Do you think it’s possible to stay sober without AA? Im 104 days in, have been going to meetings regularly, have a sponsor and been working the steps but I really don’t feel the program is working for me. What works for me is yoga, therapy, the gym, and keeping busy. There are days that go by that I won’t even think about drinking/alcohol at all unless I’m at a meeting. I understand the concept of it and the fellowship but I can’t get myself to be fully invested in the program. Any thoughts?
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I believe in AA but whatever works for you. I suggest trying other locations and giving it more time. It took me a few months to really start grasping the AA program so don’t leave before the miracle happens 
Keep at it. All of it. Don’t give up before the miracle.
AA is a foundation. Yoga, therapy, exercise, etc are additional tools.
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It's absolutely possible without AA but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If it's working for you , I'd be apprehensive to stop, but there are many other groups to try if you are in a populous area like Orlando. SMART is a more science- based program that is an alternative to AA in most places. I find some things better, and some things not as good as AA 
. Still has fellowship without much of the higher power. Refuge recovery ( Buddhist based) I'm reading -it may be in your area too. Ultimately, it's whatever works though. Good luck . I hope you find a comfortable program.
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Yes absolutely, but like anything challenging to do it takes complete surrender and obedience, I didn't go to meetings for the first 3 years of my sobriety journey, I do now once a week because I enjoy the company and fellowship, ( coming from Tampa FL, Orlando is very nice) I hope you find what works for you!!!!!
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I second what the person above says-- that I wouldn't give up on AA yet, if it has worked at all for you. I go to recovery Dharma meetings and they help me a lot. I have mixed feelings about the recovery meeting system, in general, but overall, I benefit a lot from my home meeting and likely wouldn't be sober with it. Try different meetings and see what clicks.
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Megan, you’re young, give AA a year of complete immersion in it and then decide…during that year you can try some of the others mentioned but if you’re questioning your addiction, you’re probably in the right place.
I do all those other things too, but without healing the causes of my addiction, I nearly always return to drinking eventually, or shopping, or eating, or drugs.
I kept toying with it every 5 years for 42 years and hindsight, I wish I’d stayed and had given it at least a full try a long time ago. You are worthy of thriving and a great life, free of addictions and remorse…but only you can give yourself this gift and it’s going to take vulnerability and connection to community. Love yourself enough to spend a year being curious about the possibilities and learning to let go of fear, doubt and insecurities.
Good luck, whatever you decide. Please remember, you are always welcome back no matter what.
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of course !! personally AA is not for me… everytime i go i end of making a friend and then relapsing with that person. it’s literally happened 3 times now and one of them was my sponsor. I know myself and i’m codependent with other addicts. i can not be around people who have abused drugs in their past. i just can’t it never goes well…..
i also agree with how you said you only think of drugs while at the meetings and im the same way. honestly most of my memories with drugs are good like not good but i party a lot while using and partying is fun. also i glamorize drug use in my mind too so i totally get how it is on your mind while at meetings. when i’m not at meetings i don’t just think about those memories i gotta be triggered and AA triggers me A LOT. 
im thankful to live with my parents who help me create a healthy routine for myself and they drug test me every week and keep me accountable!!
AA is not for everyone!!!!! find what works for you
(＾ω＾)人(＾ω＾)
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Oh man Megan I’ve always wanted to ask this ?
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It can be done, I just haven’t had any luck personally.
The fellowship of AA has given me an opportunity to grow which I deemed impossible.
Yet the first word is We and I finally felt that I wasn’t a lone.
There are options but the one I chose is the 12 step program.
I feel the same way, if you want to message me and talk more about it I’m definitely open to that. I love being sober but I have the same mindset about AA meetings
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Personally, I’ve never done AA, nor do I plan to. 22 months sober, and I plan to stay that way forever. It works for some people, but it’s not for everyone. That being said, ensure you have a strong network of friends/family that keep you accountable.
No disrespect at all, Two, but maybe you're making the wrong kind of friends, subconsciously, on purpose. I know I gravitate towards things that are unhealthy for me, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
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If what I’m doing isn’t working I know I need to make a change. One to two meetings weekly on zoom is working for me now. I don’t go to meetings to stay sober now. I stay sober but go to meetings to see friends. I don’t have any AA tattoos or T-shirts. Sobriety is more than not drinking.
Yep, possible. Whatever works for you works! We're all in this together either way. I read the book Alan Carr's quit drinking without willpower, and keep in touch here. That with working to build and enjoy the life I want works for me.
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Possible yes, my experience is it keeps me connected for opportunities to help others and allows me to ask for help when I need it. It's like my life boat.
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I've been sober over nine years. Haven't been to a meeting in nine years, never had a sponsor and never was walked through the steps. AA works for many people, but everyone is going to get sober in their own time by their own means. AA is only a tool, but one that only works if you work it. That being said, there are other tools that you can go alone with. The part that people don't grasp is that you still have to put in work to get and stay sober. Especially in the early days where you're prone to stumble so easily. The work evolves as the days go by but you should always be looking at ways to improve your odds of staying sober as well as improving your ability to grow as a person you can be proud of. So yes. It's possible.
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Don’t risk it. AA has worked the best for most for almost 100 years. If you really want to be sober, why not do anything and everything to ensure and protect your sobriety?
AA meetings are like restaurants. If I go to one that sucks, I don't go back, I find another. I don't just stop eating out.
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Everyone is different and so are their lives without alcohol. I had been able to harness deeper consciousness via hatha yoga and meditation although I quit when studios closed it was a quitting mechanism for me at one point. I found my God in healthy living, diet, and meditation which makes quitting easier as I generally avoid things that are bad for my health (physical and mental).
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