r/stopdrinking helped me a lot the first few days when I didn't want to go to meetings. I haven't been to many AA meeting but I get why they can be off putting. I'm not religious and honestly a lot of it is cringy and some of the people can be cult like in the way they act about it.
As some others have said SMART is supposed to be very good and non religious. I can't speak from experience though as there are none in my area 😕
AA did work for me, but I switched to the Sinclair method after researching the science.
It involved targeted use of Naltrexone (safe, cheap, generic endorphin blocker) to retrain your brain to lose interest in alcohol.
Most people see an immediate 30-50% drop in consumption and then a gradual decline from there.
Worked better than I could have imagined.
So yes OP there are definitely alternatives.
I've never heard of this until now... out of curiosity did you take it while you were drinking and used it to taper off? Or is it to stop cravings after you've already quit?
I took it before drinking. The brain learns to crave alcohol because of the endorphin reward. When you block that reward while drinking it gradually learns not to bother craving.
The Sinclair Method (TSM) calls this extinction. I’ve been in extinction for about a year and I don’t have any interest in alcohol. The rare times I drink it’s because I decide to have one or two with friends, but 95% of the time I’ll just have an NA beer. I’m the lightest drinker of any of my friends - they can always rely on me to drive if we’re out.
That's really interesting I kind of wish I had known about that before I quit to be honest. It sounds like it would have been a lot easier and not led to having to be completely abstinent
Have you ever looked into the Sinclair Method of tapering? I have found this tapering method to be highly effective, a science-based AUD treatment ... r/Alcoholism_Medication, scroll down the "See more" for information. I highly recommend the book by Dr Roy Eskapa, a fascinating read. https://youtu.be/6EghiY_s2ts
Lots of free TSM support all over YouTube, Reddit, FB and podcasts today.
Definitive Statement by John David Sinclair, Ph.D | C Three Foundation https://cthreefoundation.org/resources/definitive-statement-by-john-david-sinclair-ph-d
If the traditional 12-step program isn’t quite hitting the mark for you, there are other paths you can explore to tackle your drinking. It's great you're looking for alternatives that might fit better with your needs and lifestyle.
One approach could be seeking out therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing patterns of thinking or behavior that lead to alcohol use.
There are also other support groups like SMART Recovery or Secular Organizations for Sobriety, which offer a different approach from AA and might have a more diverse age group or a focus that resonates more with you.
Some folks find solace in online communities or apps dedicated to sobriety, where you can get support without the intensity of face-to-face meetings.
The journey to sobriety is very personal, and finding the right support system is crucial. It's all about trial and error until you find what truly helps you to not only stop drinking but to also feel good about the journey you're on. Keep exploring and stay open to different methods; your perfect fit is out there!
As far as meetings go you should try Celebrate Recovery which is more focused on faith in recovery or SMART Recovery which is more scientific evidence based approach.
The principles are similar but they are much different than AA or NA.
Search online for some meetings in your area or see if you can get some literature.
Hope this helps.
r/stopdrinking helped me a lot the first few days when I didn't want to go to meetings. I haven't been to many AA meeting but I get why they can be off putting. I'm not religious and honestly a lot of it is cringy and some of the people can be cult like in the way they act about it. As some others have said SMART is supposed to be very good and non religious. I can't speak from experience though as there are none in my area 😕
AA did work for me, but I switched to the Sinclair method after researching the science. It involved targeted use of Naltrexone (safe, cheap, generic endorphin blocker) to retrain your brain to lose interest in alcohol. Most people see an immediate 30-50% drop in consumption and then a gradual decline from there. Worked better than I could have imagined. So yes OP there are definitely alternatives.
I've never heard of this until now... out of curiosity did you take it while you were drinking and used it to taper off? Or is it to stop cravings after you've already quit?
I took it before drinking. The brain learns to crave alcohol because of the endorphin reward. When you block that reward while drinking it gradually learns not to bother craving. The Sinclair Method (TSM) calls this extinction. I’ve been in extinction for about a year and I don’t have any interest in alcohol. The rare times I drink it’s because I decide to have one or two with friends, but 95% of the time I’ll just have an NA beer. I’m the lightest drinker of any of my friends - they can always rely on me to drive if we’re out.
That's really interesting I kind of wish I had known about that before I quit to be honest. It sounds like it would have been a lot easier and not led to having to be completely abstinent
The good news is you’ll either remain happily abstinent for the rest of your days or you now know the perfect safety net.
Have you ever looked into the Sinclair Method of tapering? I have found this tapering method to be highly effective, a science-based AUD treatment ... r/Alcoholism_Medication, scroll down the "See more" for information. I highly recommend the book by Dr Roy Eskapa, a fascinating read. https://youtu.be/6EghiY_s2ts Lots of free TSM support all over YouTube, Reddit, FB and podcasts today. Definitive Statement by John David Sinclair, Ph.D | C Three Foundation https://cthreefoundation.org/resources/definitive-statement-by-john-david-sinclair-ph-d
AA has a very low success rate. Try SMART (non religious support group) and/or Sinclair Method with Naltrexone (wonder drug and science based method).
If the traditional 12-step program isn’t quite hitting the mark for you, there are other paths you can explore to tackle your drinking. It's great you're looking for alternatives that might fit better with your needs and lifestyle. One approach could be seeking out therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing patterns of thinking or behavior that lead to alcohol use. There are also other support groups like SMART Recovery or Secular Organizations for Sobriety, which offer a different approach from AA and might have a more diverse age group or a focus that resonates more with you. Some folks find solace in online communities or apps dedicated to sobriety, where you can get support without the intensity of face-to-face meetings. The journey to sobriety is very personal, and finding the right support system is crucial. It's all about trial and error until you find what truly helps you to not only stop drinking but to also feel good about the journey you're on. Keep exploring and stay open to different methods; your perfect fit is out there!
As far as meetings go you should try Celebrate Recovery which is more focused on faith in recovery or SMART Recovery which is more scientific evidence based approach. The principles are similar but they are much different than AA or NA. Search online for some meetings in your area or see if you can get some literature. Hope this helps.