There’s this awesome trend going around the internet called sober curiosity.

More and more women and men are looking at the way they consume alcohol and are wondering if it’d be better to just NOT. And for good reason, there’s loads of perks to going sober and loads of disadvantages to regular drinking. 

Thinking about getting sober and being sober curious is one of the first steps to getting clean. Then comes the research and wondering if you have to join AA to quit drinking successfully.

But truth be told, AA is not for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, there are great advantages to joining the free Alcoholics Anonymous program, like accountability and tried and true steps. But, if you’re looking to go sober more quietly, there is help out there for you, too!

If you’ve tried AA before and it didn’t work for you, there’s still hope to get clean and sober.

Let’s dig into some ways you can quit drinking without AA.

Accountability 

Number one, you need to find yourself an accountability partner and let them know you’re done drinking. Checking in daily with this person will help you stay strong on those days you really just feel like having a drink. You don’t have to confide in someone who is also sober, just someone you can trust and who will be supportive of your decision. Obviously, this shouldn’t be your drinking buddy who might say something dumb about how they went out drinking yesterday or slip up and invite you over for a drink. This person should be wise enough to help you stay away from the bottle without these obvious triggers. Checking in with this accountability partner should be done regularly and honestly. 

Supportive circle

Along those same lines, you’re likely going to need to find yourself a supportive circle of friends. This might mean changing your social scene entirely. If you have to cut some people out of your life to help you quit drinking, do it!

Alternative Support Groups

You know, AA is not the only group out there to help you get and stay sober. There are loads of alternatives to AA, both local and online. Change your circle and check out some of these options.

Sober Focus Membership - online group for newly sober and those in recovery run by Courtney Andersen of Courtney Recovered, host of Sober Vibes and founder of National Sober Day. 

SMART Recovery - in person & online options with a 4-point program as opposed to  12-steps in AA

Women for Sobriety - in person & online options designed for women as a non-religious alternative to AA

Online Sobriety Coaching

Did you know there are coaches out there, like myself, who want to see you become the best version of yourself? You can work 1-on-1 with someone who has personally been through the hardships of getting sober and still manages to stay clean to this day. The beauty of working with a coach is you can find someone you connect with, and they don’t have to be from your neck of the woods. Thanks to the worldwide web, you can connect with people from across the globe.
There's a few ways to work with me  in a 1:1 or group coaching setting. 

Rehab or in-home treatment

Lastly, if you’re committed to your sobriety, but need a hand dealing with withdrawals, then looking into a treatment facility or one that comes to you is an excellent option. There are options to stay a while, and there are also options to get medication and support while you continue to go to work, or take care of other responsibilities.