How To Quit Drinking Without AA

If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems. A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. Some definitions of sobriety call for complete lifelong abstinence while others focus on developing coping mechanisms that can reduce harm with the understanding that setbacks are common.

What are some alternative programs to AA for staying sober?

• My own company, Workit Health, hosts online recovery groups for our members.
• Though AA may be the most well-known solution for alcohol abuse, it is far from the only one.
• Other approaches like harm-reduction, medication-assisted treatment, and moderation-based programs may help you succeed if AA isn’t a good match for you.
• Exercise will get your endorphins pumping, reduce cravings, and make you feel better.
• If you do not feel that AA is the program for you, the internet has many resources and may help people stay sober.
• People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place.

While the program’s anonymous nature makes success rates hard to track, an independent 2020 study confirmed that AA is genuinely effective in plenty of cases.1 It has a loyal following, and for good reason. Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider.

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Too many people are stuck believing they have no other choice. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two types of therapy that have been shown to be effective in treating addiction. Don’t forget to prioritize self-care and seek out professional help if needed.

Alcoholics Anonymous works for some people. A new study suggests the alternatives do too.

When reaching out to family and friends for support, it’s important to choose wisely. In fact, your journey to sobriety will likely involve strengthening some relationships and purging others. You may find yourself leaning on your trusted support system a lot and breaking ties with those who do not aid you in your recovery. What most people don’t know is that there are a lot of alternatives to AA. If you have a drug or alcohol problem but don’t want to go to AA, keep reading. There are still plenty of ways to get the treatment you need and start the healthy lifestyle you deserve.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is a network of independent groups to help people achieve or maintain sobriety. It’s another strong option for those looking for secular alternatives to AA meetings. It is abstinence-focused, and designed to be compatible with a variety of other treatment resources. The program’s getting sober without aa philosophy emphasizes positivity, practicality, and staying focused on the present. Group participants share understanding, advice, and encouragement. Women also take responsibility for their own actions, understanding that each person is in control of their own happiness, and each woman is worthwhile and competent.

It offers a variety of tools and techniques, such as self-monitoring, goal-setting, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help individuals achieve their goals. Moderation Management also has an online community where members can connect and support each other. There are many reasons why someone may choose to stay sober without AA. For some, the structured nature of AA may not feel like the right fit for their personal recovery journey. While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is arguably the most well-known treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is not for everyone.

Many people do not have outlets for their stress and fear. The alcohol prompts them to hide behind their stress and fear instead of coping with it. Looking at old photographs may help some people stay clean and sober. This especially may help if people are thinking about taking a drink of alcohol.

Build Healthy Relationships

Suboxone should not be taken by individuals who have been shown to be hypersensitive to buprenorphine or naloxone as serious adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported. Taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death. Other side effects may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, insomnia, pain, increased sweating, sleepiness, dizziness, coordination problems, physical dependence or abuse, and liver problems. For more information about Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) see Suboxone.com, the full Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide, or talk to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA.

• Groups meet virtually throughout the week and focus on a wide range of topics.
• Studies show that certain brain chemicals play a role in addiction.
• Therefore, it’s important to ask questions to ensure that the program you want meets all of your needs.
• How many people don’t connect with AA, find themselves miserably trying to force it to work for them, and give up and go back to drinking because they feel like they don’t have any other options?