Matt Hunt is a documentary photographer connecting with people, sharing moments, and telling stories in Southeast Asia. Self-belief is not all-or-nothing, and the approach to it as such is futile. If you’ve got 1%, plant it and grow towards the 100% you’re aspiring to.
Educating Yourself on the Dangers of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Embrace the support around you, lean on those who understand, and take one step at a time towards a healthier, alcohol-free life. Acknowledging your drinking problem can be challenging, but it’s a critical step in the journey toward getting sober without aa sobriety. Denial can be a significant obstacle in addressing alcohol addiction or dependence. When we speak of alcohol addiction, we refer to a mental obsession where the desire for alcohol often consumes the drinker’s thoughts.
Reach out now and join our supportive
If you are tapering off alcohol or pursuing moderation, it helps to give yourself objective data. Use a drink-tracking app, a notebook, or a breathalyzer to record how much you are actually drinking every day. This will keep you honest with yourself and your support system, and help you stick to your goals. Regardless of the approach you choose, certain tips and strategies can make you much more likely to succeed https://ecosoberhouse.com/ at quitting alcohol long-term. 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. 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.
- People who believe in you and your journey can boost your confidence and provide emotional backing during difficult times.
- This support group offers a welcoming community and a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery, incorporating mindfulness and meditation techniques to help you cope with other unexpected life events.
- It offers a variety of tools and techniques, such as meditation, mindfulness, and the Four Noble Truths, to help individuals overcome addiction.
Don’t compare yourself to others
It’s an AA alternative that involves 17 steps instead of 12, and supports moderate drinking and harm reduction in addition to full sobriety. Finally, treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) isn’t limited to the 12 steps. 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.
Staying Sober
- SOS also offers face-to-face and online meetings, as well as a forum where members can connect and support each other.
- “The simple message that’s best supported by the evidence is that, if you drink, less is better when it comes to health,” Naimi said.
- When you feel the urge to drink, try to distract yourself with something you enjoy doing.
- To make matters worse, NA meetings often turned into a bizarre spectacle.
There are advantages to the 12 step method, and many people experience success with it. However, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) doesn’t mesh with everyone’s perspective. Some elements of the program, including the belief in a higher power, aren’t the right fit for everyone. How often or how little you attend AA meetings is ultimately up to you. However, most experts agree that attending more frequently—especially in the beginning—is more likely to lead to a successful recovery.
- LifeRing believes that each individual holds their own key to recovery, and it is not necessary to then place control in the hands of a spiritual being.
- Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth.
- One of the principles of AA (I think it’s even the first one) is to admit that you’re powerless over your addiction.
- Regular exercise is an excellent alternative therapy method that provides both physical benefits and stress-relief effects.
Why Stay Sober Without AA?
Let me do sobriety my way – Salon
Let me do sobriety my way.
Posted: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT [source]