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Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs. To sum up, incorporating these self-help strategies alongside professional guidance enhances chances of successful rehabilitation from addiction. They provide practical tools that foster resilience against relapses while promoting overall well-being beyond just abstinence from alcohol consumption.
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.
Daniel Taddese: Leading Healthcare by Engaging, Enabling, and Supporting People
It’s clean, simple, and gives you time to figure yourself out and make a longer-term plan. If you haven’t been to a meeting, going to one during this time will give you valuable insight as to whether it’s for you or not, and you can adjust accordingly. If I wasn’t a sobriety blogger, I don’t know that alcohol would really be on my mind that much.
Remember that everyone’s path to sobriety is unique and it’s important to find what works best for you. No, there are numerous alternatives to AA including self-help approaches, professional counseling, and medication-assisted treatment. There are other resources and support systems available, such as SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Rational Recovery. Disulfiram is a medication that causes unpleasant side effects when alcohol is consumed, acting as a deterrent for drinking.
Is AA the only way to get sober?
There are several medications available that can assist you in your recovery journey, such as Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram. 7 Cups is an online platform that provides free, anonymous emotional support through trained listeners and online therapy sessions. It offers a safe and confidential space to access emotional support and mental health services. Recovery Dharma Online is an independent sangha of Recovery Dharma members who facilitate online meetings, workshops, and inter-sangha business. These online meetings are based on Buddhist principles and provide a supportive community for individuals in recovery. In addition to connecting with others in recovery, Sober Grid offers a digital library of mental health resources, peer support coaching, and digital therapeutics.
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. If you choose to quit drinking without AA, it’s important to consider your current social scene and whether or not you’d like to change that. If you need sober friends and don’t do support groups, Meetup has great local activities that will allow you to get out of the bars and meet people in positive environments. HAMS stands for Harm Reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support. As the name suggests, the organization doesn’t dictate either abstinence or moderation, it simply encourages people to be safe and responsible in their attitudes to alcohol. It does this through a book, online community resources, live meetings, and its “17 elements”—recommendations that can be completed in any order, none of which is compulsory.
Do specific religious beliefs or practices play a role in addiction recovery?
The primary advantage of Naltrexone is its ability to decrease cravings for alcohol and aid in avoiding relapse. Additionally, it can help lower the risk of overdose in opioid users. By using Naltrexone in conjunction with counseling and other recovery resources, you can increase your chances of maintaining sobriety. Discussing medication options with a healthcare provider can be an effective way to help manage cravings and maintain sobriety.
Ms Vanstone said Mr Joyce’s commitment to stop drinking for 40 days was enough time to feel the benefits of a sober lifestyle. While its actual efficacy is still widely debated, AA is still a star in the entertainment world. Rational Recovery is an abstinence-based program based on a method called AVRT—the Addictive Voice Recognition Technique. There are no groups or support centers; the organization holds that these are unnecessary and actually encourage relapse. This method is all about isolating your Beast—the internal voice that makes you want to drink or use drugs—and vanquishing it, alone.
Open communication channels keep you accountable and foster understanding among loved ones regarding your struggles. Connecting with others who are also on the path towards sobriety offers unique benefits. Research shows that peer-led mutual aid groups like SMART Recovery or LifeRing Secular Recovery https://ecosoberhouse.com/ have been successful in helping individuals maintain long-term sobriety. Interventions are a common method used by families to encourage their loved ones to seek help for addiction. These structured meetings allow family members to express their concerns while offering love and encouragement.
Total abstinence may be the goal, but the reality is that setbacks are common. Sobriety means not being under the influence of a substance. However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts.
During my first 100 days alcohol-free I reached out to other sober women online. Many of them say they LOVE their meetings and have met some of their best girlfriends there. Based on their experience, I now believe that I was just at the wrong meeting and had I kept going I’d have found something where I fit in a bit better.
