If you don’t like the principles of AA, look for rehabs that won’t make you attend their meetings if you don’t want to or better yet, don’t offer AA at all. Many clinical experts and people in recovery think that such changes delay the inevitable realization that sobriety is the only long-term outcome. Certainly, actual randomized and long-term studies are needed to investigate whether using less cocaine, methamphetamine, or other drugs leads to any health improvements or is sustainable. 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.
SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety)
The advantages of taking Acamprosate include reduced cravings and urges to drink, improved mood, and increased https://medhaavi.in/role-of-yoga-in-addiction-recovery/ motivation to stay sober. By using Acamprosate along with counseling and other recovery resources, you can strengthen your commitment to sobriety and improve your overall quality of life. Sober Grid is a social networking app that connects individuals in recovery, providing a supportive community for staying sober. The app’s GPS locator user interface, called The Grid, allows you to find other people in recovery nearby, view their profiles, and connect with them.
Go online
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. It is important to note that staying sober without AA does not mean you are alone in your recovery journey. There are many resources available to help you stay on track and prevent relapse. These may include online support groups, recovery apps, and peer support programs such as SMART Recovery and Refuge Recovery. SMART Recovery concepts help individuals to recognize that alcohol abuse can be destructive, and it creates problems emotionally, physically, socially, and behaviorally.
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While its effectiveness and success is well documented, it is also clear that it does not work for everyone. A 2002 study with 279 people compared AA or similar 12-step programs with other forms of psychosocial treatment. Researchers found that 24% of AA or 12-step participants remained fully abstinent from alcohol after 12 months (2). While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is arguably the most well-known treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is not for everyone. Many people who have AUD don’t want to abstain from drinking entirely and instead seek treatments that reduce drinking.
This abstinence-based program focuses on providing positive social reinforcement and self-direction, allowing you to reach your goals and establish a sober lifestyle. The FDA currently accepts reduced alcohol consumption, measured as a decrease in heavy drinking days, or reduced tobacco smoking, as valid endpoints in new https://www.residenzpflicht.info/the-best-advice-on-ive-found-13/ medication trials. While less-than-ideal, the point is that less vs. none may lead to significant health benefits. They also may be willing to accept less cocaine use, less methamphetamine use, or less fentanyl use as they expand definitions of addiction treatment success beyond abstinence. Related to harm reduction, but also useful for complete sobriety, medications for alcohol use disorder are gaining increased popularity.
By utilizing these resources and connecting with others in recovery, you can build a supportive network that fosters sobriety and personal growth. Engaging in regular exercise and physical activity is an excellent way to improve mood, reduce stress, and decrease cravings for alcohol. The compassionate atmosphere and resources offered by Recovery Dharma Online can help you navigate your recovery journey and cope with unexpected life events. To access their meetings, workshops, and resources, visit their website and join the online community.
Coping Mechanisms
Dr. Robert L. DuPont, the first NIDA director, agrees with Teitelbaum that 12-step abstinence-based treatment, the fellowship, and personal growth are necessary for recovery. He treated substance-abusing patients for 6 decades, wrote books and papers, and performed studies showing that abstinence-based treatment works. DuPont expressed skepticism toward “Cali sober” or strategies focusing on cutting down or reducing drug use without a plan to achieve cessation. The term “harm reduction” originated in the 1980s as a pragmatic public health response to rising rates of HIV among people injecting drugs.
Although it can’t help with medical detox, practically every other aspect of a well-rounded rehab program can be done through your phone. Not only is this much more flexible to your schedule, it’s also significantly more affordable. One of the challenges of getting sober with AA is about willpower.
It is abstinence-focused, and designed to be compatible with a variety of other treatment resources. The program’s philosophy emphasizes positivity, practicality, and staying focused on the present. Group participants share understanding, advice, and encouragement. There are advantages to the 12 step method, and many people experience success with it. However, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) doesn’t mesh with everyone’s perspective.
In-Person Support Groups
When searching for a therapist, it’s a good idea to look for one who specializes in AUD or addiction. It’s important to note that moderation does not work for everyone, but it is a valid approach for some. Self-belief is not all-or-nothing, and the approach to it as such is futile. If you’ve got 1%, plant it and grow towards the 100% you’re aspiring to. I know these things are true because I have sat in rooms around the world and listened, for hundreds of hours, to the experiences others have had with alcohol. I’ve seen what it does to their bodies, families, and livelihoods.
- Numerous other support groups, including SMART Recovery groups, LifeRing groups and SOS Alcoholism Program.
- A 2018 study found that MI can have a positive effect on people with AUD, including increasing their self-esteem (7).
- 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.
- DuPont expressed skepticism toward “Cali sober” or strategies focusing on cutting down or reducing drug use without a plan to achieve cessation.
So, for this milestone, I’d like to share some insight about the program of Alcoholics Anonymous based entirely on my own experience. In communicating with people considering sobriety, preconceived notions about AA are the most common point of disinterest in making the change for themselves, and I understand why. One of the biggest debates in the recovery world is about whether or not you can stay sober without AA. ” I think this is important to talk about, and share some thoughts about. How to apply accountability to your life if you’re not a part of a peer-based recovery group?
- It doesn’t mean they’ll never maintain long term sobriety, that they’ll never successfully stop drinking.
- Our admissions navigators are available to speak with you about treatment options and recovery support systems at any time of day.
- Women are encouraged to go over the 13 acceptance statements each morning and then work through them throughout the day, reflecting on them each night.
- If you don’t want to quit alcohol completely, or have had too much trouble staying 100% sober in the past, harm reduction might be the right approach.
There are other resources and support systems available, such as SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Rational Recovery. In this section, we will explore various ways to build a sober social network.
Call our hotline at to continue your journey toward recovery today. There are also online treatment programs to help you quit drinking without AA. My company, Workit Health, has offers online, https://www.cocoe.info/where-to-start-with-and-more-18/ science-backed courses to help you beat alcohol use disorder from your computer or phone. In addition to emotional support, 7 Cups offers topic-specific support groups and online therapy for a range of mental health concerns, including addiction recovery.