KittyP

Maybe if you aren't finding the stories you are looking for, you aren't looking in the right places. There are so many of those stories out there but for reasons that are always posted here whenever anyone asks if there are "happy endings" they are very rarely going to get posted on this board.

I've known 5 serious alcoholics in my life, 4 (including my husband) got better, 1 died. The common denominator with 3 of those who got better was to keep trying different ways. If one recovery method didn't work, they moved on and tried something else.

Perhaps it is telling you that AA isn't a method which will work for her. Why not ask her what about AA she doesn't like and if there was anything she did like? If she liked the peer support, but not the steps maybe she could try LifeRing, they have a website and if you are anywhere near Dublin or Belfast they have face to face meetings.

Or maybe she'd find the HSE community addiction services more helpful. Each health board has one, they have very short waiting lists (usually a week or two before the initial assessment). She'd see an addictions specialist first and then would have the option of regular addiction counselling and group therapy led by a counsellor/psychologist. They also provide counselling for family members. And it's free. Just choose your health board area and scroll down to "Social Inclusion" and click on it. It will bring you a list of the state funded addiction services in your area. HSE.ie - Health Service Executive Website - HSE Local Health Offices