Any alternative to the AA etc?

[Blue4YOU]

I’m not going to lie, I’ve got substance abuse issues that developed since I stopped doing EMDR and associated things that help me.
I’m scared I’m becoming an alcoholic.
it’s because of childhood trauma to start with but the alcohol stuff started after assault by a doctor. It’s me against the NHS in a legal battle I’ll lose, but I’m already lost.
advice on non AA please?

I've heard of Smart Recovery, I'm sure there must be others. Have you tried reading any quit lit books etc? Sorry im not much use, sounds like you're going through an awful time. Do you have any friends or family you could talk to?

Is restarting EMDR an option?

Can you say why not AA? Lots of programmes are based on AA or have elements of it so knowing why would help to point you in the right direction.

In the UK every area has an NHS funded drug and alcohol service, Inclusion are one example. I had never heard of these services until I started working in a project with one of them, they are amazing often runni lots of different support, Smart recovery, act therapy etc

Speak to your GP and ask for referral to the local drug and alcohol service for support. Or stick 'drug and alcohol' and where you live into Google and self refer.

SMART recovery is a CBT-based mutual aid group, which some people find suits them better than AA.

smartrecovery.org.uk/

The local service in my area has an 18 month waiting list. It's not always an option.

Locally we have a charity called CGL . I think you have to be referred by GP or social services. Ask your GP

Thanks all. I’m actually doing ok with cutting down - it’s all in response to a sexual assault and being called a liar for reporting it.
added on top of daily stress like my disabled DD (best girl in the world) but being her carer means I can’t work.. etc

You need to contact your CCG if you can an 18 month waiting list is the provider failing to provide a service. It can take time to access rehab but you should be able to access support with mentoring/coaching within days.

Well done on the cutting down blue4you sorry to hear about what you've been through.

Honestly I tried every avenue, counsellors, The Recovery Partnership, you name it as I didn't want to hear what AA were saying which was I had to stop drinking one day at a time, one hour at a time.

The Recovery Partnership were wonderful but they used to teach controlled drinking, I could no more control my drinking than fly. I'd tell them whatever they wanted to hear.

For me in AA I couldn't BS or blag anyone as they had all been there and got the t-shirt. My best friends are also now in recovery for a few years, other friends I've lost to this rotten illness.

I wouldn't dismiss it, not like I did, it meant I carried on drinking longer.

They are providing a really poor service in my area. They signed off a relative, told her she was cured now and didn't need them anymore - she's in a really bad state -I wouldn't trust them - they are amateurs.

I'm in AA. It's brilliant and works. You get group support and honesty from people you can't fool.

It's also free and a meeting everywhere.

Is there a reason why you don’t want to go to AA?

Smart Recovery is an alternative. You should also be able to self refer to your local drugs and alcohol service.

I am 6 years sober and I would say that the most important thing was connecting with other people who “got it”. I got a lot of support from a thread on here and also joined some online groups, listened to sober podcasts and followed sober blogs.

Lots of people don’t want use AA because the religious rhetoric (and no matter how the modern AA tries to bend the original literature to say you can use whatever ‘power’ you choose, the AA steps do require a faith of some sort, eventually). Lots of people also reject the AA idea of being ‘powerless’ over alcohol and that only God can restore them and feel that it absolves the individual of responsibility over their drinking. It works for many but not everyone.

I worked for my local alcohol and drug service for many years and had a lot of involvement with Smart Recovery.

AA works for some people but not everyone.

www.oneyearnobeer.com/

As an add on, God stuff has never been part of my AA or recovery. Don't be put off by that. Not all meetings are based on 12 steps either.

It's like a safe and confidential group support.

AA works for some people but not everyone

Ilovesooty what does work?

AA - The 12 Steps

It saved my Mum and my Brothers life.

This is a really common misconception. There is zero requirement for any religious element. I was told when I first started that GOD could stand for a Group Of Drunks which is the collective power of being with and talking to other people who are beating the same addiction one day at a time.

Your higher power be it religious, non religious or anything is no-ones business but your own in AA.

Nor mine, I personally lapsed religious wise when I was 14, at 59 I'm still lapsed. God is in the literature and it does put some people off, which is a tragedy as it has a zero requirement for it to be religious.

I’m the OP - yes it’s the religious element that would put me off first but there isn’t an AA meeting in my village (there should be!!) but the nearest big town where it’s a very different and difficult place to be if you aren’t a racist, white ex army man. And believe me, I mean that.
Im still drinking more than I want to, tonight being an example. No reason to. Every day is the same but no specific reason for tonight rather than any other night other than my “D” H usually drinks on a Thursday. I’d have actually preferred sleeping at 9pm and was almost asleep but was harangued into getting up and doing the usual.

Read this a while ago and it seemed to be something worth exploring!
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

AA has hundreds of online meetings so you can go to a meeting in Australia if you want!

I know lots of people who came into AS during the pandemic and got sober online as all the face to face meetings were shut.

Yes to this. The online groups are very welcoming and you can join from any country at any time.

Also, I know that some of the meetings are sex specific - there are lots of mixed groups but also some women only and men only if that makes you feel more comfortable.

If you do try AA, remember that your sponsor should be the same sex as you.

I hope others have allayed your fears regarding religion in AA. It was explained to me as a ‘god of your own understanding’, basically acknowledging something bigger or more important than yourself which is in no way a old man with a beard sitting on a cloud.

I’ve only skimmed so far but it is very interesting so thanks for posting.

However, I should note that some of the info is now out of date/inaccurate.

The latest Cochrane report was based on far more research than was available to the 2015 article and it found 12 step programmes to be more effective than the alternatives.

Also, the first person used as an example of the failures of AA in the article was described as ‘white knuckling’ it which is definitely not following the AA programme.

I will definitely do more research on the Finnish programme as that sounded very interesting. Thanks for the link!