How To Stay Sober: 9 Answers About Staying Sober

Hi, my name is Melissa, and I'm an alcoholic. Staying sober for the long term is easier when you think of everything day by day. How to get sober without a doctor. 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. As such, therapy is the space to let loose, relax, and productively check in with yourself, in the presence of someone who has known you through your sobriety journey and is still very much on your side. I experienced it myself over years of painful accidents, depression, and near-death alcohol withdrawal. Online rehab is the least disruptive, letting you talk to doctors and coaches from home via your phone. Then, completing treatment advances you to sober living.

• Can you get sober without aa
• How to get sober without a trace
• How to get sober without aa conference
• How to get sober without a doctor

Can You Get Sober Without Aa

To start with, if you simply don't connect with 12 step philosophy, there are other support groups you can join. Once you are past the initial detox phase, rehabilitation programs (or rehab) are one way to go. Although, some forms of exercise — such as team sports with a culture that glorifies substance use or extreme sports — can have the opposite effect. I worked with a sponsor and did the Steps, which gave me tons of invaluable insight into myself and my experience. Many treatment centers encourage you to find a support group that will work for you. Peer-run support groups are often free of charge, widely available throughout the country, and accessible to everyone. Different support groups exist to help you quit drinking without AA, some with a more secular approach. You can explore different types of support groups that might help you in your long-term sobriety. 5 Free Alcohol Support Groups That Aren't AA. It's great if this can be someone successful in their own recovery program or a substance abuse coach, as they will be the most qualified to support you on your journey. AA provides support through 12 step programs and community involvement. A beer and a line of coke only ever fired me up for another line and another beer but every time I do mushrooms—well, they not only make it clear to me what needs to stay in my life and what needs to go but they also cure me of any desire to do mushrooms for a while. Can You Actually Stay Sober Without AA. Alternative Group Programs. In sober living, you will be in a community of like-minded sober friends committed to helping each other.

How To Get Sober Without A Trace

Exercise will get your endorphins pumping, reduce cravings, and make you feel better. Seeing a psychiatrist doesn't hurt either, if you feel like you have underlying anxiety or depression you are managing with alcohol. Sometimes, your friends and family members might think that you can have just one drink. According to Social Work in Public Health, "early involvement [in 12-Step programs], in the form of meeting attendance and engagement in recovery activities, is associated with better substance use and psychosocial outcomes. Other unexpected life events can cause a relapse, which might make recovery seem impossible. Other Ways To Stop Drinking Without AA. Exercise as a novel treatment for drug addiction: a neurobiological and stage-dependent hypothesis. For example, you might complete a sober living program yet do not feel prepared to get back in the real world. 1000 people attending an AA meeting at a megachurch is just as powerful as a single person becoming sober on their own for one day. How to get sober without aa conference. It's another strong option for those looking for secular alternatives to AA meetings. Residential treatment can last 30-90 days, and gives you a chance for a full reset. It's an AA alternative that involves 17 steps instead of 12, and supports moderate drinking and harm reduction in addition to full sobriety. There are many other ways to get and stay sober.

How To Get Sober Without Aa Conference

Some AA meetings meet in person, while others meet online. How To Quit Drinking Without AA. Trained professionals can help you integrate whatever medication is available into your treatment program. There is no shame in admitting that you need to go back in your recovery! But it will only work if you find a higher power – what they describe in their literature as God. 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.

How To Get Sober Without A Doctor

The texts often used in AA are undeniably religious, often sexist, and are in serious need of updating. Because, at the end of the day, yes, I'm an alcoholic, but I'm also a bass player, a gear nerd, a writer, an ultrarunner, a guitar wrangler, a songwriter, a mediocre kickboxer, a solid friend, an uncle, a brother, a step-brother, a foster brother, a son and a flawed, imperfect but mostly happy human being. It is more structured and intense than an outpatient program, but more flexible than an inpatient program. There are plenty of other ways to develop coping strategies, identify triggers, and manage a sober lifestyle. You are asked to surrender control to a higher power, which may or may not be based on faith. I remind myself that there are lots of good reasons not to drink. Warning Signs of Relapse: Depression, Stress and Other Triggers. Of central importance to my transformation was keeping my appointments with my counselor, Chris Sturiano. Usually, when we make the big declaration—"I'm an alcoholic"—we often leave off the last, most important part: "…so I'm going to stop drinking and work very hard to make lasting changes in my life. A counselor can address your personal issues and hold you accountable for your addiction. Finding a sober community is essential to feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie in your shared struggles to overcome addiction. I have always believed strongly in this philosophy. Can you get sober without aa. Because when I stopped drinking, I filled that gaping chasm in my life with the opposite of drinking. Even if you choose not to go to AA meetings, you can still live "one day at a time. "

So are there any ways to get sober that don't involve attending AA? First, I reasoned that alcohol was everywhere. The most common feedback I've received comes from people who want to be sober with others but do not want to partake in Alcoholics Anonymous. For people with severe alcohol use disorder, or who expect intense withdrawal symptoms, some form of medical detox may be necessary. The people who cannot understand your moments of pride in sobriety aren't the ones you need around you anyways. How To Stay Sober: 9 Answers About Staying Sober. I believed I needed to improve my self-esteem, rather than conform to a set of steps written by men in 1939.

You can find new ways to have fun without alcohol or drug use when sober. What's a Thirteenth Stepper? There are also online and phone-in meetings for those who can't make it to any of the physical locations. It's thought to work by dampening the brain's "reward pathway, " and can be particularly effective in lessening the effects of drug and alcohol withdrawal, though its illegal status in the U. S. means there's limited research on its functioning and effects. Being open and honest about sobriety also takes a measure of self-awareness, bravery, integrity, and dignity that many people will not understand unless they've struggled. AA is a secret society with no accurate active member count and no measurable success rate. When I tried to get at the essence of her objection to them (since she thought alcohol use was okay), it came down to the fact that alcohol was legal (according to the government) and everybody drank (the moral majority). In many cases, it doesn't provide the structure and accountability that is needed to maintain sobriety. But after six years of devoted participation, my attendance dwindled; until about a year ago, when I stopped going entirely. At a glance, these messages make sense, but in reality, they are not practical. I once tried to date a girl who had grown up a straight-edge punk rock musician with a deep investment in questioning the government and the moral majority. Recovery is about much more than living a drug or alcohol-free life. Find a Support System. Some elements of the program, including the belief in a higher power, aren't the right fit for everyone.