A lot of people must confront a drinking problem at some point during their lives, and naturally they look for support from other people, particularly people who have been through the same ordeal and have discovered a way to stay sober.
One of the first things many people suggest is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which has helped many people gain sobriety. But for a portion of the people who start going to AA meetings, the program simply doesn’t work. The spiritual side of the AA program just doesn’t sit well with some people, and they are left wondering where to turn to next.
Luckily, there are alternatives to AA. This article examines some of the primary organizations that serve as alternatives to AA, as well as some other paths. Most of these alternatives to AA take a secular approach, but it is certainly possible to have a spiritual understanding of sobriety outside the bounds of AA.
SMART Recovery, which stands for Self Management and Recovery Training, is one such organization. SMART takes a secular, scientific approach to sobriety through behavioral and cognitive methods. This basically means that they want to change the way you think and react to alcohol. SMART focuses on four areas for lasting sobriety: building motivation, coping with urges, problem solving, and lifestyle balance. If you’re interested in psychology or a cerebral approach to sobriety, you may want to give SMART Recovery a try.
LifeRing Secular Recovery is another alternative. LifeRing is secular as well and targets three principles: sobriety, secularity, and self-help. Each member is encouraged to find their own path to sobriety, and relapses are meant to be seen as learning experiences. LifeRing is also designed to help people whose spouses are alcoholics.
Women For Sobriety is for women only, as the name suggests. This program is also focused on changing how you think about alcohol through a process borrowed from psychology called cognitive behavioral therapy. Women For Sobriety also features a list of 13 aphorisms meant to harness the power of positive thinking and to motivate and inspire women to achieve lasting sobriety.
Rational Recovery is one more alternative, and its philosophy is in direct opposition to AA. The RR programs endeavors to counter what they call the “addictive voice,” that tiny voice inside your head that says it’s OK to have another drink. It is a secular program for developing self-sufficiency in sobriety, and there are no official RR meetings.
If you’re looking for spirituality but want to avoid AA, a lot of people have found a deeper understanding through Eastern philosophies like Buddhism. In fact, many people think that the serenity prayer of AA reflects a Buddhist philosophy. The notion of focusing on what you can control and not letting the things you can’t control bother you can be very powerful, and you don’t have to be an AA follower to appreciate the wisdom of this saying.
Besides these alternative programs, it’s certainly possible to quit drinking without AA on your own. I know this because I’ve gone through it myself. I went to AA meetings for six months and really tried to do the program as best I could, but I just could not do it while still being honest with myself. As time went by, I developed an understanding of sobriety that has helped me to remain solidly alcohol-free for over two and a half years without AA or any other sobriety program besides my own.
To achieve lasting sobriety on your own, I think you need to realize a few important things. For example, you need to accept that you cannot have another drink. If you’re still hoping that one day you can drink normally again, then you’re not ready to stop.
Acceptance is a big part of my personal sobriety. The way I view it, everyone is given a set of obstacles in life. For some, it’s cancer, for some, it’s a difficult childhood, and for others, it’s losing a loved one too early. Alcoholism was one of the obstacles placed in my path through life, and it made my life very difficult for a few years, but the whole experience has made me who I am today. That’s what I mean when I talk about acceptance.
In order to help others who want to quit drinking without AA, I wrote an ebook called Overcoming Alcoholism without AA. I present my experience and all of the ideas and realizations I had that allowed me to quit drinking without AA, and I hope the book can help others that want to quit drinking but can’t accept AA. You can learn more about the ebook by clicking the link to my website below.
Thanks for reading, and I wish you luck in continued sobriety.
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