I’m a binge drinker I can go days without drinking, but when I do drink I crash and burn. I didn’t touch alcohol till I was 21 and even then I wasn’t a big drinker. I’ve had a lot of crap happen to me in my life and it all got worse when my dog of 15 years died. That’s when the binge drinking really turned up. AA is a great program and it helps a lot of people, but it has not worked for me. I’m only 23 and when I go there it is mostly middle age and older people. It makes me feel like I’m being judged and they don’t understand that I’m trying to stop this before it gets worse. It’s also very religious based, which I am not. I’m wondering what other programs are out there that can help. I’m trying to stop this problem before it gets way out of hand.
I also have been trying to figure out if there is anything else out there! I am currently using a few different groups on Facebook! They are great for support, I do also want to find something that I can do in person that isn’t like super religious based as I am I guess if anything agnostic!
Hi I’m the same as you big binge drinker can go a week without but then make up for it. aa didn’t work for me either as I’m not religious at all. Talking on this app has helped. Made a do to list today, going to see Dr. Let me know if u want to add me on Facebook and pm me x
Sound just like me. Im attempting a SMART meeting this week, idk if that will help me. So far, writing down all the reasons not to drink and carrying them with me plus coming on this app seems like a good place to start.
I also don’t respond to it or its message, but know it works for others. I don’t believe in God or want a system which hasn’t been updated for so long.
For me, reading books on drinking became my way to reprogram my mind. To socialise, I have started doing daytime healthy groups like Yoga, boxing etc. That way I am meeting new people but it isn’t all about not drinking (although drinking isn’t the focus).
This app has been great for me to get the feeling of not being alone. When I wrote that I was having a craving, so many people supported me.
Hey there. I’m an AA goer but I do have an open mind. I believe everyones recovery path is different. Theres self help books and recovery books. Theres SMART recovery which is more science based. You can see a recovery coach or a addiction therapist. There medications like antabuse. If you dont fo d help with any of these, hit me back up and well revisit it. Hope this helps!
I did IOP and still have an addiction team of a therapist and psychiatrist. There are other things out there too. Refuge recovery, SOS, and a few others. I don’t really know anything about these other groups. Perhaps someone who does can chime in?
My first group, current home group, is filled with retirees and old men and women. I found that they were happy I had made the choice to get sober earlier than they did.
There are religious people in AA, but its not religious, purely spiritual.
Have you tried smart recovery? An IOP? IOP helped me tremendously, as did AA.
I did IOP which helped me get started and broke the chains of addiction. Tried AA but it didn’t really stick. I would recommend listening to sober podcasts. That is my favorite recovery tool. I’m reaching a year next week.
(Sorry CaptAZ didn’t mean to reply directly to you…)
I would love to help but it doesn’t seem as if the person is interested in going to AA. I know my group of friends got sober between 18-25 in AA, and we have a vibrant Young People’s group. I’m also connected with Young People groups all across the country. We have a ton of fun and we stay sober a day at a time. Most of my friends also don’t believe in the traditional “God” which is cool bc AA isn’t religious.
I went to a SMART meetimg in Denver. I found it to be just a “higher power” sanitized version of an AA meeting where cross talk was allowed. Interestingly, the assembled group was entirely composed of long time AAers taking in a noon meeting. One AAer even brought her sponsee. The only non-AAer was the group moderator who was new to the task and cut the meeting short because she needed to get back to work. I must admit, I really enjoyed this meeting and would go back. However, due to logistics, I have not gone back.
SMART is still gaining steam here in Cuse, but it’s been getting a lot of support from AA. I know that I help out people in SMART when I can. Recovery is recovery. No matter what program you work you still gotta go out and do the damn thing.
I’m a fellow binge drinker, I’ve never done AA, I went down the route of cognitive behaviour therapy and SMART recovery meetings, you can look it up online and even do online meetings, I have found that the only person judging me is me, when you go to any sort of meeting I’ve found that people really don’t judge as we all have our stories on how we got to drinking and the things we have done in drink
It works if you work it!
Oh, @LyLyC. I am sorry I may have confused you about my recovery. I have been sober for 660 days using AA.
ass dance moves against all challengers 
Of course, differerent meetings are different. And I must admit I really didn’t get a very good introduction to SMART. The modetator was young, inexperienced, and not up to the task. She readily let a women, who attends this meeting (and several AA meeting) weekly, take over the meeting. Also, the moderator needed to cut the meeting short due to a work commitment. The rest of us stayed around to talk and planned to meet later at an AA meeting across town.
As I stated, I really enjoyed the SMART meeting I attended and would like to attend others. Unfortunately, there are only four SMART meetings in Denver with three others in Golden, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. In comparison, there are over 1,200 AA meetings per week in Denver.
I am happy that SMART is working for you. IMO, the most important thing in recovery is to find a program that works for you and you work it in earnest. Good luck on your journey to lifelong sobriety.
If you hang out on these forums long enough, you will notice a two part recurring theme.
“I started as a binge drinker every x weeks, then weekly, now daily”
And then…
“I tried to quit on my own, and I did, until I thought I could moderate, and I did, until some unforeseen event happened and now im back to drinking daily”.
The above themes was my story and the story of so many people here. And the one thing I noticed that changed the story, was a recovery program.
AA is not for everyone, and so there other options available, which folks have shared. Don’t give up searching for what program is best for you.
Best of luck.
Thank you all for the great advice. It means a lot to me. I’ll be sure to stay on this form and check out a smart meeting.