I started to meet with my counselor a couple of times a week for actual person-centered therapy sessions. Then, I enrolled in outpatient treatment so I could work getting sober without aa towards sorting out my past trauma and self-hate. I was already in a methadone treatment program for 4 years before I started working closely with my counselor.

How to Stop Drinking without AA: A Complete Guide

This is important for those who may be homebound, have transportation issues, or not be able to find an in-person meeting nearby. If you’ve never heard about virtual group meetings https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for alcoholics or need more information, we’ve got you covered. Along with alcohol cravings, drinking triggers are another common reason people return to excessive alcohol use.

Alcohol-Related Health Problems

AA chat rooms are an alternative way to join Alcoholics Anonymous self-help groups, typically held in person. Rather than meeting face-to-face, AA members can participate online. The internet-based Alcoholics Anonymous meetings follow a similar format as regular AA meetings, where you can share experiences and support in trying to maintain a sober life. The only requirement to join is the desire to stop drinking. Telehealth-based treatment generally involves medical consultation and professional counseling via video chat, online support groups, and an app-based platform to access additional resources.

Avoiding Triggers and Temptations

Online resources, such as podcasts and blogs, can also provide support and inspiration. It’s important to learn how to manage your emotions in a healthy way. One way to do this is to practice mindfulness, which can help you stay present and aware of your thoughts and feelings. 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.

Alternatives to AA and 12-Step Programs

• Perhaps your school performance has declined and you’re in danger of failing or you’ve been missing so many classes because you’ve been hungover that you can’t catch up.
• SOS also offers face-to-face and online meetings, as well as a forum where members can connect and support each other.
• The program’s philosophy emphasizes positivity, practicality, and staying focused on the present.
• Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, has been available since the mid-20th century, and is known for being a fairly harsh approach.

Embarking on a journey to become “sober without AA” can seem daunting, yet it’s entirely possible with the right strategies and support systems in place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of achieving long-term sobriety outside the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous framework. Hello Sunday Morning is based in Sydney, Australia, and available worldwide.

Detox and Rehab

To make matters worse, NA meetings often turned into a bizarre spectacle. I found myself witnessing shady drug deals and conversations about doctors handing out Xanax and opioids like candy (because if it’s prescribed, it must be okay, right?). And as if that weren’t enough, the stigma around methadone was reinforced regularly. Maybe you’ve tried to quit before, or maybe this is the first time that you feel like enough is enough—either way, you want to give sobriety your best shot. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

• Practically every person in recovery has people, places, and experiences that bring up the urge to drink.
• Groups meet virtually throughout the week and focus on a wide range of topics.
• Having to tell people you are taking time off to attend rehab can be a problem in itself.
• You can also try talking to a therapist or a trusted friend about your emotions.
• I fought off the temptation to indulge in dope for a couple of years.

Strategies To Take Control When Drinking Is The Main Event

Build Healthy Relationships

• I have tried online meetings but don’t find them helpful, rather they emphasize the sense of isolation.
• That said, one of my strongest sobriety mottos is that you have to be willing to throw everything you have at quitting if you really want to quit.
• Naltrexone, approved to treat alcohol addiction since the 1990s, can limit the pleasurable effects of drinking without making you feel sick.
• Quitting alcohol can be a long road, so enjoy each milestone.
• They’ll continue drinking if they don’t do sobriety “right”.

sobriety support groups that are different from Alcoholics Anonymous