There are bloggers, videos, and podcasts designed to give people hope. If you are in recovery or are going to be in recovery, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is one of the options you can use. Here’s how I navigated being a sober person in an environment where the booze was always flowing. If you ever find yourself in Brooklyn (and why https://ecosoberhouse.com/what-are-sober-living-houses/ wouldn’t you?), I strongly recommend stopping by Kava Social if you’re booze-free. Their decor also makes it a great scene to be at, considering it has vibrant colors from the floor (aquamarine) to the ceilings. Prospect Park is one of those New York gems that doubles as a christening for people who might be new to the city.
Avoiding Triggers and Temptations
The most common feedback I’ve received comes from people who want to be sober with others but do not want to partake in Alcoholics Anonymous. Celebrate each day spent sober and acknowledge those victories in a way that is special to you. There are many resources offering support and ideas for sober socializing. Exploring these resources can help you build a network of support and find new ways to enjoy socializing without alcohol. I’m into recovery, harm reduction, alternative health & personal growth. I frequented syringe service programs, not just for sterile needles, but to congregate with harm reductionists and other peers who were ex-drug users.
- Prioritize self-care practices to manage stress and anxiety.
- Engaging in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help improve overall physical and mental health.
- Read on to learn about alternative support groups to help you maintain your sobriety.
- But there are other options, and as a society, we’re beginning to accept that those other options work.
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WFS uses 13 acceptance statements to support its “New Life” Program that asks members to focus their energies on positivity over negativity. Efforts are made to accept thoughts and actions as self-destructive, learn how to cope with the emotions and behaviors that are created through alcohol addiction, and then overcome them. 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.
How to socialize without alcohol FAQs
While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been the traditional go-to solution for people struggling with addiction, it is not the only path to Sobriety. While some individuals find comfort and support in religious beliefs or practices, it’s important to find a recovery approach that aligns with your personal values and beliefs. Healthline provides some useful tips on recognizing and managing addiction triggers. Embarking on a journey to become “sober without AA” can seem daunting, yet it’s entirely possible with the right strategies and support systems in place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of achieving long-term sobriety outside the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous framework. You may find that you enjoy certain aspects of AA, but also require additional recovery support from non-AA recovery treatments.
The Importance of Transparency During the Rehab Process
To make sure I didn’t feel alone in my choice to be sober at an all-inclusive resort, I listened to sobriety podcasts like “The Sober Mom Life” and read “quit lit” on my Kindle. In sobriety, you are growing, which is often uncomfortable. It is common for people to feel like they need to replace one habit with another, like swapping out drinking for some other random thing to fill the space and time. Food, sex, cigarettes, getting sober without aa gambling, and AA meetings are the most common habits I’ve seen as replacements for problematic drinking. Many more modern “sobriety programs” exist that are suitable solutions for people seeking sobriety with others without the issues mentioned above, such as SMART Recovery. There are also many online support groups full of friendly strangers ready to cheer you on, answer your questions, and support you without judgment.
Staying Sober by Looking at Old Photos
- Financial troubles and problems finding and keeping employment are major triggers for relapse, but it is possible to take baby steps and get your finances in order.
- All that matters is that it’s a group of individuals you feel comfortable enough sharing your struggles with and can relate to.
- Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth.
- There are many amazing websites, groups, chat rooms, and many other places on the internet that can help with your sobriety and recovery.
It can provide a safe space to explore underlying issues that may contribute to addiction and develop coping strategies. Its program is based on the principles of Sobriety, personal responsibility, and self-improvement. SOS also offers face-to-face and online meetings, as well as a forum where members can connect and support each other. It offers a variety of tools and techniques, such as self-monitoring, goal-setting, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help individuals achieve their goals.
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 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. If you find it difficult to make new, sober friends, try joining a support group. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance use disorder, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions.
- Engaging in sober activities fills your time and helps you discover new aspects of yourself.
- Whether this is some sort of spiritual program, giving back to your community, getting involved in recovery activism, is all up to you.
- Without the constraints of a specific program, you have the freedom to explore different treatment options and find what works best for you.
- Maybe peer support groups are not your thing, and you desire an alternative to support groups not because of the spiritual aspect, but because you want to focus on recovery in a more individual manner.
Detox and Rehab
Stay up late or plan to wake up super early to chat with them and catch up. Do an exercise outside of your usual movement routine; try out yoga, dance in the kitchen, or do slow and steady hill repeats. Call your parent or grandparent, cousin, aunt, nephew—you get it. Get in touch with your family (chosen family works too!), and ask them how they’re feeling right now.