I left AA several months ago. What works for me is individual therapy. My therapist is the one who holds me accountable

Leesha, this is great. I look at it as AA is much cheaper than therapy. $1 per session and in the end, the accountability is within me. Everyone has their own path!

I quit without AA and have not relapsed. (8 years)

I've been to AA meetings and found them depressing. I read their book and found it to be in conflict with my personal beliefs.

I think there is value in AA for some and that is great! So I hope everyone struggling with alcoholism checks out AA and every other therapy, program, and method they can get their hands on. If it is not for you, that's okay. Don't be pressured into thinking you have to go to AA or you will never quit. It just ain't true.

I have seen a lot of addicts in my life and Ive struggled with alcohol and cigarettes myself, and I can agree that one size does not fit all on the road to recovery. I think everyone has such unique and different reasons and causes for starting a habit in the first place, and with mental, environmental and other factors playing a part in the "hows" and "whys" of someones using, we can't really expect one approach to work for everybody. I have family members who have been to meetings, prison and lost contact with their kids and families and still haven't stopped. I also have a mom who used meth and other hard drugs for 30 years straight and one good time of her going to jail for a year is what she needed to see things from a clearer and sensible view which caused her to become and remain sober (going on nine years!). I think the people with the most to lose have shown greater chances of getting and staying clean but then again, the homeless alcoholic on the street has lost everything and is spending what he has left of his life chasing his addiction. Its such an unfortunate thing that a certain approach or medicine or amount of time off of a substance can't guarantee sobriety. I drank and smoked because it was what I was used to being around and it was normal for me. After the neglect and depression from my family issues and the lifestyle they stuck me in sunk in, I drank daily and even tried to kill myself, ending up in a coma for 3 weeks due to overdosing on pills. I have never went to an AA meeting but my family tells me good things about them and Ive also heard that when someone who was an addict themselves stays clean it really helps other feel they can do it. I agree that one way doesn't always help all but I think we all need to experience a certain degree of discomfort and pain and loss to be impacted enough to stop what we are used to. I haven't had a drink in a couple months or a cigarette in 5 years and my daughter is the main reason as well as my career to be a professional helper and help others.

Love that teaching 1-2 well said! X

Refuge Recovery seemed a better fit to me, although my true passion now is yoga and meditation, and I am currently getting my Yoga teaching certification. I really enjoy the teachings/affirmations at Ananda Yoga, where each pose is done with intent and positive affirmations. I did IOP and counseling but I have yet to go to any actual recovery meetings. It is just not a good fit for me personally.

I was wondering @ screwed.up, (the originator of all these replies, in case you forgot). What did you think of all these amazing responses? I am ten months sober. I haven’t been to a meeting in a decade. Then only three (to support others,is what I told myself). But I am totally committed to living the rest of my life sober. I WANTED to stop. And I see that’s the message from everyone here who has successfully quit.