If your end goal is to make it till you die, then other methods might work for you. But if you want to make it through for good, then the information below will help you see why Alcoholics Anonymous has a higher success rate than other methods — and that’s even before you take into account the aftercare, which makes all the difference. Alright, let’s get started!
Other Methods
There are many ways to stop drinking, but there are also many ways to fail in the battle against alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction. Counselors and trained professionals, who work with alcoholics every day, have declared that Alcoholics Anonymous is the most effective, long-term way to quit drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Doctors
There’s no comparison between a trained in-the-room counselor and a typical doctor. They, in all likelihood, will prescribe the very thing that got you into this situation in the first place: more alcohol. In addition to the fact that people addicted to alcohol are better served by specialized addiction counselors, according to Dr. Drew Pinsky. A doctor doesn’t know how to manage the 12 Steps that are the foundation of the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy.
Doctors who work only with the end result are not trained to deal with the motivation necessary to make a long-term change.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Rehabilitation
Alcoholics who attend rehab receive the same kind of treatment that a nurse gives at the doctor’s office. It’s not intended to be long-term and usually isn’t.
If you decide to attend rehab and you want to make it through for good, you’re going to need to re-learn a lot more than how to stop drinking. You’re going to need to get a firm grasp on the principles that make Alcoholics Anonymous so effective.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Public Programs
Some public programs do not accept that Alcoholics Anonymous is the best way to help alcoholics. However, the public programs think that their methods work. Unfortunately, the only thing you’ll get from the public programs is a hoop to jump through and typically not the help you need for recovering.
Alcoholics Anonymous is not affiliated with public programs, so they have no say in its operations or methods. The public programs do not provide aftercare, so when fighting alcohol addiction, Alcoholics Anonymous is the best.
Some Alcoholics Anonymous groups have worked with public programs to provide the most effective treatment to the widest range of people.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Friends and Family
Alcoholics Anonymous is composed of people who have been through what you have and have gotten better. They know what you’re going through, and they’ve learned time and time again that they couldn’t do it alone. They know what you need, and they know how to do it.
It’s not that your friends and family don’t care; it’s that they don’t know what you’re going through. They can’t help you make it through for good. They can only help you make it through to tomorrow.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Yoga, Meditation, and Breathing Exercises
Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are excellent ways to relax the mind and body, but there is no comparison between these methods and Alcoholics Anonymous. There’s no guide, there’s no one to hold your hand and lead you step by step through the process, there are no working principles that you can’t forget easily, and there’s no one to call at 3 a.m. to hold you accountable. There is no comparison between a gentle form of relaxation and a life-altering journey.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. The Internet
The Internet is an excellent place for information about how to stop drinking, but there’s nothing there that will give you an actual, in-the-room experience. So when you use the Internet to educate yourself about Alcoholics Anonymous, you’re only going to get third-hand knowledge.
Compare this to hearing it from people who have been in your situation, who have gone through the experience, who live the solution, and who have gone to meetings every day for years. The Internet is good for information, but to make a successful recovery, you need to be in the room.
Summary
To make it through for good, you need a place where you can go to figure out how to stop drinking, how to keep it off, and how to deal with life in general. You need a group of people who have been in your situation, who have been successful at keeping it off, and who have learned to deal with life. You need Alcoholics Anonymous.
One Last Word
The most important thing you need to know about Alcoholics Anonymous is that you, the addict, are the only one who can make it work.
Alcoholics Anonymous is not a magic potion, and the people there are not wizards. Alcoholics Anonymous is a collection of people who have been through what you’re going through now and have learned to live life without alcohol.
They did it, they know how they did it, and they’re willing to teach you how they did it. You’re the one who learns and applies the teachings to your own life. They can help you get there, but the actual living is up to you.
It’s easy to stop drinking, but it’s not easy to stay stopped. It’s not easy to relax, deal with life, not care about alcohol, do it all without a crutch, and overcome the ingrained habits of a long, hard addiction. It’s not easy, but it’s been done repeatedly.
It will be a long, challenging journey, and you need all the help you can get. Give Alcoholics Anonymous a chance, and it will change your life. It is a struggle, but you can beat the addiction to alcohol. We can help you find an AA meeting near you. Our meeting locator and AA meetings directory are easy to use and comprehensive. This means you can find the meetings nearest you in no time. When you need help or have any inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us.