You may find that recovery without aa you enjoy certain aspects of AA, but also require additional recovery support from non-AA recovery treatments. The program is based around the Twelve Steps to help its members achieve complete abstinence from alcohol use. AA’s free and anonymous meetings are available in over 180 countries and more than 100 languages.
The Importance of Setting Boundaries in Addiction Recovery
Moreover, the competitive environment and concerns about professional reputations, along with a fear of being fired, deter many from disclosing their illness. Evidence shows that substance-use disorders are chronic diseases — involving changes to the brain’s systems for reward, stress and control — rather than a choice (see go.nature.com/4tbcczf). Your recovery journey is yours for a reason – no one else can do it for you, and no one else can tell you where or when you should be on that recovery path.
Your addiction does not have to define who you are.
Addiction treatment and recovery is not one-size-fits-all and what works for one person may not work for someone else. In particular, people who don’t connect with the spiritual aspects of 12-Step programs may still benefit from the support of their peers in recovery through other programs. The compassionate atmosphere and resources offered by Recovery Dharma Online can help you navigate your recovery journey and cope with unexpected life events. To access their meetings, workshops, and resources, visit their website and join the online community. The advantages of family therapy include a nurturing, non-judgmental atmosphere, a focus on personal accountability and self-direction, and a network of peers who are also in recovery. To start family therapy, find an experienced family therapist through a referral from your doctor or by searching online for a therapist near you.
Who Can Benefit From a Non-12-Step Approach?
Refuge Recovery is a powerful program that incorporates the teachings of Buddhism to help you fight alcohol abuse. It utilizes the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to provide you with the strength and courage to overcome your addiction. Regular attendance at group meetings, meditation, personal inventory, mentorship, retreat, and service are integral components of the program, ensuring your success and growth. Ed Day, a clinical psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Birmingham, UK, says that there is a spectrum of drug and alcohol use. With alcohol, for example, at one end of the spectrum are people who do not drink at all, and at the other are those with alcohol-use disorder or dependence. You don’t need to go through an organization or any other formal channels to find this type of community.
- Many people who have AUD don’t want to abstain from drinking entirely and instead seek treatments that reduce drinking.
- The standard AA program provides an overview of how the addict is powerless against the disorder they are suffering from.
- By considering alternatives that provide secular, evidence-based, or holistic approaches, those seeking recovery can exercise greater autonomy over their path to sobriety.
- AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.
- HAMS is a peer-led group that provides support and information to those who want to change their drinking habits.
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. 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. It offers a variety of tools and techniques, such as self-monitoring, goal-setting, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help individuals achieve their goals. Moderation Management also has an online community where members can connect and support each other. The journey of recovery from addiction is highly personal and often requires tailored strategies that address unique challenges.
- CBT can be an effective treatment method for individuals with substance use disorder, as it helps individuals identify and manage triggers that may lead to substance use.
- Related to harm reduction, but also useful for complete sobriety, medications for alcohol use disorder are gaining increased popularity.
- While AA meetings can provide a sense of community, it is possible to find support in other ways.
- It can help them curb the problem before it gets bad enough to become an addiction, and for people that are responsive to this type of treatment, it’s proven to be very effective.
- For some, the structured nature of AA may not feel like the right fit for their personal recovery journey.
Homework may be assigned between meetings, and there may be a social hour after the formal meeting concludes for individuals to get to know each other better. Meetings are kept confidential and provide a great space for people to share their experiences and gain support from peers in similar situations. The SMART Recovery website provides tools to help people find local meetings. “Acamprosate, marketed under the brand name Campral, is an orally administered drug available by prescription in the U.S. and throughout much of the world for treating alcohol dependence. It targets neurotransmitters involved in alcohol dependence, such as glutamate and GABA, providing support for a successful recovery journey. Engaging in regular exercise and physical activity is an excellent way to improve mood, reduce stress, and decrease cravings for alcohol.
There are several science-based alternatives to AA, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and contingency management (CM). These therapies focus on changing harmful thought patterns and behaviors, promoting neuroplasticity, and providing practical coping strategies for alcohol recovery. SMART Recovery concepts help individuals to recognize that alcohol abuse can be destructive, and it creates problems emotionally, physically, socially, and behaviorally. It is important to note that staying sober without AA does Substance abuse not mean you are alone in your recovery journey.
List of Non-12-Step Recovery Programs
This https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can include avoiding places or people that trigger your urge to drink or setting a limit on how much alcohol you allow yourself to consume. When you feel the urge to drink, try to distract yourself with something you enjoy doing. This can help you focus on something positive instead of turning to alcohol. It’s important to find a treatment program that works for you and to have a strong support system to help you through the recovery process. Additionally, some people may find AA’s group dynamics or principles too rigid or dogmatic.