I very quickly accepted the fact that alcohol was not an option for me and initially thought I needed outside help to stay alcohol free so I went to a few AA meetings and although I liked some of it I knew that meetings/sponsers/rituals weren't for me; I had done the majority of my drinking alone so I would recover alone, I just made up my own 'plan' utilizing a couple of the 'steps' along with a lot of self analysis and prayer; been working for me for 4 years next week.