Many people feel like they have no control in their life.
Often times this lack of control can be traced back to issues with alcohol and drinking.
If you’re feeling this way it might be time for you to give sobriety a real shot.
Once you decide to leave behind the life of addiction, you will likely realize that you made one of the most difficult decisions of your life: getting sober.
Getting sober can be a long, challenging endeavor. It will involve some of the toughest decisions you will ever have to make. It will also be one of the most important things that you ever do.
AA is helpful for some people on the road to recovery, but it’s not the only option. Continue reading to learn how to get sober without AA.
Focus on Healthy Living
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.
Get into the routine of making good choices by incorporating the following healthy living tips.
Include Exercise in Your Busy Schedule
Whether it is taking the stairs or walking to the store, you can make small changes in your life that will make you feel better. There are so many benefits to exercising, especially exercising to maintain your sobriety.
Exercise can help to reduce your urge to drink because it improves your mood and reduces anxiety. When you are feeling depressed and anxious, you are more likely to relapse.
Make Sure You Are Eating Well
Long-term alcohol abuse causes damage to the pancreas and liver. It can also cause vitamin deficiencies and other imbalances within your body.
Eating well-balanced meals is important when it comes to restoring and maintaining your health. 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.
Get Enough Sleep at Night
Getting enough sleep at night is a huge part of healthy living, as it resets your body for the next day. Sleep deprivation causes mood swings and irritability while weakening cognitive function.
This is a precarious combination of factors on the road to recovery, putting your sobriety at risk. Get into a good sleeping routine and you will see major improvements in your mood and overall wellbeing.
Establish a Positive Support System
It’s vital to have wholesome, supportive relationships in your time of recovery. Cut ties with anyone that threatens your future as a recovered alcoholic.
Hold Onto the Good
Focus on maintaining your relationships with the people that push you to be better. Reach out to anyone that can help you hold on to your sobriety.
Chances are they have been waiting for you to get to this point, and they are eager to help you maintain sobriety.
Leave Toxic Behind
Stay away from the people that make you want to drink. Avoid the people that want to drag you down because they aren’t ready to get sober themselves. Withdraw yourself from anything that might compromise getting sober.
Get away from unhealthy environments that tempt you to drink. Stopping off at your favorite bar after work isn’t a good idea if you are trying to get out of your old routines.
Join a Support Group
When you see the word support group, you are likely thinking, “Wait, isn’t AA a support group?” It is, but Alcoholics Anonymous is not the only support group available to you.
Join a group that is going to support you and keep you accountable for your sobriety without you ever having to leave your home. Virtual support groups are available around the clock.
See a Counselor Regularly
Your mental health is extremely important in your recovery. See a counselor regularly to work through any struggles relating to your alcohol addiction. They can help you figure out how to set boundaries and how to maintain your sobriety.
Seeing a counselor is possible to do on the phone or via video chat. Telemedicine is a great resource for anyone who can’t leave their lives behind for weeks or months of inpatient treatment.
Learn How to Manage Your Triggers
If a certain setting makes you want to drink, you need to resolutely avoid it. You may want to avoid going to bars, for example, even if it’s only to catch up with a friend or to get dinner.
Sit down and think about the people, places, and situations that make you want to drink. Think of ways not only to avoid them but also how to overcome those triggers if you face one unexpectedly.
Learn How to Live Intentionally
What do you live for that’s greater than yourself? Is it your family, your profession, or a cherished belief?
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.
Take Our Online Course
Are you ready to put these tips into action?
Pick up a copy of our new book, The Sobriety Success Method, and sign up for the Ultimate Addiction and Recovery course. It will help you kick your addiction without ever having the leave the safety and comfort of your own home.
Rehab is a thing of the past with this method. Of course, you have to want to make a change for you to be successful. But you don’t have to go to rehab or AA meetings to meet your goal of getting sober.
Not only does rehab not always work, but it is also expensive. In many cases, you have to cut yourself off from your family and friends to get your life back on track.
Rest assured that you don’t have to go to such drastic measures to get sober. With the right support system and enough determination, you can win the battle on your own.
How to Get Sober Without AA
Focus on your health, both mental and physical. Rid yourself of toxic people and environments. Fill your life with love and support, including a professional counselor. Identify your triggers and create an actionable plan to overcome them.
Getting sober (and staying sober) is a challenging journey, but it’s one you can successfully make!
Now that you know how to get sober without AA, what’s next? Read The Sobriety Success Method and sign up for our Ultimate Addiction and Recovery course.
