I am NOT going to rehab b/c it is 12 step based
 

There are no other options where I am.

I am NOT doing it. It is a waste of my time. I will find another way. I will.

I have already made a good step - I have taken time off work. It's my life. It's time to take charge.

I don't take issue with the whole 12 step program, just lots of it. And not even the spiritual part. I'm ok with that part.

I am going to be That Person (in the eyes of AA) who does it Their Way, although really there are LOTS of people who do it their way. I am not the first by a long shot and I won't be the last.

I am NOT going to 12 step rehab...I am not wasting everyone's time and money on that.

That seriously sucks that you have no other rehab options other than 12 step ones.

There are certainly many ways to sobriety, and I'm not sure why you reference AA in the manner that you did.

I found sobriety through 12 step programs, and I certainly don't shove my way down anyone's throat, nor do I begrudge anyone who finds a different path to sobriety.

Wishing you nothing but the best in your journey! :)

well, Freedom, historically, I am not one for shoving any worldview down anyone else's throat.

That is true. Look up all my comments. I really dont.

Put yourself in my shoes: yourself in the days before you went into rehab. That's where I am now.

And I care about the rehab facility...I have been trying to quit drinking for a long time now. I have tried lots of methods, keeping an open mind. I feel qualified to comment on AA.

I am a fair person, and I will speak my mind.

Yes, many people have found recovery without AA; I am one of them. The thing that concerns me is when alcoholics make the "I WILL NOT" statement regarding what they are willing to do to recover. In my opinion, until a person is willing to do WHATEVER it takes, even something they never would have before considered, they aren't truly desperate enough. I'm sure some will disagree with that, but it's the way I feel. When we are desperate, we will try anything, whether we "have problems" with it or not.

That having been said, I wish you nothing but the best.

Please use PM and share with AVRT.....I beleive he has info that might suit your situation re treatment centers.

No one here cares if you do or do not agree with AA or SMART or celbrate Recovery or ????? whatever you have found not to your likeing.

We do all want everyone to find their way into a sober healthy future...:yup:

Me? I've never been to any rehab or treatment center ..wondering why you think it is necessary?

suki, My fear of 12 step recovery is that i've already gone to AA. I've already tried it. I read the book, I got a sponsor, I joined a group, and i kept drinking.

My mind is so open it's like a cavern. I have tried AA.

Maybe if I try AA on a 24 hour basis in rehab, I will GET it? Maybe?

Advice anyone? My other options that I am considereing are going to a yoga ashram and just working and doing yoga for a month or so...and that's it.

Have you actually tried a twelve step approach, or just attended the meetings?

Plenty of people get sober without going to treatment, maybe look into other methods of recovery if you're too resentful at 12 step programs? This site lists many.

I feel that this "I WILL NOT" statement simply means that the poster knows her own mind and so knows what will not work for her.

Although I am relatively new to sobriety, I am doing it without AA/12 Steps or rehab. I am very confident in my sobriety. It can be done and I hope you find your way to do it!

well, Carol, maybe it's not necessary. I just don't want to ever drink again. I want everything to come to a stop.

Yes, same red flag got raised for me too. It never ceases to amaze me that we can admit we cannot stop drinking, and that we need help, yet we somehow know what will and will not work for us. The arrogance of this condition never ceases to amuse me.

My only experience with rehab is I attended a 12 step based rehab and it saved my life. It got me out of the drinking/drugging environment for 30 days and gave me the tools to stay sober once I was discharged.

I celebrated 21 years this month, so I'll continue doing what works for me! :)

Yikes, this statement scares me and comes across to me as arrogant in itself. Maybe it is not that one 'cannot' stop drinking but just hasn't as of yet. Again, that's how it was for me. I did try to stop over and over again. and I didn't until I did.

Don't forget, our own minds got us into addiction in the first place. ;)

well, I guess the decision comes down to: should I go to rehab (fully funded) or go to an ashram (i pay, i did it 6 months ago), or stay here (I WILL keep drinking) ?

Did you do some different the last time? Or, was it the first time you had tried. Why would somebody be looking at treatment options if they can simply stop...

well, maybe i can do it here, maybe i can do it

Spryte, no one here can tell you what to do, but if you honestly think you'll drink if you stay put, then please consider something else. This is a situation that requires complete and total honesty with yourself. If you truly want recovery, then you have to grab on to it. Otherwise, nothing is going to change.

I've been trying to stop drinking since i was 28 and now i'm 35 - but i'm an achiever, so i keep going. this summer it caught up to me and i was addicted and had to go home at lunch and drink, i could not keep up.

and the negatives are gross - the people i have slept with, my career in the gutter, my lost friends - i make $100k a year but i don't own anything other than my car

i want to get it right...i have a bad feeling about 12 step rehab...i'm just being hnonest

which is exactly why it can get us out!


Spryte, there are other options than the few you listed I think. I agree with Carol - contact AVRT (the member) via pm for some information or visit the secular forum, you may find more info there as well. I think your statement of "I will keep drinking" says a lot though. What if you start telling yourself "i will NOT drink" instead?


EricL - yes I did do something different this time. Mainly I stopped believing that I couldn't do it. For me the hardest part was actually stopping - once I got through the first few days and weeks and saw that life does not actually suck without alcohol, it was much easier.

The method I am using is AVRT and for me, it works.

I hope you find a way to recover, Spryte.

Why will you keep drinking? (are you drinking now?).

My experience has been that the location did not necessarily matter, no matter where I was I was still stuck with the same problem, it was a matter of what actions were being taken. I went to treatment for 4 months of inpatient stuff, drank almost immediately after leaving, spent another eight months physically separated from alcohol going to meetings, out to coffee, out for fellowship, but not actually seeking any solution that people were offering me, and still drank eventually. Went to therapy for a while drinking off and on. Simply saying no wasn't working for me, things like recognizing triggers or avoiding drinking situations, or my favorite "thinking the drink through" were all but useless for me.

Once I said **** it, I have no idea how to stay sober, and some people I knew and could identify with as an alcoholic seemed to have a solution, maybe I'll try their solution instead of trying to manage it myself-then things began to change and life started looking up.

So, in my experience it hasn't been the location, but the giving up the idea that I knew what I needed and following someone else's plan of action that took away the problem for me. For me this was AA, for others it has been SMART, or AVRT, or whatever else is out there. I would implore you though to give up that idea that you can get yourself out of the situation, try finding some sort of program and interact with people looking for the same solution.

why will i keep drinking? b/c I need to, but I think i can get around that. I'm not that addicted.

am i drinking?
well, of COURSE I am SSIL...lol

Saying you're not "that addicted" is like saying you're not "that pregnant." Either you are or you aren't. To be honest, it sounds like you are talking yourself out of rehab. Maybe you're not ready yet to quit.

One thing to consider, if you are still drinking, DTs can be very dangerous, you may want to contact your physician regarding the need for a medical detox for a couple days.

i read it even closer eric and realized, I am NOT ready to admit that I know nothing and to put faith and trust in any organization

that will never happen...I am a very paranoid person...but smart, so i get by...but I am never giving up my trust in anyone or anything

someway, I am always right, I am always a step ahead

That seems to have worked well seeing as you're on the internet asking advice from anonymous strangers about your inability to quit drinking.

it's frusterating b/c I want someone to tell me what to do but i don't trust anyone...and in the meantime i am slowly ******* myself over with this slow drip of drinking

i used to drink one to two bottles a night, and then i realized it's best to have a slow drip - o1.5 drink in the morning and at lunch and at 4 and then let loose

I hear that! It's terrifying to put my trust in what someone else is telling me. Terrifying to admit that I was wrong, that I had no idea what I was doing. My trust had been broken so many times before, I was scared of how this would go. However, I was at a point of desperation where I had tried everything else I could think of, this was my last shot, the last thing I tried.