Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being. Numerous other support groups, including SMART Recovery groups, LifeRing groups and SOS Alcoholism Program.
I don’t want to drink, and so I take red flags and close calls seriously. Instead, that night, I suffered through it until I felt completely sober again. I stopped attending meetings because a lot of stuff I was instructed to believe became less useful the more “sober” I got. The other day I came across this great article that spells out the very frustration I would feel in meetings. At Ria, we offer weekly meetings with certified counselors to help members stay on track and build skills for long-term change.
Signs You’re on the Right Path in Your Personal Development Journey: Embracing Growth and Self-Discovery
- Women for Sobriety (WFS) is a program that is specifically engineered to focus on women’s treatment needs and what will best support their recovery.
- Having a chaotic or disorganized lifestyle can also hinder your recovery.
- By highlighting the treatment interests of this population, these data open avenues for developing comprehensive treatment models for PWUM.
- In other words, try moderation for a short time and see how it goes.
- These professionals can offer specialized assistance, tailored to your unique needs and circumstances, providing the support and tools necessary for a successful recovery.
Oar Health offers science-backed, effective treatment for people ready to change their relationship with https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ alcohol. Our licensed clinicians can prescribe Food and Drug Administration-approved naltrexone for AUD. We provide an online assessment, medical review, and personalized treatment plan. 7 Cups is an online platform that provides free, anonymous emotional support through trained listeners and online therapy sessions.
How Journaling Might Assist in Maintaining Focus Amidst Emotionally Challenging Periods
If PAWS is severe or if you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms, a medical professional can help you work through them and remain in recovery without relapse. Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can sober house last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. There is no hierarchy of leadership, nor are there any set rules for membership. AA does not require you to sign up for anything, nor does AA require the payment of any dues. All AA groups and fellowships are fully self-supporting through the contributions. This lack of any preset order of authority and no dues has perplexed business people for decades.
All too often, alcohol takes up a major part of our leisure time, and can replace other healthy ways to unwind or socialize. A big part of long-term recovery is building a sober life you are happy with. Identify some things you enjoy doing that don’t involve drinking, and cultivate those new rituals and activities. Medications can reduce these cravings by rebalancing your brain chemistry, and even blocking some of the effects of alcohol.
MAT is often used in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as counseling and therapy. 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. Our holistic approach supports your physical, mental, and spiritual health through a range of evidence-based treatment modalities. A gratitude journal is an excellent way to shift your mindset from one of negativity to one of positivity. It will help you focus on the small wins instead of the failures, and will give you something to look back on when you feel yourself struggling. If you start focusing even on the smallest things you are grateful for, you will begin experiencing a shift in your overall thinking which, in turn, can greatly benefit your mental health and recovery.
Achieving Long-Term Sobriety: Sober Without AA Alternatives
The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful. In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many believe that to gain any benefit from Alcoholics Anonymous, the alcoholic needs to make the commitment on their own.
If the core of AA is meant to help people get and stay sober, it would adapt to a modern world and/or just stop denying that it is a program of God written by two sexist men that died ages ago. If you’re involved in a 12-step program, you likely already know the importance of milestones. In these programs, it’s customary to receive plastic chips as you progress to the one-year mark, at which time you receive a bronze coin. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger. If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety.
Strictly speaking, sobriety is the state of being sober—not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 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. There are a variety of treatment methods available for individuals looking to maintain Sobriety without attending AA.
Medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, healthy lifestyle changes, rehabilitation centers, and professional counseling are all effective methods for managing substance use disorders. Silver Pines and Steps to Recovery have provided addiction recovery programs in Pennsylvania for over a decade with detox, residential, outpatient, and sober living services. Last year, we expanded our services to include robust mental health services, new locations, and specialized services for our nation’s veterans with more to come this year!
Can You Actually Stay Sober Without AA?
Participant’s physical health concerns centered on having adequate energy. Almost all (95%) of the participants reported energy level was “very important” or “absolutely essential.” Accordingly, a majority of participants endorsed the importance of sleep (91%) and appetite (83%). Study participants were also asked to describe which physical health recovery outcomes are most important to them and why. Open-ended participant responses also pointed to the importance of appetite and sleep as an avenue to replace the energy lost by no longer using a stimulant. In conclusion, there are numerous alternative paths to sobriety beyond AA. Remember, you have the power to overcome addiction and lead a fulfilling, alcohol-free life.
The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. Old photos may help people remember how far they have come and given them the courage to continue down their path of sobriety. Have you thought about joining AA, but do not have transportation to travel to meetings?
What is recovery?
Avoiding sugary and processed foods can help prevent mood swings and cravings. Exercise can also be a great way to reduce stress and improve your overall health. 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.
- Choosing to get sober and stay sober without AA is possible with the right mindset and support system.
- These substances are chemicals in your brain that help you feel happiness, pleasure, and satisfaction.
- All I wanted to do was be wasted, and I was putting myself in dangerous situations when I drank.
- In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of achieving long-term sobriety outside the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous framework.
- It’s a science-backed approach to treatment, and an empowering, modern way to quit drinking without AA.
- Absolutely, there are many alternative methods such as sober living programs, therapy, and lifestyle changes that can lead to long-term sobriety.
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). The advantages of taking Acamprosate include reduced cravings and urges to drink, improved mood, and increased motivation to stay sober.
These medications can help reduce alcohol cravings, helping people to either cut back or stay sober after they’ve quit. 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. Alcoholics Anonymous, and many older treatment programs, emphasize total abstinence from drinking as the only solution. However, newer perspectives on treatment now accept moderation, or cutting back, as an acceptable answer to problem drinking. It is important to note that staying sober without AA does not mean you are alone in your recovery journey.