A Guide to AA

When you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, you may be wondering if Alcoholics Anonymous is right for you. It’s important to know that Alcoholics Anonymous is by itself not a professionally-run treatment program. However, it can offer you a strong, supportive community both before and after you go through detox, and initial addiction treatment through a professional facility. Here’s what you need to know about Alcoholics Anonymous and how to tell if it’s the right choice on your path to life in recovery:

What Exactly Is Alcoholics Anonymous?

There’s a good chance you’re at least a little familiar with the sobriety-focused organization, or as it is commonly known, “AA”. Launched back in 1935 in Ohio, the now-international group has become practically synonymous with those who are trying to recover from alcohol addiction. Groups typically meet at least once a week or more, sharing their stories of both substance abuse and sobriety, and offering one another support.

AA is also well-known for its “12 steps” of recovery, which are traditionally spiritual in nature. That said, advocates in recent years have explained that these steps are not necessarily religious and can be adopted by people of all beliefs. Essentially, these steps provide a basic guide towards sobriety. It begins with admitting your problem and that you have become powerless under your addiction. The steps then gradually progress through ways you can make steady changes, make amends with those who have been affected by your addiction, and regain control over your life.

Why People Choose AA

In addition to the “steps”, people are drawn to AA for other reasons. The community support is a big one, and many participants feel inspired by others’ stories and  comforted in knowing that they are not alone in their experiences. The group also provides a means of accountability towards others, and many find themselves increasingly likely to make healthy decisions when they are checking in with other people in addiction recovery each week.

In fact, most professional addiction treatment programs highly recommend that recovering addicts find a strong support system during their recovery (and life in sobriety). Especially for those whose relationships may have suffered during alcohol abuse, AA can serve as a supportive frontline. It is this sense of community and place of belonging that draws many people to AA groups in the first place, and it is also what helps members stay.

There’s also the anonymity factor. While those who attend meetings will obviously recognize you if they see you in public, they are expected to not share your name or story with others. While attending a meeting, you yourself are under no obligation to share your real name (though you are welcome to do so). Likewise, when discussing AA publicly or with anyone outside the program, members are also expected to not share their own personal names or the names of others in the program.

Can I Attend AA If I Have a Different Addiction?

There are different kinds of AA meetings. Open meetings are public and may be attended by both alcoholics and non-alcoholics alike, and because of this the local supportive community is often quite extensive. Furthermore, a lot of people attending AA meetings have been in addiction recovery for quite some time. Many people struggling with other substance abuse problems do so because the belief system can easily be generalized to drugs and other addictions. Aside from AA, there are a variety of other 12-step programs geared towards different substances.

Do I Still Need to Go Through Addiction Treatment?

Life in recovery is within your grasp — now you just need to find the best way to get there. While some people do manage to reach sobriety through AA groups alone, the truth is that many others need the focused care that comes with professional addiction treatment programs. After all, AA typically only provides guidance. To get actual medical supervision through detox and onto the first steps of sobriety, you will need the more hands-on approach that comes with a professional treatment program. If you are like most people and are unsure about what approach would be best, it’s wise to reach out to a treatment counselor for more information about your options.

Laguna View Detox Is Here For You

To learn more about professional addiction treatment for alcohol and other substances, reach out to our team at Laguna View Detox. We offer a variety of comprehensive treatment programs that can help you detox and achieve sobriety in a relaxing, luxurious setting. While we encourage you to find outside sources of support (like Alcoholics Anonymous) that can help you stay on track, we will help you go through the important steps of actually freeing your body from dependence on substances. Reach out to us today to learn more.

How to Have Fun in Sobriety

Generally speaking, people don’t associate sobriety with being fun, but we’re here to tell you otherwise. Being sober is fun! Waking up refreshed every morning, with a clear head, while being able to show up for the ones we love, is fun. Just because you now don’t have the aid of drugs or alcohol, doesn’t mean your life is going to suck. Newfound sobriety will be one of the most exciting times in your life. If you’ve been sober for a while and feel stuck in a rut, we have some tips on how to have fun again. 

Why Is Having Fun in Sobriety Important?

When you first get sober, you probably aren’t sure what makes you happy and how to have fun. You became used to associating socialization with drugs or alcohol. It’s ok, it’s totally normal, and you’re not the only person who did this. A big part of getting sober and staying sober is being happy. Happy people are less likely to fall off the wagon. Having fun and connecting with others is a great way to feel happy. It’s also a great stress reliever when you’re having fun you probably aren’t thinking about work or that fight you had with your partner. While it’s important to face your problems head-on, you don’t need to be thinking about them all of the time. Everyone deserves a break in life and let loose a little. 

Let’s Have Some Fun

There are plenty of ways to have fun that don’t include drugs or alcohol:

  1. Travel: Now that you aren’t spending money to sustain your drug addiction, you probably have some spare cash to use to travel. Traveling is fun for a few reasons. Traveling usually includes creating a plan. Researching places you want to travel to is a great thing to do in your spare time. Based on where you choose to travel to, you’ll probably learn some new stuff about yourself. If you choose to travel to the woods, you may realize that you enjoy connecting with nature. If you want to travel somewhere with a beach, maybe you realize you want to learn how to surf. If you don’t like to plan and want to ‘wing it’, you totally can thanks to technology. If you pick a new city to travel to, you can easily google things to do there after you arrive. The best part about traveling is there are so many ways to do it, you can fly, take a bus, drive, or even ride your bike a short distance. No one ever said you have to fly across the world in order to travel. 
  2. Go to an amusement park: If you’re a thrill-seeker, amusement parks are the best. It’s a drug-free way to get an adrenaline rush. Most cities have a local amusement park, but you can also look for places that have bungee jumping, or even skydiving. Water parks can also provide a thrill and are fun to do with friends and family. 
  3. Learn to cook: Cooking is one of the few hobbies that will be useful for your entire life. You’ll always need to eat to live. Cooking is nearly impossible to perfect and become bored of because there are endless possibilities of what to cook. There are also numerous advanced techniques, such as making your own emulsions or properly deglazing a pan, to learn. You can cook for yourself or others. If you’re confident enough, you can host dinner parties for your friends and families. 
  4. Play a sport: A Lot of companies will sponsor afterwork sports teams for their employees to participate in. Playing a sport is fun because it’s exercise for the body, mind, and a great way to bond with others. Sports require strategizing and team work. If you don’t have a job that will sponsor a team, you can start your own with friends or neighbors! Most towns have rec centers that let groups of people reserve a field or court on a certain night of the week. You can also gather a group of people in a public park weekly. All you need are a few people, and a ball, and you’re good to go!  

Let Us Help You!

At Laguna View Detox, we are a luxury drug & alcohol treatment program located in the gorgeous area of Laguna Beach, CA. We are proud to offer detox and inpatient treatment for addiction and drug abuse. We will help all of our patients find ways to enjoy life without the bonds of addiction. Furthermore, we also provide a unique luxury program that combines traditional treatment with modern therapies. We have found that this is effective in assisting our clients in overcoming substance abuse permanently. To learn more about our addiction recovery program, please contact us today!