How to Get Sober: A Guide to Sobriety

It can seem intimidating to look at the end goal and know the many steps it will take to get sober. No one can wave a magic wand and make you or someone you love sober. Sobriety is a lifelong journey filled with challenges and obstacles but also incredible rewards. Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization different from most. There is no hierarchy of leadership, nor are there any set rules for membership. If you say you are an alcoholic, you are welcome at meetings.

Author: Find Recovery Editorial Team

• There are many reasons why someone may choose to stay sober without AA.
• Others place encouraging words on their phones, desks, and around their workspaces.
• Embrace the power within you to break free from alcohol’s hold and create a brighter future for yourself.

Let’s explore some resources and make sure your pockets are filled with options, so you never have to feel like giving up is the only option. Consider reaching out to a vocational rehabilitation counselor or career coach to help you update your resume, practice job interview skills, and locate jobs that match your skills and experience. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. WFS provides a gender-specific support system for encouragement and growth for women in recovery. My own company, Workit Health, hosts online recovery groups for our members.

Educating Yourself on the Dangers of Alcohol and Other Drugs

The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026. Guidelines vary a lot from country to country but the overall trend is toward drinking less. As previously mentioned, no one treatment is effective for all people.

Rehabilitation Centers

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. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance use disorder, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery. “However, there is room for conversation,” about how it could work for some. Jordan does not see cannabis as a “wellness tool” per se, but understands many people need a little something to help us get through the week.

• And as if that weren’t enough, the stigma around methadone was reinforced regularly.
• Some days were tough and I would need to take it one hour or even one minute at a time.
• It’s a science-backed approach to treatment, and an empowering, modern way to quit drinking without AA.

Trained professionals can help you integrate whatever medication is available into your treatment program. In some cases, there may be medication that can help with a drug or alcohol getting sober without aa problem. In fact, the FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. One of the biggest debates in the recovery world is about whether or not you can stay sober without AA.

For example, a lot of people don’t feel comfortable with the religious aspects of AA. AA isn’t explicitly religious, but it did grow out of a Christian organization called The Oxford Group. How to apply accountability to your life if you’re not a part of a peer-based recovery group? 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.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)

As described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is not a one-size-fits-all treatment program for addiction. Therefore, it’s important to ask questions to ensure that the program you want meets all of your needs. There are multiple factors to consider, including cost, reviews, licensing, accreditations, amenities, and treatments. In fact, getting sober and sustaining sobriety is easier when you have a trusted support system motivating, encouraging, and supporting you along the way. A study from Substance Abuse indicates that having support from others can improve a person’s chances of engaging in and completing detox and treatment for addiction.

• She looks after her children, enjoys drinks with friends, and is a successful writer.
• Women are encouraged to go over the 13 acceptance statements each morning and then work through them throughout the day, reflecting on them each night.
• 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.
• Inpatient rehab programs can provide individuals with a supportive environment that can help them maintain Sobriety.
• While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help.

They have also treated their underlying issues (mental health, spiritual, physical) that led to or resulted from their drinking. They have made significant changes that have allowed them to find peace in removing alcohol from their life and to have emotional stability. Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation and even though there are a lot of people around the world who swear by Alcoholics Anonymous, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. The key to lasting and long-term recovery from alcoholism on your own will come from taking away the best aspects of Alcoholics Anonymous and drug rehab and incorporating those practices into your daily life. If you’ve been curious about how to stop drinking alcohol and get sober, you might be wondering where to start.

This support fosters the motivation and self-confidence needed for sustained sobriety. One organization that has shown successful results in helping alcoholics remain sober is a Christian recovery organization. The theory is that through a dedicated commitment to the church that celebrates life, an alcoholic can overcome their sickness. Each of these alternatives to AA may have strong merits for different circumstances. Again, AA has never claimed to have an exclusive inside angle on recovery.