I really need to quit drinking for health reasons but I keep banging my head against the wall. I feel like I might never be able to stop. What is there to do when you are tired of talking about it with therapists and sober coaches?
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Go to AA and do the steps. Don’t over complicate this. It’s worked the best for most for almost 90 years.
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No thank you. Tried it and it doesn't resonate.
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If your alternatives are being miserable or dead, maybe it’s worth another shot.
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There are other alternatives to this he traditional AA. If it is the “god” thing, that’s a pretty common excuse. Heck ask Taylor on here… he is one of the biggest reps for the agnostic AA meetings. If you have tried therapy, sober coaches, AA, NA, or any other programs and can not get sober… you are not ready. Something is still there holding you. I was there once… it took me 15 years to escape the bottle. I finally did whatever was necessary to quit. I had to change everything. People, places, behaviors. You can get there. Keep coming back. We will always be here. We believe in you. Good luck.
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Good afternoon, Sarah. Keep coming back.
Read this book by Allen Carr. Called “quit drinking “. Powerful book. I stopped overnight.
I don’t know how severe your drinking is, but I was bad enough that I checked myself into rehab. That did it for me. It was heavily AA based but I realized that AA just wasn’t for me. I just hit 600 days the other day. They told us the AA is absolutely imperative to your recovery…. Clearly they were wrong.
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First off I’d say change the way you speak to yourself. Just on your post alone, you’re setting yourself up to fail. I know it’s hard but it begins with you. There’s no “buts”, there’s no “I can’t”, you keep telling yourself this and you’ll stay stuck where you are. You’re capable of of change, know this!
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It took we 30 years to quit and was a hard core drinker. I loved to drink. I joined the Luckiest Club online about a year ago and now have 8 months sober. They saved my life. AA did not work for me either. Not for lack of trying. There are many other programs out there. Don’t give up. YOU are worth it! You will find your people. Keep going! If I did it, you can too. Reach out if you need a friend!
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Hey there Sarah~ I’ve recently made the same realization about drinking and my health and finally had an honest conversation with my doctor. He set me up with a clinic that prescribed a couple of different drugs to help with the cravings/withdrawal and that’s what I found has given me the support and confidence to give it a serious go. My health was beginning to suffer and it scared me enough to try… that’s all we can do, right? AA is definitely not for me either, I can appreciate your opinion. If you have a couple of close friends or family you can trust, let them be your cheerleaders through it. This community is wonderful, too!! Good luck!
There are also SMART and Dharma and Refuge Recovery - other sober and recovery groups that don’t focus on god or have as strong an emphasis on “working the steps” but still help you build sober community!!
Surrender and take the steps
Give SMART recovery a try. I found it to be a nice alternative to AA
There are a lot of great suggestions in this thread. Think about what might work for you. Take action. The most important thing is to stay sober the rest of today. You will wake up tomorrow feeling better than if you drank. We are always here if you need support.
I developed neuropathy in my feet, was losing vision in one of my eyes and told my blood sugar was in diabetic territory as I was drinking 1.5 liters of whisky everyday. None of these diagnoses made me want to stop. In fact, I kept telling myself I would stop soon and that my body is resilient. It took several attempts of stopping, only to soon think I could drink responsibly, have one or two one day, one or two more the next day, and the next until I was at the liquor store in the morning 10 minutes before it opening, shaking and dry heaving and riddled with anxiety.
I couldn't come to terms that I simply could not do it. I was willing to get in the ring with booze time and time again ignoring the fact that I lost every single time.
Then I was given the gift of true desparation. I started to spend with other alcoholics and be truly present in those moments. I sought out a higher power.
I just picked up my 9 month chip. I've lost 40 pounds. My blood sugar and vision are clear and I no longer experience pins and needles in my feet.
Wishing you the strength and direction to do this.
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You can do it. Just hold on one more day.
Hi friend. AA worked for me, but it certainly isn’t for everyone.
What does seem to work across the board is a sense of community. There are others out there. There’s Celebrate Recovery, SMART recovery, support groups, spiritual groups, etc.
I guess it starts with willingness and thinking about what you’re willing to do.
Then, focus on a vision. Close your eyes and imagine your life without alcohol. No strings, no fear, just what you want for your life.
And, after all that reflection, give yourself permission to do whatever is necessary to heal.
There’s nothing wrong with you. You are not something that’s broken that needs to be fixed. You are hurting and you deserve to heal.
Here for you! Message anytime 
Feel free to reach out we all are in this together. I have quite a few music selections that have helped me.
It’s ok I’ve been sober 17 mths and only go 1X a mth to get a chip! I pray and count my blessings about what I am grateful for. It’s not easy at first but it does get easier and definitely gets better!