Blog

This will keep you honest with yourself and your support system, and help you stick to your goals. Start by talking to a doctor to make sure it is safe for you to go through withdrawal without medical care, and create a list of people to call just in case. If you think you can stick with it, creating a tapering schedule and gradually reducing how much you drink is usually the best approach. If you plan to quit cold turkey (all at once), make sure you are well-stocked with everything you’ll need for the week—withdrawal can make you feel very ill.

The Role of Sober Living in Long-Term Sobriety

How to apply accountability to your life if you’re not a part of a peer-based recovery group? Confide in those closest to you and allow them to be your sounding board for your triumphs and failures. Even if they’re not recovering alcoholics themselves, those you talk to are likely invested in your wellbeing and will work with you to resist temptation and lessen the likelihood of relapsing. The social aspect of groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can add a pleasant camaraderie that highlights that you are far from the only person struggling with alcoholism. Having people you see regularly and are all working towards the same goal also provides a level of accountability.

Coping Mechanisms

These groups are good options if you are seeking a more secular approach to recovery while also desiring peer support and group sessions. If these emotions become excessive, they can you stay sober without aa can hold you back from recovery. If you are trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, those feelings can become toxic and contribute to relapse if you don’t deal with them properly.

Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Recovery from alcohol or drug addiction is a personal journey, and no two people’s paths will look similar. For many years, the accepted options were to send folks to 30-day inpatient treatment or told them to go to AA. But there are other options, and as a society, we’re beginning to accept that those other options work.

In fact, the FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. Words can make you happy and boost your moods for a better part of the day. Those who seek to stay sober usually write constructive messages on media platforms and websites. Others choose to paint their homes with influential quotes.

Your recovery journey is yours for a reason – no one else can do it for you, and no one else can tell you where or when you should be on that recovery path. If you are taking the process one day at a time and are doing the best you can with the tools you have, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Comparing yourself to others is more likely to set you behind than push you forward. 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.

Online Communities

• Even though you do not have to join any group or pay any dues, the common struggle of like-minded alcoholics is priceless.
• Online rehab is the least disruptive, letting you talk to doctors and coaches from home via your phone.
• Their program teaches skills that can help you stay motivated in your sobriety and cope with cravings.
• A primary reason 12-step works for so many people (in my opinion) is it sets you up with a new social scene, full of folks just like yourself.

Research shows that peer-led mutual aid groups like SMART Recovery or LifeRing Secular Recovery have been successful in helping individuals maintain long-term sobriety. This way, you’ll become https://ecosoberhouse.com/ increasingly adept at navigating obstacles encountered along the road toward long-term sobriety. Healthline provides some useful tips on recognizing and managing addiction triggers.

• Additionally, some people may find AA’s group dynamics or principles too rigid or dogmatic.
• Our treatments are tailored to serve each person’s unique needs and you can read about both Oar members who want to quit drinking entirely as well as Oar members who want to moderate their drinking.
• The groups are led by moderators and serve to promote emotional and spiritual growth free from the bounds of alcohol abuse and addiction.
• 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.
• While it is common for treatment facilities to encourage involvement in recovery fellowships, there is rarely a mandate that you intend.

The guidance of a substance use counselor or addiction specialist can be invaluable in providing you with the necessary tools and strategies to navigate recovery challenges. I fought off the temptation to indulge in dope for a couple of years. Until that fateful day, the illicit methadone ran out, so I resorted to quiet corners of upstate New York and copped a bundle of heroin.