Are you in therapy? Being in therapy and getting medicated was key for me.
Most of us are drinking or using in order to self-medicate. In my opinion, if you don't deal with any underlying mental health issues, no meetings or even rehab will help.
3 Likes
I totally agree. I have been in therapy on and off for year's. It's been a few months since I've talked to my therapist. I plan on reaching out to her to start therapy again. I am seeing a psychiatrist and have started taking medications again for Bipolar depression, BPD and anxiety. Addressing my mental health issues is going to be a big part of my recovery.
2 Likes
Rehab is a business, understandable.
1 Like
I think it is more important to get a therapist first. This is more effective getting free from what is driving you to use now.
1 Like
I didn’t do rehab, but should have given my DOC’s were alcohol and benzos. I went to my sisters so she could monitor me some and went through all the miserable withdrawals that many of us have. For me I’m proud I quit for 6 months without any meetings or rehab but over time learned I need some support to keep it. So now I do AA, but AA isn’t what got me sober.
1 Like
I was put in overnight detox and it was the scariest night of my life. That woke me up…but I needed to see my doctor. They helped prescribe me with meds to help depression and the other help my brain to not crave alcohol. I understand the insurance part. I got let go of my job last week but I stayed strong and already have been offered a new job with great benefits to help me back into therapy. I thought I lost everything but I was just being planted.. not buried. I’m here if you also need an ear if you can’t make therapy happen 
the way you talk and treat yourself is a big part of where life will take you.
2 Likes
Yeah I’m 6 months and I did everything wrong but I did my way, they said keep up the drinking and you will die, I’m 50 got cirrhosis. I drank about 30 beers a day for years, the withdrawals were ugh, I don’t remember 6 days, they thought I was going to die. Never seen a psychologist no meetings just did it and I work in a biker bar in Daytona beach. People are weird and different, you just got to find your true self. Be safe people!
1 Like
Rehab to me was a tool to use to help get me sober. I don't think it was life shattering or anything, but it did help me focus on my goal of leaving alcohol and my medication behind. I think it would be possible to manage without but it did help provide a good environment so I could focus on my goals. Sobriety doesn't fix your problems, it does make them a lot easier to handle in my opinion. If you choose not to do rehab having a strong sober network is even more important. Keeping your mind and body busy to get through the worst of it without going back down the path is the most challenging part.
1 Like
I did an iop. I didn’t have the time to go to a rehab facility. After detoxing in the hospital that I don’t remember all of. I was really close to death and they didn’t think I’d make it out. I came home for two weeks after. I then started an IOP that was half a day long. It was enough for to learn tools and structure while keeping my house in order and it was also the end of the Covid lock down. Everyone is different and has different needs and different things.
1 Like
IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) can work for those who are willing and it sounds like you are. Try to find one that treats addiction AND mental health issues together.
I have met very few people who only has addiction issues: we usually have emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues we are using AT.
And many IOPs only treat the addiction, which just leaves us with those issues and no self-medication.
There are amazing places that are not infested with bugs or fear or outdated methods. They can be hard to find, but you are worth the search!
2 Likes
try outpatient. i didn’t go to rehab but outpatient helps a lot. meds help me. i have 66 days.
1 Like
I didn't do rehab. I had a good support group around me. And it took 3.5 years for me to finally make the decision to stay sober. Would rehab have made a difference? I don't know. I quit for the wrong reasons in the beginning. Since I did it for me it stuck. Not always easy. But I've been doing it for a few 24s.
Surround yourself with support. The people that have what you want. Don't plan on getting a sponsor get 1. Get phone numbers and books. Zoom meetings. In person. Put as much effort into staying sober as you did ensuring you got your next drink or fix.
1 Like
I didn’t do rehab. Went to a meeting. Raised my hand and said I was new and wanted to get sober. I kept going back to meetings everyday and met a group of great guys for support. I got there numbers and eventually asked a guy to sponsor me. I needed to go through the steps to find out why I needed to numb myself on a daily basis. Now I sponsor guys and help them get and stay sober. This wasn’t my first stab at getting sober. Ultimately, I had to reach the point where I said i don’t want to live like this anymore. I prayed to god every morning for 3 months for the willingness to want to quit drinking. I loved booze and didn’t want to quit but I didn’t want to feel so hopeless that I didn’t want to live either. You know when you’re done. For me, I believe with all my heart that god got me to that point. I tried several times before but never had enough willingness. Today im sober and im genuinely happy with myself for the first time in my life. You can get sober if you want it. AA and the fellowship gave that to me. You can have it too! Good luck! Stay grateful and blessed 
I went 10 years being sober without going to a rehab. I just kept busy, work, sports, girls. But I can say that go around I was drinking was more partying and social stuff. My last go around I was going to die and needed the help to get better. You don't need to do meetings if you don't want to. What Scott Clyde wrote was great.
I wish my husband would put as much effort into getting sober as he does getting high. I would be the happiest wife IF he did.