseling, therapy, and medication-assisted treatment.
But it would still be a struggle for me to get past that one. Something I live by hardcore is that we DO have personal power and even saying “I’m powerless” over anything is so against who I am that I’m automatically repelled. Again, I think this may just be a function of being at the wrong meeting, but I didn’t know that at the time. I just know that I left feeling worse than when I’d arrived. It consisted of people ruminating on some of the horrors of the past and reflecting on where they’d been, some of the mistakes they’d made and how awful things were. I strongly prefer uplifting support and if I had my way, would want to talk more about strategy than how bad things can or could get.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
This concept of spirituality in healing may not work for everyone. AA also expects its members to remain abstinent from alcohol and drugs completely, and this is also a concept that is not ideal for every person. It’s important to find the support and resources that work best for you. 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. Whether it’s for health, relationship, financial, or any number of reasons, consider creating a list on your phone of the reasons why you want to get and stay sober. Set a reminder once or twice a day to look through your list and share it with a supportive person in your life if you feel comfortable.
At a glance, these messages make sense, but in reality, they are not practical. Yes, trying to love yourself and building routines that empower you with self-belief is essential. However, I know (from experience) that it doesn’t take self-love for other people to love you. I also know that you do not have to believe in yourself 100% for others to believe in what you are doing. I don’t even think it’s possible to love and believe in yourself 100% of the time. Regardless of the difference in our needs, the most important thing is that we just don’t drink.
That wasn’t the first or last time I’d fail at moderation, either. I eventually learned it’s just not possible for me to partake normally, and it sounds like you feel similarly. It’s incredibly important to me that I haven’t used weed in a year, but telling people I’m a year sober feels like lying.
- One of the critical steps in your journey towards sobriety is seeking professional help and support.
- I’ve said before in other posts that at this point I don’t think about sobriety or “not drinking” that much anymore.
- That said, there have always been people who are able to quit drinking without a group or a program.
- There’s reassurance and comfort to be found in repetition and a sense of stability that their life has likely been missing for some time.
- If your home life, work life or social scene is causing stress and/or tempting you to drink more than you should/want to, it might be time to change things up.
- Embrace each sober day as a significant step towards a healthier, happier life free from alcohol’s grip.
- Matt Hunt is a documentary photographer connecting with people, sharing moments, and telling stories in Southeast Asia.
- Your loved ones play a crucial role in your recovery process.
- Drug and alcohol abuse is often caused by problems in personal relationships.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to find the right program. With so many options, it’s always a good idea to talk to professionals. getting sober without aa They can help you decide what treatment methods are right for you. Search our rehab directory to find the nearest treatment center to you.
