Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again. As Workit Health’s Senior VP of Growth & Brand, Kali Lux leans in to the culture gap between addiction, recovery, and medicine. She’s interested in finding solutions that work for substance users better than drinking or drugging does, and believes Workit is one of them. She’s written extensively on her own experience through addiction into long-term recovery.

Supportive relationships and social networks are an incredibly important aspect of alcohol recovery that can make a world of difference in your journey towards a… I have a friend who knew she had a problem with alcohol and went to an AA meeting when she was 25. She said, “If this is what getting sober is like, I’ll just keep drinking.” Thankfully, 15 years later, she found another way and is thriving in recovery. Of course, you have to want to make a change for you to be successful.

The Ultimate Guide: What Is the Best Definition of Sobriety?

AA is a peer recovery and self-help program that is spiritual in nature and calls on its members to turn their lives over to a higher power. This concept of spirituality in healing how to stay sober without aa may not work for everyone. AA also expects its members to remain abstinent from alcohol and drugs completely, and this is also a concept that is not ideal for every person.

• Spending time with friends and family members who support your recovery.
• Counseling can help individuals identify and manage triggers that may lead to substance use.
• If you don’t have anyone in your life who understands what you’re going through, join a support group.
• If you want to know how to stay sober without AA after a non-12 step rehab, keep reading.

Some elements of the program, including the belief in a higher power, aren’t the right fit for everyone. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery.

How to Stay Sober

Instead, MM focuses on helping people to manage problematic drinking and behaviors that are destructive, aiding in encouraging positive lifestyle changes. MM is a peer-support program that acknowledges that behaviors are changeable, and that alcohol abuse (which differs from dependence) is a habit that can be altered. Fortunately, if AA doesn’t work for you, there are other choices.

There is something out there that’s going to connect with their heart and their spirit, that’s going to provide what they need to stop drinking and start recovering. Maintaining employment that nourishes your spirit will go a long way in your sober life. Many people find that a job that involves helping people helps them stay sober. You don’t have to work completely in the service of others – you can make a meaningful impact on the world. When your life has a clear purpose, it’s easier to focus on and maintain that purpose. If you feel that your life (and what you do with it) matters, you will have powerful motivation to maintain your sobriety.

Getting Sober Without Attending Alcoholics Anonymous

Your physical and mental wellbeing needs to be your top priority on your road to recovery. If you are not making healthy choices every day, you may find yourself craving to go back to your old habits—the ones that got you to this point in the first place. You have to establish healthy boundaries and avoid high-risk situations. This will empower you enough to stay focused on your sobriety journey. As mentioned above, there are many ways to become and stay sober from alcohol; it is not a numbers game. 1000 people attending an AA meeting at a megachurch is just as powerful as a single person becoming sober on their own for one day.