There are other options out there, but my experience is AA membership monopolized my time, and when I needed support, you could hear the tumbleweeds dropping seeds. I asked for companionship from friends, a sponsor of many years. The passive/aggressive responses were so shocking, I think I may have been in denial they were happening at the time. The more my life fell apart, the more abandoned or I became. I think I communicate well and asked for what I needed and wanted, but I am not willing to take responsibility for the reactions of others.

can you stay sober without aa

Allison was born in Columbus, Ohio and was raised in South Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. After college, Allison started working at the largest talent agency in the world, William Morris Endeavor. There, she learned marketing from top leaders specializing in global PR and endorsement campaigns, in both the Latin and English markets. In-person Services are currently being provided in Herndon only.

Talk To Your Doctor

This is why I go to meetings at this point, to help others. The steps and the sponsor/sponsee relationships can be very positive and helpful. Still quite isolated and miserable, I joined AA for the social contact.

What race consumes the most alcohol?

Caucasians have a higher rate of current alcohol use (at the time of the 2013 NSDUH) than any other race demographic, with 57.7% of individuals aged 12 and older reporting past-month alcohol consumption.

I would really like to encourage people who think they have a drinking problem to seek help from resources where there is more accountability which seems to be 0 to none in AA. If AA has helped you to stay sober for a year and a half, than why do you want to leave it? Step one says that we “WERE” powerless over alcohol, and that I lives “HAD” become unmanageable. Before we came into AA, we could not control our drinking. AA gave us a way to regain that control through complete abstinence.

What Percentage Of AA Members Stay Sober?

To strengthen your chances of maintaining your sobriety, reframe the way you think about alcohol abuse. Rather than being reluctant to give something up, instead embrace removing a harmful and non-productive element from your life.

Matthew Perry says Alcoholics Anonymous shouldn’t be secret. Is he right? – USA TODAY

Matthew Perry says Alcoholics Anonymous shouldn’t be secret. Is he right?.

Posted: Fri, 28 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Many quit drinking without any help at all, even from a stop drinking app like Drinker’s Helper. But I would rather this happen than return to the life I was living prior to sobriety. Before I got sober, my physical and mental health were questionable. All I wanted to do was be wasted, and I was putting myself in dangerous situations when I drank. As you can see, there are many alternatives to AA. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to find the right program.

Getting Sober Without AA—What Are Your Options?

People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money. If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems. You may also experience what is commonly called sobriety fatigue, which refers to the overall exhaustion that may occur as a result of the emotional and physical stress of staying sober. So, it’s extra helpful to have a support network available to you when you need it.

All this, after nearly 20 years of drug and alcohol addiction. I mean, I don’t drink but life goes on and other things come along. I have been in and out of the rooms for many years, and often I feel driven from them because of the weird and dysfunctional behavior of some of the other people. Because I came from an alcoholic home (surprise!), I did tend to believe that I was the ‘problem’ and there are many people there who will be happy to have you believe that. My decision to discontinue participation in AA meetings, sponsorship and events came about over the course of events in my life, especially the last 3 years. I have not talked much about it with anyone until very recently. It has been a very confusing and difficult decision to sort out.

Stay Connected

If it hadn’t worked for them, they would have dropped out. There are a variety of different types of online support groups for alcoholics and addiction.

can you stay sober without aa

So I’m supposed to set myself up for yet another failed friendship? Congratulations to sober alcoholics leaving aa. We don’t need anyone micromanaging our recovery. We can be full-fledged responsible people fully capable of making sound, reasonable decisions. Tempest is an integrated, evidence-based digital recovery program for anyone who wants to stop drinking and feel better. how to stay sober without aa Whether you’re trying to quit drinking or you’re already sober, Tempest combines a personalized approach to recovery with membership and one-on-one support to help you make a lasting change. This online-only community is worldwide, which makes it easy to connect with like-minded women who are friendly, non-judgmental, and helping each other kick the booze and stay sober.

SMART Recovery

Strong in my convictions though, I tried not to push it on people who didn’t want what I had to offer. I struggle with the idea that these people are totally accountable to a god that they cannot define or know what it wants. I do see the purpose of being part of a community and it is vital for humans to be in one. But to submit to a greasy dude who now rides a harley and because he now outwardly has his stuff together, I don’t see how that is going to make life anymore bearable or the wisdom in that.

can you stay sober without aa