From my exp. AA & the 12 step program saved me as many others.
Won't comment on cold turkey because never tried it and again from exp. most of the ones I know that have didn't last to long without a drink.

Keep seeking.

I believe you need both of them. AA gives you that immediate support and socialization. 12 Step programs give you the intense instruction. I use both and wouldn't do it any other way.

Why go it alone when you're talking about your life? AA and/or other support but don't tought it out in isolation. Isolation likely got you in this mess.

I've heard that AA and 12 step has a success rate around that of using nothing at all (about 5%).

If you suffer intense withdrawal symtoms, you will most likely need a detox program. This is a "tapering" process that is administered by a health-care professional. This will take five to seven days. Detox is even more necessary for those who have been HEAVY drinkers over an extended period of time. It also becomes more important if you have abused other sustances along with the alcohol.

Some can do it cold turkey and are successful. Others last for a while and then relapse. Some start off with cold turkey and then switch to a twelve-step programs. By the way, AA is THE original twelve-step program. Many have quit with just AA.

Successful recovery that is sustained for extensive periods of time usually require some sort of support system. This can be from AA or it can be some other system that you develope. Many use a hybrid system, blending AA with other programs and traditional psychotherapy. It is pretty evident that sustained recovery requires ongoing support of one sort or another.

Just taking the first step to recovery was VERY empowering to me. You become keenly aware of your former vicarious situation, once you start recovering. Until then, the tendency is to delude oneself as to the true facts.

Stay strong,
Wayne-

I always told myself I could do it cold turkey if I really wanted to, but by the time I got around to trying to do it, this turkey was already stuffed, basted & fully roasted.

Lol Nemo.

I couldn't do cold turkey for long, I finally recovered with Alcoholics Anonymous.

Never tried cold turkey, I was fortunate to be introduced to AA and the 12 steps. I've watched a lot of mates try it though only to end in failure. Those outside of AA I've seen survive, usually have some sort of plan to follow. One thing I do notice they all have in common is none do it alone. Whether it be a support group, structured program, professional counselling, they have all reached out for help and taken action in sobriety. As with most hurdles in life, there is always help available. Welcome to the group shoes. CM xxx

If you are an alcoholic, doing it cold turkey well you get off the alcohol what do you have is a person who is very neurotic, so yeah if you want to live happily without drinking I would say go to a meeting and get into the 12 steps as soon as you can.The steps is what gives us the freedom to walk amongst all men.Depending on how long you have drunk you may want to get a dr's advice, kickin cold turkey can be dangerous for some.

For me, the only way cold turkey alone would work would be if I stapled my lips together too....lol!

I had to learn about alcoholism or I would go back to a drink in no time. Did it over and over again for a year. Bad day at work, "well, I'll just drink tonight!", dog peed on the floor "well, I'll just have 2 shots", flat tire "well I HAVE A FLAT TIRE DAMMIT!".

Had to learn a new way to deal with life, this shit happens all the time...gotta learn to say "oh well!" and move on.

Cold turkey left me with untreated alcoholism, and that sucks.
The 12 steps are AA.