There are so many helpful resources available to us on our sober journeys. I wanted to share this list for those who are interested in non traditional resources.
Please note: I created this thread with alcohol recovery in mind and it is U.S. based as well. As a straight white past middle age woman (SassyRocks), it is based on what resonated and helped me in my journey. Over time, I have added in resources for some other addictions (found at the end of this post), but it is heavy with resources for alcohol recovery for women. Books and memoirs are ones I have read.
Love their work
Sarah Blondin’s meditations, podcasts and book are beautiful and healing…
[liveawake]
(Podcast)
Annie Grace’s book changed my life and helped push my journey forward…
Two women I adore and deeply respect. Their work helps me grow… Laura McKowen and Holly Whitaker…
[HOME]
(HOME Podcast | Podcast on Spotify)
(https://insighttimer.com/)
Insight Timer…check out meditations, etc by Sarah Blondin, SonicYogi and davidj. All are brilliant!
(https://www.cherylstrayed.com/)
Cheryl Strayed…anything she has created.
Tempest has many resources and information…
Holistic therapies
Physical activity (walking is a great place to start)
Vitamin therapy
Yoga
Meditation (try guided to begin and/or guided sleep meditations)
Mindfulness (suggested 1st reading: you are here by Thich Nhat Hanh and/or Pocket Pema Chodron)
Acupuncture/acupressure
Reiki
Breathwork
Nutritional therapy
Essential oils
Sounds therapy (sound baths…Sonic Yogi)
LuciaLight therapy
Somatic therapy
Talk therapy
Crystal healing therapy
Creating nurturing rituals (warm baths)
Keeping a list of why you no longer drink, and reading it often
Books / Memoirs
#1 pick: Quit Like A Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed With Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
#2 pick: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
Others, in no particular order…
We Are The Luckiest by Laura McKowen
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
A Girl Walks out of a Bar by Lisa Smith
Broken People by Sam Lansky
The Recovering by Leslie Jamison
Blackout: Remembering the things I drank to forget by Sarah Hepola
Last Call by Nancy Carr
Parched by Heather King
Drinking, A Love Story
Unwasted, My Lush Sobriety
Blackout, Remembering the things I drank to forget
Hopeful Healing by Mackenzie Phillips
Saturation by Jennifer Place
A Happier Hour by Rebecca Weller
High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips
Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard
On Writing by Stephen King
Long Time Gone by David Crosby
Drink: The Intimate Relationship between Women and Alcohol
Dry by Augusten Burroughs
A Drinking Life by Pete Hamill
Many Roads, One Journey: Moving Beyond the 12 Steps by Charlotte Davis Kasl
you are here by Thich Nhat Hahn
The Easy Way to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Extensive list of quit lit / recovery / memoirs I have read
Support Groups / Community
Of course, my #1 choice for community is Talking Sober, right here.
Holistic approach/Seek Healing
(Https://www.seekhealing.org)
7cups (listeners for emotional support)
https://www.7cups.com/
The Alcohol Experiment (30 day free challenge from Annie Grace, This Naked Mind)
Women for Sobriety WFS
Refuge Recovery (A Buddhist inspired path to recovery)
Recovery Dharma (Another Buddhist inspired path to recovery)
SMART Recovery SMART
Secular Organizations for Sobriety SOS
AA/12 Step AA
Narcotics Anonymous
http://m.na.org/
Medications
Acamprosate / Campral
Naltrexone / Revia / Vivitrol
Disulfiram / Antabuse
Topiramate / Topimax
Ondansetron / Zofran
Indepth thread of online meeting resources
Behaviour-focused recovery groups
Self-Abuse Finally Ends (S.A.F.E. Alternatives) (treatment for self-harm behaviour) (also includes a list of useful hotlines / text lines)
www.selfinjury.com
Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org
Gamblers Anonymous
www.gamblersanonymous.org
Emotions Anonymous (for those with a desire to improve emotional wellbeing)
https://emotionsanonymous.org/ - USA
https://www.emotionsanonymous.org.uk/ - UK
Groups for partners and family of people in recovery
Sober Families (Community Reinforcement and Family Training approach to help get loved ones into treatment) (https://soberfamilies.com/)
Al-Anon / Alateen (family & friends of people in recovery from alcohol)
Al-Anon Family Groups
Nar-Anon (family & friends of people in recovery from narcotics)
Nar-Anon Family Groups
Gam-Anon (for family and friends of people with a gambling addiction)
www.gam-anon.org
S-Anon (family & friends of people in recovery from sex addiction)
www.sanon.org
Locating treatment programs
Find specific services, mental health and substance use disorder treatment
(Https://findtreatment.gov/)
Atlas Treatment locator
(Https://treatmentatlas.org)
Hotlines & text lines
Call or text 988
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Website also offers an immediate chat box.
Hotlines & text lines for USA & International, for many different crises (grief, self-harm, suicide, abuse, assault, and many others)
www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help
Self-Abuse Finally Ends (S.A.F.E. Alternatives) (treatment for self-harm behaviour) (also includes a list of useful hotlines / text lines)
www.selfinjury.com
Samaritans UK - Call 116 123 any time, whatever you’re going through.
(Also see Other sources of help | Samaritans for a list of other organisations offering specialist support)