For some, the structured nature of AA may not feel like the right fit for their personal recovery journey. Our team at Reflections is here to help you along this journey. We offer many different treatment and therapy plans designed to help individuals overcome addiction. Contact our Northern California Rehab today to learn more and get started. While programs like AA can help people recover from alcohol use disorder, they aren’t always how to stay sober without aa the best fit for everyone.
Specificity and Comparison to Other Approaches
Those who are just beginning to balance their social and sober lives may want to avoid https://ecosoberhouse.com/ these situations while developing the necessary strategies to avoid relapse. Seeing commercials for alcohol and returning to places where drugs were commonly used in the past can all challenge a person’s sober conviction and be difficult to navigate. Dedicated detox programs and inpatient treatment can help navigate unforeseen challenges and provide medical, emotional, and educational support. Alcoholics Anonymous is just one program available to those exploring their continued addiction recovery journey. However, it is not the only option, nor is it necessarily the best option for every person. While a supportive community is incredibly beneficial, individuals will still have to explore their motivation and conviction to maintain these sober changes.
Therapy and Coaching
- The Cochrane Review (2020) notes that AA and clinically-related TSF programs can reduce healthcare costs because AA meetings are free and do not rely on professional fees or insurance.
- There are plenty of alternatives and many, many treatment facilities offer these alternatives.
- Coaches often offer practical advice for real-life situations, while therapists can help uncover and work through deeper emotional issues tied to drinking.
- For more tips, including how to understand why you drink, read on.
However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts. Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence, which means never using the substance again. Other definitions, however, focus on the process of recovery and coping habits that support health and wellness over the long term. Meetings, held daily or weekly, offer a supportive forum for members to discuss experiences, share coping methods, and learn from one another. Most newcomers select a sponsorAn individual in a 12-step program requires a sponsor to help them work the steps and hold them accountable for their recovery.
- Staying sober often hinges on surrounding yourself with people who encourage you, uplift you, and support your decision to abstain from alcohol.
- It can also help maintain structure in a person’s life and provide a sense of accomplishment.
- Be it a brisk walk, a jog, or a sweat-inducing workout, each step was a step away from the lure of old habits.
- Now that you know how to stay sober without AA, you can put them into practice and start reclaiming your life.
Practice Healthy Living
Seeking professional counseling and support is an invaluable asset on any journey to sobriety. Professionalize can offer a wide range of strategies and practical advice to help you manage cravings, work through underlying psychological issues, and uncover the root cause of your addiction. Setting realistic goals and treating oneself kindly is also beneficial. Additionally, avoiding social situations that involve substance use is key, including avoiding places that remind one of using and seeking new, healthier networks that can offer support for sobriety. Finding a supportive and sober social circle can be difficult. Many social outlets may have close ties to alcohol or drug use, making finding new sober friends challenging.
All types of relationships can become codependent, including romantic partnerships, friendships, parent-child Sober living home relationships, and sponsor-sponsored relationships in AA. You have to establish healthy boundaries and avoid high-risk situations. This will empower you enough to stay focused on your sobriety journey. Surrounding yourself with a strong and understanding support system can be a cornerstone of successful sobriety.
For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better habits. The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
Provide Access to Information About Recovery
This requires turning over control of your life to your higher power, although you are allowed to define the term higher power any way you wish. It could be Jesus Christ, Allah, Buddah, Ra the sun god, a pineapple or the neighbor’s Abbysinian cat. Overall, learning how to stay sober without AA is certainly possible. It may require more self-discipline and responsibility, but the rewards are worth it.
Can therapy be effective in helping me stay sober without AA?
Identify situations, environments, or people that might prompt you to drink and establish healthy boundaries. 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.
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