Our medical staff includes an ASAM certified addiction psychiatrist & an addiction-trained primary care physician. Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) programs are a conglomeration of recovery programs, both online and in-person, which provide an alternative to AA. The best way forward for your recovery from alcohol or substance use is to incorporate a wide variety of strategies that will help foster success. Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist.
- These may include online support groups, recovery apps, and peer support programs such as SMART Recovery and Refuge Recovery.
- It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
- In addition to friends and family, consider joining support groups outside of AA.
- Embarking on a journey to become “sober without AA” can seem daunting, yet it’s entirely possible with the right strategies and support systems in place.
- With ingredients like club soda, Diet Coke, and grapefruit juice on hand, it was easy to sip a mocktail whenever I wanted.
- Don’t forget to prioritize self-care and seek out professional help if needed.
Emotional Distress
Lasting recovery requires lasting effort, but relapse is not failure or weakness; it takes more than willpower to maintain sobriety. This article discusses the meaning of sobriety and arms you with information and strategies to smooth—and stay on—your path to wellness. Many of the activities that make for a healthy routine are also effective for relapse prevention. Actions that focus on mindfulness will make it easier to work through cravings and moments of temptation.
Do specific religious beliefs or practices play a role in addiction recovery?
- 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.
- It can help you connect with people from all over the world.
- The Badger State’s capital placed high in the sobriety infrastructure category due to its robust number of Narcotics Anonymous meetings and SAMSHA-listed health treatment centers.
- Many people find that moving into a sober living environment has made all the difference in their recovery.
- Practice deep breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, or journaling to express your feelings and thoughts.
Still, I wondered what it’d be like to be in a booze-centric environment and abstain from alcohol. Because the Residents we serve cover the operating cost, 100% of your donation will go to open sober living facilities to serve families and stop the addiction epidemic in your community. Below are the survey’s top 20 U.S. cities for sober living. Check getting sober without aa out the full list of 100 cities ranked by Diabetic.org, find out if your hometown made the list, and — just maybe — get inspired about where sober life could take you next. 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.
Harm Reduction Works: A Personal Case Study of Harm Reduction Injected with Gratitude.
I found myself witnessing shady drug deals and conversations about doctors handing out Xanax and opioids like candy (because if it’s prescribed, it must be okay, right?). And as if that weren’t enough, the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-tips-of-how-to-maintain-recovery-motivation/ stigma around methadone was reinforced regularly. The research is by no means the last word on this question — Zemore characterized the study as the beginning of a deeper evaluation into AA alternatives.
- Words may help you and provide light and positivity to your loved ones as well.
- When I started getting sober, I didnt spend time listening to the Big Bookers beat the 12 steps into my head.
- Halfway houses, on the other hand, typically have a time limit and require residents to either be attending a treatment program or have recently completed one.
- Regular exercise can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
- Drug and alcohol abuse is often caused by problems in personal relationships.
Calusa Recovery
SOS-supported groups are nonprofessional and offer a healthy network of individuals with the similar goal of sobriety. SMART Recovery concepts help individuals to recognize that alcohol abuse can be destructive, and it creates problems emotionally, physically, socially, and behaviorally. Finally, treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) isn’t limited to the 12 steps. 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.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Read on to learn about alternative support groups to help you maintain your sobriety. In order to live in a sober house, you must be able to maintain your own sobriety as you will be randomly tested to ensure that you remain abstinent from the use of drugs or alcohol. Achieving sobriety without AA is entirely possible, and these eight strategies can guide you on your journey. Strictly speaking, sobriety is the state of being sober—not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
You may find that you enjoy certain aspects of AA, but also require additional recovery support from non-AA recovery treatments. There is no “one true path” to changing your relationship with drinking. Try a few different treatments and stick with what works for you. Naltrexone is a prescription medication that immediately reduces the “buzz” of alcohol and curbs cravings in the long term.
- Usually there’s a lemon wedge and some hint of Tabasco — and yes, there’s usually at least a little booze.
- 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.
- I do know that I have so much to take with me on my journey.
- Still others feel uncomfortable with the label “alcoholic,” or simply want to cut back—not quit completely as AA requires.
What the study found
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. Fortunately, if AA doesn’t work for you, there are other choices. Different support groups exist to help you quit drinking without AA, some with a more secular approach. Rehabilitation centers, also known as rehab centers, are facilities that provide treatment for individuals with substance use disorder.