How to Quit Drinking without Alcoholics Anonymous: 5 Steps

Is free, as well as a new membership program that offers more virtual meetings, a community forum, group coaching, and more. If you’re a sober mom in need of help and extra support, this may just get sober without aa be the place for you. SoberGrid might just be a good place to start building a support network for those who feel natural doing everything, including finding new sober friends, on their phone.

Once you’ve passed the initial stage of withdrawal, the process of recovering from alcoholism can still take some time. Changing daily habits, avoiding drinking triggers, managing anxiety or insomnia as your internal chemistry rebalances, and rebuilding your social life are among the challenges you may face. And on the subject of digital tools, there are now many apps that can help you monitor or manage your quitting process. These include drink trackers, daily reminders, and even bluetooth breathalyzers that record your blood alcohol content. Finally, online communities are springing up that make it possible to socialize with others who are quitting, exchange support, and even build a new community. Doctors sometimes use medications in alcohol addiction treatment.

Exercise and Healthy Eating

Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. 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. Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You might be ready to face these triggers, or you might not feel comfortable yet. Your family members and loved ones should understand what you are going through.

Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth. Guilt is having negative feelings about your past behavior. People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place. Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake.

Surround Yourself With Support

While it can be useful for some people to check into a residential rehab program, it can be incredibly disruptive to one’s daily life . On top of this, the rehab industry is under-regulated. There are advantages to the 12 step method, and many people experience success with it. However, Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t mesh with everyone’s perspective. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Some elements of the program, including the belief in a higher power, aren’t the right fit for everyone. Fortunately, if AA doesn’t work for you, there are other options. The best choice will often depend on how severe your addiction is, what motivates your drinking, and which types of support match your personality or perspective.

• Many clergy members, social workers, and counselors also offer addiction treatment services.
• I’ve also witnessed the fantastic potential and empowerment that often emerges by building relationships with people in recovery.
• It was the exact kind of feeling that, prior to sobriety, I’d have drunk more to get rid of…
• This may mean that you don’t spend time with someone you used to use drugs with or go somewhere you used to drink.

We hope you find these suggestions helpful, and if you want additional help on top of what these groups can provide in person at set times, we hope you’ll give the Drinker’s Helper app a try! We provide a personalized support group in your pocket, plus over 75 exercises you can do to motivate yourself to keep going with your goal of quitting or cutting back on drinking. We know that many people quit or cut back on drinking without getting help from community organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous or from rehab centers or doctors. Many quit drinking without any help at all, even from a stop drinking app like Drinker’s Helper. It is not structured, allowing people to find their own paths to recovery using their tools. We think there is wisdom in this, because sometimes people need different elements of a program in order to achieve their goals.

Involve your loved ones

If you’ve been curious about how to stop drinking alcohol and get sober, you might be wondering where to start. Keep reading to learn about steps you can take to stop drinking, take back control of your life, and how to get sober from alcohol to start the path to recovery and long-term sobriety. After a year of sobriety, you might graduate from a sober living facility and go on to build a happy, healthy life with your family and friends. In addition, you’ll have built a support system through counseling,12-step meetingsorother recovery groups. Achieving one year of sobriety gives you hope that you can have continued success in your new, sober life. Depending on how you decide to stop using alcohol, you may be going throughdetox, attendingaddiction treatment, or participating in AA or NA meetings.

Many treatment providers offer suggestions to help you find the best fit for your recovery. Recovery can be a linear process, yet you might need to go back if you aren’t ready to move forward. For example, you might complete a sober living program yet do not feel prepared to get back in the real world.