When you are struggling with alcohol addiction, chances are your body is being deprived of necessary nutrients. Eating a well-balanced diet will help to get your body back to a healthy state and help you maintain your sobriety. Embrace each sober day as a significant step towards a healthier, happier life, free from alcohol’s grip. Staying committed to your goal, even through setbacks, will empower you to overcome challenges and embrace your newfound sober lifestyle. Recovery is a journey filled with progress, not perfection. Celebrate every milestone and achievement, regardless of how small they may seem.
But if you don’t want to put your life on pause, there are also outpatient centers and telehealth programs that can fit within your schedule. And for those who don’t want to quit completely (as AA requires), harm-reduction and moderation-based approaches might be a good fit. 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. Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist.
SMART Recovery Groups for Alcohol Addiction
It’s important to find the support and resources that work best for you. Whether you find support online, in person, or through other means, the most important thing is that you are taking steps to stay sober and live a healthy, fulfilling life. It is important to note that staying sober without AA does not mean you are alone in your recovery journey. There are many resources available to help you stay on track and prevent relapse. These may include online support groups, recovery apps, and peer support programs such as SMART Recovery and Refuge Recovery.
For others, they may experience urges to drink more so during the summer months when it’s warm outside. Maybe, going to the local store and walking past the cooler is a “trigger.” Acknowledging these triggers and having a plan already in place for when they do occur is a life saver. I can only stay away from the first drink if I start every day with the reminder that I am powerless over alcohol. I need to keep this in my thought process before all other thoughts – especially in these early days. Frequently saying you will stop using alcohol or attempting to stop using alcohol unsuccessfully more than once are also part of the clinical criteria for an AUD diagnosis. Even if there is only a tiny chance drinking nonalcoholic beverages could trigger a relapse, it is not worth the risk.
Pets are Important in Addiction Recovery
While staying sober is not quite as simple as just avoiding drinking alcohol, this does play a key part. If you have an alcohol problem, remember that it is not possible for you to drink any amount of alcohol without risking relapse. Choosing to get sober and stay sober without AA is possible with the right mindset and support system.
If you don’t have anyone in your life who understands what you’re going through, join a support group. Support groups are a great way to meet other people who are going through the same thing as you. Contact the people who are on board with your decision to stop drinking. They can help you stay on track by offering encouragement when you need it most. Recovering from alcohol addiction is a long and difficult process. The good news is there are ways to live a sober lifestyle.
Quit drinking without AA
But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward. The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse. It may help to pick a quit date, or a day when you choose to discontinue use of alcohol or drugs.
These structured meetings allow family members to express their concerns while offering love and encouragement. This works best particularly when you feel an urge to drink. Remember most people run into alcohol as a way of escaping shame, trouble, problems or stress. Others may have had negative how to stay sober without aa experiences with AA in the past and are seeking alternative methods of support. Whatever the reason may be, it is important to remember that there are many paths to Recovery and Sobriety. Additionally, some people may find AA’s group dynamics or principles too rigid or dogmatic.
