How do I quit drinking without AA?

[Anonymous]

Subject says it all. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

It’s great that you want to stop drinking. I’m curious why not AA? Not all groups are the same and you may need to try a bunch before you find one that is a good fit. AA and especially a great sponsor can save your life.

Medications can help a lot with or without AA. Talk to your doctor about options.

[Anonymous]

Throw out what you have. Don't buy anymore.

If you are through the detox phase, then exercise everyday for a couple months, and next time after that when you drink more than 2 drinks you will realize how badly it affects you the next day.

[Anonymous]

Decide that alcohol is no longer for you. Remove all of it from your house. Plan to order seltzer or a mocktail in social settings. Forgive yourself when you have a drink (you will) and then try again.

[Anonymous]

Just remember it doesn't have to all or nothing.

You must learn to drink moderately.

Abstaining entirely is only for those with severe medical problems that would dictate it, or for the really addictive personality types who cannot control their urges. You will know which you are after a few months of abstinence and then having a drink.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big fan of SMART Recovery: https://smartrecovery.org/4-point

[Anonymous]

Don't drink, no matter what. One day at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just remember it doesn't have to all or nothing.

You must learn to drink moderately.

Abstaining entirely is only for those with severe medical problems that would dictate it, or for the really addictive personality types who cannot control their urges. You will know which you are after a few months of abstinence and then having a drink.

This is horrible advice from a person who is ignorant, at best, and probably a troll. OP, if you want to quit, quit. You can never drink again. It's okay. You don't have to test it, you don't have to learn moderation, you can just decide that you and booze aren't compatible anymore and not drink.

Abstaining entirely is for people who choose to abstain entirely, whatever their reasons, and you don't need anyone's approval or understanding. You'll get a lot of pushback, mostly from people who don't want to confront their own drinking habits. People like PP are most likely alcoholics who are in the "bargaining" phase of their addiction. "I'm not an alcoholic because I can go for a few months without it and then just have one" - most alcoholics, before they accepted the true nature of their relationship to alcohol

[Anonymous]

Antabuse

[Anonymous]

You just do it.

The first three days is the hardest part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of SMART Recovery: https://smartrecovery.org/4-point

Yes. This plus Kolmac. You would be surprised with how many people have realized they needed help (even without hitting rock bottom).

[Anonymous]

There are many ways to quit. Medicine or groups. I think AA was helpful but really my group is more of a general support group based on AA stories.

I tried other AA groups and they were not a fit. There is a .massive variation among groups.

[Anonymous]

I found that sleep helped me form new habits.

When I drank, I did not drink regularly during the day but I got drunk often when I drank socially and I also didnt know how to socialize w/o alcohol.

When i quit drinking I stopped going out. Instead I went to bed early, got rest. The rest was like self-care and I always felt great in the morning.

Over time I realized I drank to manage anxious feelings. I also realized i felt less anxious when I was rested and happy. Over time self care became a much more constructive habit than drinking. Now i can go out socially but i dont care about alcohol and just have club soda.

[Anonymous]

I started a GLP-1 a week ago and I don’t have any interest in alcohol anymore. It just…went away.

[Anonymous]

Really depends what your situation is. Is it that you have just been drinking a little too much lately, or is it more serious?

I got in the bad habit of drinking too much/too often during Covid. I just stopped buying alcohol or having it in the house, and that was that. Still had an occasional drink or two while out, but I don’t even do that anymore. Just got sick of it. But I wasn’t physically addicted- just had fallen into a bad routine/bad habits.

If you need more support (or struggle with doing the above) try AA.

Good luck! I don’t miss drinking at all. Not one bit. I feel better physically, feel better about myself in general, and look better too.